“Why I Kayaked the Entire Charles River”

“At dawn, fog rose from the surface of the Charles River. On that morning last autumn, songbirds darted over the water as I kayaked downstream through a wide channel lined by maples and oaks in the suburban semi-wilderness of Millis, Medfield, and Dover. The presence of people seemed faint, almost primitive. The river twisted through S-turns, the current silent but strong under my boat, pushing me along. The world felt wild.

As soon as I reached Natick, though, everything changed…This radical shift in both vibe and appearance along the river occurred because the South Natick Dam—a wide, 135-foot-long earthen berm built in 1934 and now topped by pine trees—was just ahead of me. It choked and reshaped—indeed, tamed—the river, creating a pond and a gentle waterfall burbling over its concrete spillway.”

Take some time to read this incredible Boston Magazine article by Bill Donahue.

Charles River

Charles River Watershed Association’s mission is to use science, advocacy, and the law to protect, restore, and enhance the Charles River and its watershed. We develop science-based strategies to increase resilience, protect public health, and promote environmental equity as we confront a changing climate.

https://www.crwa.org
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Good news in state budget for a clean Charles

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25th Annual Charles River Earth Day Cleanup