RIVER CURRENT
Your source for the latest news, updates, & events.
Charles River Watershed Association Testifies at the State House
Earlier this week, Climate Resilience Director Julie Wood and Restoration & Engagement Associate Emilia Dick Fiora del Fabro testified before the state’s Environmental and Natural Resources Committee on behalf of two pieces of climate resilience legislation: the Flood Regionalization Bill and the Drought Management Bill.
Charles River Watershed Association and Indigenous Peoples Day Newton to Host Quinobequin Intertribal Paddle
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) and Indigenous Peoples Day (IPD) Newton are co-hosting the third annual Quinobequin Intertribal Paddle on Saturday, June 28 on the Auburndale section of the Charles River.
Volunteer Spotlight: Grant Secured for Biological Monitoring Program 🎉
Many thanks to Riley Spangler, who wrote and was awarded a $500 grant from the National Charity League (NCL) Wellesley Chapter to support CRWA’s Biological Monitoring program!
Thank you for joining us! 2025 Herring Festival
Huge thank you to the 200+ people who joined us in celebrating annual fish migration at our 2025 Herring Festival!
Herring Migration and Festival Coming to Charles River — Waltham Times
“The number of herring making the annual run is an indicator of whether the river is running as it should. To help determine that, the Charles River Watershed Association will work with volunteers to monitor the migration.”"
Charles River Watershed Association to Host 2025 Herring Festival on Sunday, May 18 in Watertown (Press Release)
WATERTOWN, MA – Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) will host its 2025 Herring Festival this Sunday, May 18 at the Watertown Dam, a family-friendly event celebrating the annual migration of fish from the ocean into the Charles River.
Charles River Watershed Association partners with Virridy to test Lume™ E. coli monitoring sensor in the Charles (Press Release)
The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) has partnered with Virridy, a water quality monitoring and environmental data science company, to test Virridy’s Lume™ E.coli sensor in the Charles River as part of CRWA’s water quality monitoring program.
Clean Water Act Updates
CRWA Defends Drought-Related Water Conservation Measures in Court
CRWA was in the Massachusetts Court of Appeals on April 14 to defend common sense water conservation requirements during times of drought.
ACTION ALERT: Ensure Massachusetts Fully Funds The Agencies That Protect Our Environment!
Contact your legislator today and urge them to prioritize environmental funding!
Op-Ed: “A Swimmable Charles River? It’s possible.” (Boston Globe)
“In just the past two years, more than 100 million gallons of sewage flowed into the river from 63 storm events. Swimming is prohibited except by special permit, and even rowers, paddlers, and sailors are warned to stay out of the water for 48 hours after a sewage discharge.” Read more in the Boston Globe.
CRWA Hangs ‘Cut The Crap’ Banner Over I-90 To Protest CSOs In Charles River (Press Release)
Members of the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) donned poop emoji costumes and hung a banner reading “Cut The Crap” over Interstate 90 today, kicking off the organization’s campaign to help end combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the Charles River.
“Is MassDOT ready to admit that Allston needs more trains and fewer lanes?” CRWA Featured in Streetsblog Mass
We are thankful to Christian MilNeil for including CRWA in his Streetsblog Mass article, “The Path Forward for Allston’s Highway Megaproject Is Getting Narrower.”
CRWA at 35th Annual Nonpoint Source (NPS) Conference
CRWA’s Max Rome and Alfredo Con, joined by Leigh Munier (CREW), took the trip to Portland Maine to catch an April snowstorm and present on recent developments with the Charles River Climate Compact.
26th Annual Earth Day Cleanup Along the Charles River Brings Together Thousands of Volunteers Across More Than 80 Locations (Press Release)
From Holliston to Boston, over 2,000 registered volunteers will work across 80+ sites spanning the Charles River in the 26th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup on Friday, April 25th, and Saturday, April 26th, 2025.
Muddy River Vision Workshop — Key Takeaways
Over 50 community members gathered at the Brookline Village Public Library for a Muddy River Vision Workshop to share valuable insights on potential restoration projects to improve water quality and enhance climate resilience in the Muddy River watershed.
Drought Update: Improved Conditions
Following a rainy few weeks, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced improved drought conditions for the Charles River Watershed.
Charles River Watershed Association Announces New Appointments To Board Of Directors (Press Release)
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) elected three new members to its Board of Directors at its 59th annual meeting last week: Susie Klein, Claire White, and Jane Wiseman.
Federal Budget Cuts Impact on Massachusetts' Climate Efforts—Read More in the Boston Globe
On April 1, 2025, CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton spoke before fellow environmental leaders and state Senator Cynthia Creem at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming. Read more in the Boston Globe
Charles River Watershed Association Elects Paul Levy As New Board President (Press Release)
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) elected Paul Levy as the president of the nonprofit’s board of directors at its 59th annual meeting on Wednesday, March 27, 2025.