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 From 2005 to 2008, the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA)
worked to address non-point source pollution to the Charles River
through the "Find It and Fix It" Stormwater Program, which was
funded by the
Massachusetts
Environmental Trust. An
important goal of this program was to identify problems caused by non-point source
pollution. One way CRWA accomplished this was through water quality monitoring of
"hot spots", Charles River tributaries and
stormwater outfalls.
Many
of the tributaries in the middle and lower watershed have been
transformed over time as stormwater drainage areas, partially culverted
or buried underground with numerous stormwater pipes discharging directly
to them. Water quality
monitoring of tributaries helps provide indications of where the pollution
to the Charles River comes from. Sampling for water quality indicators is an important tool to begin
work to "fix" the health of the river and its tributaries.
CRWA targeted
Canterbury Brook
in Mattapan; Sawins Brook
in Watertown;
Cheesecake Brook, Laundry Brook,
South Meadow Brook, and
Sawmill Brook in
Newton; Fuller and Waban Brooks in Wellesley;
the Muddy River in Boston; and
Beaver Brook in Waltham. Selection
of these tributaries was based on visual monitoring results, CRWA’s
historical water quality data of these tributaries, and recent water
quality data collected by USGS and Roger Frymire.
Sawins Brook in
Canterbury Brook in
Cheesecake Brook in
Watertown, MA
Mattapan, MA
Newton, MA
Sample were collected by trained CRWA staff
and volunteers during both wet and dry weather. Wet weather is defined by CRWA as a
storm of at least 1 inch of precipitation after 72 hours antecedent dry
conditions. Dry weather is defined by CRWA as less than 0.1 inches
of precipitation within the past 72 hours.
Samples are collected for laboratory analyses of bacteria, nutrients, oil and grease and/or
other non-point source pollutants. In addition, in-situ water
quality parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, conductivity,
and temperature are measured.
Results
CRWA conducted investigations
of the seven brooks below. Click on a brook to learn more and obtain water quality results, sampling map, site
descriptions and photographs.
Canterbury
Brook
Sawins Brook
Cheesecake Brook
Beaver Brook
Fuller and Waban Brooks
Sawmill Brook
South Meadow Brook
 CRWA staff collecting water samples at Canterbury Brook.
Last updated December 2009 |
WATERSHED INFO
