CRWA in the News

Dreaming of blue Allston, bluer than blue 

Allston-Brighton Tab, Friday, October 21, 2005

By Auditi Guha

Once upon a time, there were tributaries and tidal areas running through Allston. Before the Charles River Dam was built, water flowed in and out with the tide all day.

But urban development has done away with natural drainage systems, and the altered flow of groundwater has led to problems such as flooding, sedimentation, impervious areas and polluted runoff.

Mapping the past and the present along with the city's water and sewer network in a slideshow, the Charles River Watershed Association outlined its dreams of creating a blue Allston as part of its Blue Cities Initiative, at a community presentation in the Honan Allston Library on Monday.

With Harvard's growth and the North Allston Neighborhood Strategic Plan going on, the association believes now is a wonderful opportunity to plan for water, green space and urban environmental restoration.

Association Executive Director Bob Zimmerman said this is the science of how water and land work together and had worked together before the urban development took place, so that they can see what can be done to solve existing problems and restore the ecological balance.

"As we look at the redevelopment of Allston, we are looking at basic process, landscape and how it works," said Kate Bowditch, senior environmental scientist and project manager with the association. "To me the exciting thing is, we have the opportunity to think and work together on an urban landscaping scale."

Quality down

Studies conducted by the group indicate that the water quality over time has decreased at some points, including around the Western Avenue Bridge. Water examination in dry weather has shown that the entire Allston stretch violates the swim standards, and most of the areas tested violate boating standards as well.

"We've made huge strides over the last 10 years, but when it rains, we have significant problems and data is not showing a lot of progress," Bowditch added. "We have to gradually restore what we've been messing up."

Some of the urban renewal techniques and the Blue Cities Initiative CRWA is looking at include building green roofs; collecting rainwater for reuse; stormwater management mimicking natural hydrology; conservation of green space; and permeable paving.

The Street-Edge Alternatives Project, using these measures in Seattle, reduced impermeable areas by 11 percent, planted 1,100 trees and shrubs, and helped reduce the water leaving the street by 98 percent, Bowditch pointed out.

This is something they could do in Allston.

The main role for the community in this process is to be educated, work with Harvard and the association and stay involved by providing feedback.

Crimson blue?

Paul Creighton wondered what kind of water and sewer plans Harvard has in addition to the city's network.

Bowditch said further meetings on the issue will be planned in future months and will include Harvard's maps and plan for their North Allston campus as well.

"The [association] does terrific work on this issue," said Kevin McClusky, director of community relations at Harvard University. "We are actually considering it in our planning process. It is certainly an important part of our new campus."

Residents are excited at the opportunity presented by the work of the CRWA and said it was an enlightening discussion.

"I thought it was very informative," said Lynn Cohen, Charlesview resident. "I've lived here 25 years, but I did not know so much about our river."