RIVER CURRENT
Your source for the latest news, updates, & events.
A Look At Last Spring’s Herring Run
Each spring, thousands of migratory fish return to the Charles River to spawn from the ocean. 2026 marked the third year of CRWA’s fish monitoring program, a vital volunteer initiative that helps us understand migratory fish populations and patterns in the Charles River. The numbers are in; it’s time to take a look at the 2026 herring run!
Biological Monitoring Season Most Successful To Date!
This year’s Biological Monitoring season was our most successful to date! Together, with the help of our dedicated volunteers and school partners, we were able to sample from 19 sites throughout the watershed (compared to 12 sites last year).
Charles River Watershed Reenters Significant Drought
It’s been just announced that most of the Charles River watershed is in a significant drought. But when we look at precipitation, we see that rainfall isn't far off the year-to-date average; in fact, statewide, 2025 has been rainier than average. In Boston, we are about 3 inches behind the cumulative average for this time of the year. So why are these typical variations from the average leaving us with completely dry riverbeds?
CRWA’s Volunteer Monthly Monitoring Program Turns 30!
August is National Water Quality Month, and this year we are celebrating the anniversary of CRWA’s Volunteer Monthly Monitoring (VMM) Program.
Cyanobacteria Bloom Reported in Lower Basin of Charles River (Press Release)
BOSTON, MA – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) this afternoon confirmed a significant cyanobacteria bloom in the lower basin of the Charles River and recommended a public health advisory.
Summer Means Cyanobacteria Season…Here’s What To Look For
Hot, dry summer conditions create ideal conditions for cyanobacteria blooms in the Charles River, and we need your help finding them. CRWA's Visual Cyanobacteria Monitoring program is an opportunity to be on the front lines of protecting public health in our watershed!
Deep Dive Into The Grades—2024 Charles River Report Card
On June 17, 2025, CRWA gathered with Mystic River Watershed Association, Neponset River Watershed Association, state and local leaders, and community partners to announce the 2024 Water Quality Report Card Grades for the three rivers that flow into Boston Harbor––the Neponset, the Charles, and the Mystic. What do the grades tell us?
Over 100 Culverts Assessed: Advancing Aquatic Connectivity on the East Coast
This field season, CRWA assessed over 100 culverts! Our sites ranged from urban tributaries like the Muddy River, to suburban streams such as Godfrey Brook, and even rural stream crossings in the upper reaches of our watershed.
The grades are in–see how water quality fared in your favorite section of the Charles River!
The grades are in––how did your favorite section of the Charles do? 💧Dive into the 2022 Charles River Report Card!
The Flagging Program is Back!
Before you head out on the water, check out our water quality alerts to be sure the Charles River is safe.
2021 Charles River Report Card
The 2021 Report Card Grades are in! From A’s in the middle reaches (Sherborn to Waltham) to a C- in Boston’s Muddy River, the takeaway is that some stretches of the river are relatively healthy while others, particularly in more urbanized sections of the watershed, are not.
On the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Boston River Report Cards Reveal Grades Ranging from A to F
BOSTON, MA – Today, three Boston-area watershed organizations, along with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the 2021 Water Quality Report Cards Grades for the three rivers that flow into Boston Harbor: the Neponset, the Charles, and the Mystic.
BREAKING NEWS: Cyanobacteria Advisory for the Lower Basin
MA Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends a Cyanobacteria Advisory for the Charles River between the Mass Ave. Bridge and Broad Canal.
The Flagging Program is Back!
The Flagging Program is back! The go-to resource for safe recreation on the Charles River, the Flagging Program provides live water quality updates through a system of color-coded flags to indicate boating safety between Watertown and Boston.