The Natural Valley Storage Area
Large scale flooding isn't a new threat to our highly developed watershed. In 1955, Hurricane Connie hit eastern Massachusetts with 20 inches of rain in two days, causing flooding through Boston and lower Charles River watershed communities. As the first natural disaster in the state to cost more than $1 billion in damages, the Army Corps of Engineers searched for fast flood control measures. While they proposed building dams to control floodwaters, CRWA’s then-Executive Director, Rita Barron had a better idea.
Under Rita Barron's bold leadership, CRWA advocated for working with nature, protecting vital wetlands in the upper watershed from development as a natural form of flood control, and the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (NVSA) was created in 1974.
What was born was one of the most unique, and successful, approaches to flood mitigation ever created. Today, the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (NVSA) is a network of 8,100 acres of protected wetlands in sixteen communities around the watershed that naturally store floodwaters, preserve habitat for fish and wildlife, and create recreation opportunities for us all. Since its creation, the NVSA has prevented about $12 million in flood damages and is a prime example of natural climate resilience efforts.
Under Rita Barron's bold leadership, CRWA advocated for working with nature, protecting vital wetlands in the upper watershed from development as a natural form of flood control, and the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (NVSA) was created in 1974.
What was born was one of the most unique, and successful, approaches to flood mitigation ever created. Today, the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (NVSA) is a network of 8,100 acres of protected wetlands in sixteen communities around the watershed that naturally store floodwaters, preserve habitat for fish and wildlife, and create recreation opportunities for us all. Since its creation, the NVSA has prevented about $12 million in flood damages and is a prime example of natural climate resilience efforts.
However, while protected, the Natural Valley Storage Area wetlands are increasingly vulnerable to the combined threats of climate change and increasing development in surrounding areas. As climate change brings increasing precipitation, warming, and extreme weather, stormwater pollution from development and greater flooding tax the climate resilience of the wetlands, and these preserved lands face rampant invasive species growth, loss of vital biodiversity, reduced riparian habitat, low streamflow, and poor water quality.
CRWA has piloted the first health assessment of the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (NVSA) to better understand these threats and recommend immediate restoration efforts to preserve these important wetlands and promote climate resilience in the watershed as a whole. This crucial research, funded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, focused on an especially vulnerable priority area in Franklin, MA, and confirmed action is needed to rehabilitate coldwater fish populations, mitigate stormwater pollution, improve water quality, and restore biodiversity. And, these trends are likely evident across the Natural Valley Storage Area wetlands, providing a stark prediction for the climate resilience of the watershed as a whole. The report identifies and recommends priority restoration efforts including removal of the perched culvert at Dix Brook, upgrades to stormwater management systems, the removal of invasive plant species, continued advocacy for land conservation, and low impact development across the watershed. Read the full Natural Valley Storage Area Health Assessment Report.
This project is funded in part by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. Support the Trust by purchasing a special license plate at www.whaleplate.org.
CRWA has piloted the first health assessment of the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (NVSA) to better understand these threats and recommend immediate restoration efforts to preserve these important wetlands and promote climate resilience in the watershed as a whole. This crucial research, funded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, focused on an especially vulnerable priority area in Franklin, MA, and confirmed action is needed to rehabilitate coldwater fish populations, mitigate stormwater pollution, improve water quality, and restore biodiversity. And, these trends are likely evident across the Natural Valley Storage Area wetlands, providing a stark prediction for the climate resilience of the watershed as a whole. The report identifies and recommends priority restoration efforts including removal of the perched culvert at Dix Brook, upgrades to stormwater management systems, the removal of invasive plant species, continued advocacy for land conservation, and low impact development across the watershed. Read the full Natural Valley Storage Area Health Assessment Report.
This project is funded in part by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. Support the Trust by purchasing a special license plate at www.whaleplate.org.
Additional Resources
- The Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area Story Map
- The Natural Valley Storage Area Health Assessment Report
- Press Release: 11k Grant for Wetland Restoration in Franklin
- Press Release: Critical Wetland Research for the NVSA
- How a "Swamp Kit" saved over 8,000 acres of wetlands
- Map of the Natural Valley Storage Area
Dam Removal
CRWA is building momentum to remove aging mill dams to restore fish passage and heal the river ecosystem for the entire eighty miles of the Charles River, starting with Watertown Dam. We are leading a grassroots campaign to change public opinion on dam removal in each of the communities where dams remain in our river through public education, events, press interviews, meetings with state and local officials, and more to change the course of our river and achieve our vision for a free-flowing, restored, climate-resilient Charles for future generations.
Watertown Dam
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CRWA is leading advocacy efforts to remove Watertown Dam, an aging, 180-ft long, 8-ft high aging concrete weir structure located in the Charles River in Watertown, MA. Currently owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), it was originally constructed to power industry, but now holds no purpose for power or flood control. Instead, this functionless barrier to a free-flowing Charles River impedes migratory fish passage, destroys the river ecosystem, and harms climate resilience.
