RIVER CURRENT
Your source for the latest news, updates, & events.
Water Authority Proposes Another Weak Plan That Would Continue Sewage Dumping in Charles River (Press Release)
BOSTON, MA – Following a wave of public outrage in October over a proposed plan to allow for sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles River forever, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) proposed a new plan to its Board of Directors today, representing an improvement but falling short of eliminating combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and subjecting Boston area residents to a future of sewage dumping in larger rain storms.
Welcome, Interns
We’re happy to welcome our new interns!
Cheesecake Brook Timelapse
With the help of the City of Newton, we installed two chronolog photo stations by the tributary.
Thanks to YOU, Pressure Builds on MWRA to Eliminate CSOs
Nearly 350 community members joined CRWA, Save the Alewife Brook, Mystic River Watershed Association, and Green Cambridge on January 11 for a public meeting on plans to address combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in Boston’s waterways.
Thank you for joining us! Reconnecting Rivers Screenings
This month, we hosted two screenings of our new short film, Reconnecting Rivers, which we produced with Turnaround Films.
CRWA Awarded $500K in Federal Funding to Help Protect Watershed Communities from Flooding (Press Release)
BOSTON, MA – Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is excited to announce that it will receive $500,000 in federal funding to work with communities to identify and advance effective flood reduction opportunities in the Charles River watershed. The funds are a part of a congressionally-directed spending bill for FY 26, and were secured by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.
Defending the Clean Water Act
This month, with the guidance of CRWA’s new Legal Director, Jon Flynn, we submitted formal comments opposing an EPA proposal that would redefine “waters of the United States” and dramatically narrow the scope of the Clean Water Act.
Welcome, Marwa
CRWA is thrilled to welcome Marwa Alnaal as our Advocacy Director, leading our advocacy strategy, policy engagement, and coalition-building efforts.
Save the Date: Run of the Charles 2026
Mark your calendars! Run of the Charles will return on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
Thank You, Fall Interns!
Winter is in full swing, meaning it’s time for us to bid farewell to our fall interns, Audrey Peel, Ilsiia Shakirova, and Rowan Compton.
Canterbury School Visits
Thank you to Edward Everett Elementary School and SJP Lower Mills School for hosting Restoration and Engagement Associate Emilia Dick Fiora Del Fabro, and other CRWA staff, along with Community Liaison Joel Richards, for presentations on wetlands and green infrastructure.
Common-Sense Outdoor Watering Restrictions During Droughts Withstand Legal Challenge (Press Release)
BOSTON, MA — The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on December 11 declined to take up an appeal filed by water suppliers, challenging state regulators’ authority to limit non-essential outdoor watering during periods of drought, defending a critical tool to protecting rivers and streams from running dry.
CRWA in the News: Emily Norton on Jim & Margery
On December 8, CRWA's Executive Director, Emily Norton, appeared on GBH's popular radio show, Boston Public Radio, with hosts Jim Braude and Andrea Cabral (subbing in for Margery Eagan) to discuss MWRA's proposal to allow sewage to continue to be discharged into the Charles River.
Welcome, Jon!
We’re thrilled to welcome Jon Flynn as CRWA’s new Legal Director!
Charles River Watershed Association Announces Four New Staff Members (Press Release)
BOSTON, MA – Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is excited to announce the addition of four new staff members to its team: Jon Flynn, Pradeep Gyawali, Tyler Chase Ellison, Bobby Nicotera.
Snap a Pic at New S. Natick Dam Photo Station
Attention Natick residents!—make sure to visit our new Chronolog photo station near the S. Natick Dam!
ACTION ALERT: Show Your Support for Dam Removal!
Submit a comment to DCR before December 19, urging them to proceed with the removal of the Watertown Dam!
Emptying Sewage into the Charles? (WBZ, Boston’s News Radio)
CRWA’s Executive Director Emily Norton was invited to NightSide with Dan Rea.
Grateful for YOU saying “No more sewage in the Charles!”
In this season of gratitude, we are thankful for the 9,000 people who have written emails, signed petitions, or made calls telling the MWRA it’s time to “cut the crap.”
Watershed groups seek to intervene in court proceedings following MWRA’s proposal to dump more sewage in Charles and Mystic Rivers (Press Release)
Three weeks after the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) proposed a plan that would allow for untreated sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles and Mystic Rivers forever, making people sick and destroying sensitive ecosystems, watershed groups filed a motion in court on Tuesday to intervene in the ongoing federal lawsuit that led to the cleanup of Boston Harbor.