Flagging program shows river improvingBy Anna Eleria Newton Tab | Wednesday, July 6, 2005 Ten years ago, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency first developed a goal of a fishable, swimmable Charles River by 2005, the river scored a dismal D grade on the annual report card. A decade later, though falling short of its goal of an A, EPA awarded the river a grade of B+, signaling its marked improvement but acknowledging that there still remains much work to be done. "That's an incredible milestone for us," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in New England, in a recent Boston Globe article. "But at the same time, we know that there are other parts of the Charles that are not consistently fishable and swimmable." Ten years ago, boaters faced hazardous bacteria levels in the water 60 percent of the time. Today, the Charles River meets water quality standards for boating 96 percent of the time. For the eighth year in a row, boaters, kayakers and sailors will see the water quality of the river by flags flying on a daily basis from area boathouses from Newton to Boston. Blue or red flags signal what the water quality conditions are for that 9-mile stretch of river from Watertown Dam to the New Charles River Dam. Water quality forecasts are based on scientific prediction models that estimate daily water quality. "Our flagging program is something CRWA has been providing Boston boaters for eight years," said Anna Eleria, CRWA's project manager who directs the flagging program. "The Charles River Watershed Association has played a key role in improving the water quality of the Charles for over three decades and we are seeing a cleaner Charles River every year." Blue flags fly on days when there is a 50 percent chance or less of the river exceeding the state boating standard for fecal coliform bacteria. Red flags are raised when the model predicts a greater than 50 percent chance of the river exceeding the boating standard, which signals elevated bacteria counts and potential health risks. These statistical models are based on the relationship of fecal coliform bacteria to previous rainfall conditions at Watertown Dam and if available, the previous day's bacteria concentration. Rainfall data collected by the United States Geological Survey at Watertown Dam in the previous 24 to 168 hours is used daily to predict the probability of the river exceeding the state secondary contact recreation (i.e., boating and sailing) standard for fecal coliform bacteria. If available, the previous day's bacteria concentration at each site will also be used in the models to make predictions and verify the accuracy of the models. This year CRWA will begin offering daily water quality updates via e-mail to the general public. Visit www.charlesriver.org for more information. Results are relayed to eight boating centers where blue or red flags are hoisted and are also posted on CRWA's Web site or by calling CRWA's water quality hotline at 781-788-0007, ext. 301. Basin boathouses and clubs displaying flags include: Charlesgate Yacht Club, Charles River Canoe and Kayak at Herter Park, Community Rowing, Henderson Boathouse (Northeastern University), Newton Yacht Club, Riverside Boat Club, Union Boat Club (near the DCR Hatch Shell), and Weld Boathouse (Harvard University). One of our country's first watershed organizations, CRWA formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles River. Its mission is to use science, advocacy and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed. Anna Eleria is project manager at the Charles River Watershed Association. She oversees the CRWA Flagging Program and can be reached at 781-788-0007. |