CRWA is calling for the immediate removal of Watertown Dam and every subsequent barrier upstream. By removing this functionless barrier and allowing nature to take its course, the Charles River has the opportunity to again be a welcome place for people, plants, and wildlife. Dam removal has the potential to welcome migratory fish populations back to an additional forty miles of the Charles River ecosystem, restoring life to our river and healing historic wrongs. Removal also offers the opportunity to improve habitat, transform water quality, restore native plants, and remediate contaminated sediment, increase climate resilience for future extreme weather events, and protect downstream areas from future flooding. |
Charles River Dam at South Natick
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The Charles River Dam is an earthen dam and concrete spillway on the Charles River in Natick, MA. A historic mill dam, the present-day dam was re-built in 1934 after the previous dam was destroyed in a 1929 flood. Today, the structure is rated in "poor condition" and serves no purpose for power or flood control. In 2021, the Town of Natick started the Charles River Dam Advisory Committee to decide the future of the dam. In its present condition, the dam impedes migratory fish passage, degrades the river ecosystem, and is susceptible to failure as climate change brings more frequent extreme weather events.
Two options are proposed for the future of the dam; repair and removal. Repair would require the loss of 60 mature trees on the earthen dam, and do little for the health of the Charles River. Spillway removal, on the other hand, would preserve the vital mature trees, which improve air and water quality, reduce heat island impacts, and mitigate flooding, and offer the chance to restore the river ecosystem, improve recreation opportunities, and provide the numerous benefits of a free-flowing river to wildlife and residents alike. |
Wrentham Eagle Dam
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There are dozens of dams located across the Charles River watershed, and the vast majority are relics that no longer provide any benefit. Eagle Dam, on Eagle Brook in Wrentham, is one of these. This dam, which has fallen into poor condition, was identified as a vulnerability in the Town of Wrentham's local climate plan.
The current dam has failed in the past, and was not built for the types of storms we expect as our climate changes. CRWA has partnered with the Town of Wrentham to assess the feasibility of removing Eagle Dam. Removing the dam would improve water quality and habitat conditions, save the town money, and reduce the threat of the aged structure breaching and causing downstream flooding on MA Rt. 140 and into Norfolk. |
Invasive Species
As a highly-urbanized area, the Charles River watershed suffers from extensive invasive species growth. Invasive species are fast-growing terrestrial and aquatic plants that outcompete native species and overtake ecosystems. Invasive plant species threaten the Charles River ecosystem by reducing biodiversity, degrading water quality, harming flood storage capacity, killing mature trees, and destroying vital wildlife habitat. The growth of invasive plant species will worsen with the impacts of climate change, making it essential to address this growing threat now.
Managing invasive plants can help contribute to a more resilient, robust, and healthy environment. CRWA is working to monitor invasive plant growth and address underlying causes through water quality monitoring, green infrastructure implementation, and environmental advocacy. In addition, we are taking action stop invasive plant species through the Invasive Species Removal Volunteer Program and working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to implement a five-year invasive aquatic vegetation management plan for the Lakes District & Lower Basin.
Managing invasive plants can help contribute to a more resilient, robust, and healthy environment. CRWA is working to monitor invasive plant growth and address underlying causes through water quality monitoring, green infrastructure implementation, and environmental advocacy. In addition, we are taking action stop invasive plant species through the Invasive Species Removal Volunteer Program and working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to implement a five-year invasive aquatic vegetation management plan for the Lakes District & Lower Basin.
Cheesecake Brook Naturalization & Restoration
Cheesecake Brook, a tributary to the Charles River in Newton, has a history of water quality and flooding issues, and has been highly altered through history. In 2019, CRWA began working with the local community to develop a vision for restoring Cheesecake Brook. Restoration may include creating more natural river banks by removing stone and concrete, and planting native vegetation on the banks. Naturalizing this stream would improve water quality and stream habitat, and would restore floodplain area to help reduce stormwater flooding. CRWA hopes that this community-driven visioning process becomes a model for other stream restoration projects in urban settings.
This project is generously funded by the Gerstner Family Foundation.
This project is generously funded by the Gerstner Family Foundation.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Press
Public Meeting 10/27/20
Public Meeting 2/23/20
Public Meeting 10/27/20
Public Meeting 2/23/20
American Shad Restoration
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One of the largest members of the herring family, American shad can reach up to 30 inches in length and weigh 7-8 pounds. The shad is one of five species of anadromous (fish born in freshwater) fish found in the Charles River. American shad spend the majority of their lives in the ocean, and return to their native freshwater to spawn.
Shad were plentiful in the Charles until the mid-1800s, and some historical records identify shad in the Charles as early as 1633. After 1850, the population began to decline due to the construction of dams and the degradation of water quality. Based on CRWA’s target fish community work in the past decade, the Charles should support a large, viable shad population of up to 30,000 adult fish; however, only small numbers of adult shad are observed in the river each year. To help restore the shad population to pre-development levels, CRWA embarked on a collaborative project with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS) in 2006. The program aims to restore a viable population of American shad in the Charles, improve the ecological health of the river by introducing a native species, and create a local sport fishery for anglers. Since 2006, over 26 million shad larvae have been released into the Charles River. Since 2011, the released American shad have returned each year to the Charles River to spawn. Improved tracking techniques currently utilized by MA DMF and US FWS are beginning to provide a fuller picture of the challenges facing the American shad in the Charles River. |
Shad larvae are sourced from adult shad found in the Merrimack River near the Essex Dam in Lawrence, MA, and then raised at the US FWS hatchery in Nashua, NH. These juvenile shad, or shad fry, are then marked, using a special bath, so they can later be identified and tracked when they return to the Charles to spawn.
In addition to the American Shad, other herring including Alewife and Blueback, are returning to the Charles River in large numbers. The Charles River now supports one of the largest Blueback herring runs in Massachusetts.
In addition to the American Shad, other herring including Alewife and Blueback, are returning to the Charles River in large numbers. The Charles River now supports one of the largest Blueback herring runs in Massachusetts.