MISSION
The Charles River Conservancy works to amplify community voice and catalyze bold solutions, to make the Lower Charles River and its parks more vibrant, healthy, and welcoming now and in the future.
We CONNECT organizations, people and communities to each other and the river and its parks.
We CREATE bold, impactful solutions that elevate and strengthen the river and its parks as an essential ecological foundation and cultural asset for Greater Boston.
We CELEBRATE the river and its parks and the intersection of people and nature to inspire involvement.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CRC BOARD:
The CRC is actively expanding our board of directors. Learn about the leadership opportunity here.
READ OUR 2025 ANNUAL REPORT:
With the help of our supporters, we had a great year increasing volunteer engagement, investing in unique ecological programs, and centering our work on the communities around the Charles. Check out our FY25 Annual Report to learn more.
E-NEWS:
Our September 2026 News Stream is out! Read about the latest happenings at CRC. Browse recent issues and sign up for upcoming e-newsletters.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Our work is carried out across traditional territory of the Massachusett, Nipmuc, and Wampanoag Nations, and homelands of the Pawtucket peoples. Read our history page for a detailed acknowledgement and resources to learn more about Indigenous territorial history and existing Native-run groups
IN SOLIDARITY:
Our work depends on equity, and we therefore cannot stay silent to racism and police brutality. Read our statement of solidarity with Black Lives Matter protestors in Boston and around the country.
Lead photo by Aaron John Bourque
Tagalong at the Skatepark on Sept 24!
Since May, our Graffiti/Street Artists-in-Residence Victoria DelValle and Ananda Toulon made their mark on Lynch Family Skatepark by leading ultra-creative programs, workshops, and community events. Their colorful, large-scale pieces anchor the physical environment of the concrete pillar backdrop of skaters shredding all summer. To celebrate their art as well as the creative skatepark community as a whole, you’re invited to TAGALONG: 2026 Artists-in-Residence program closing ceremony on Thursday, September 24, 5-7pm! In addition to meeting and painting with the Artists, the event lineup features intensely local talent (see full lineup). Free, all ages, all welcome. BYO spray paint and wheels, and get ready to skate, paint, and imaginate with us!
📷: Victoria DelValle and Ananda Toulon (insets), Ceijay Photography (background)
Vote YES on Question 6 This November
A wide coalition of 95+ organizations, including the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups (like us!), are supporting a YES on Question 6 on the 2026 statewide ballot. It’s time to permanently protect the places we love: clean drinking water, healthy forests and wildlife habitats, more trails and parks, and access to the outdoors and nature for everyone in Massachusetts. YES on Question 6 doesn’t raise taxes or create a new tax. It simply dedicates the standard sales tax we already pay on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and fishing equipment to funding as much as $100 million each year for water and land conservation.
Read more about the ballot initiative in CommonWealth Beacon, State House News Service, and Gov. Healey’s endorsement on GBH Boston Public Radio (listen at 47:00 mark).
Support a Swimmable Charles River!
Photos: John Tlumacki, Boston Globe
Thank you to all the friends who joined us on the Esplanade for a day of fun, community, and impact on Saturday, July 18! Together at City Splash 2026, we celebrated the Charles, highlighted our continued work to protect and restore its health, and inspired others to invest in a cleaner river for all. The message is abundantly clear: The people of Boston want to swim the Charles River! 💚 See more City Splash in the news and lend your voice to advocating for a cleaner, swimmable river!
City Splash is made possible through the generosity of the CRC’s supporters. Your contribution helps make this one-of-a-kind event possible, and advances our mission to make the Charles swimmable every day.
Visit Riverbend Park on Sundays All Summer
It’s that time of year again! From the last Sunday of April through the second Sunday of November, a stretch of Memorial Drive in Cambridge is closed to vehicular traffic from 11am to 7pm, creating a large stretch of open space alongside the parklands to accommodate cycling, skating, running, and a range of other activities.
Due to ongoing construction associated with the Memorial Drive Greenway Improvements, Phase III project, Riverbend Park will be temporarily modified throughout the 2026 season. Learn more.
Have You Seen the Floating Wetland Yet?
Come say hi to the Charles River Floating Wetland (AKA “FWed”) at its usual spot near Broad Canal. Visit often to see its raft of native plants change colors and textures throughout the season, mirroring the change in trees and shrubs along the riverbanks. Island buds and blooms are soon to come, and you don’t want to miss them!
ICYMI: Watch DCR’s social video spotlight on the Floating Wetland.
MWRA’s CSO Control Plan Still Releases Sewage in the Charles River During Heavy Storms: Public Comment Period Now Open
Get the full story on the Updated CSO Control Plan and learn how to take action on our Advocacy page.
Boston City Council adopted a resolution opposing the current Draft Updated Combined Sewer Overflow Long-Term Control Plan and calling for stronger infrastructure solutions to protect the Charles River and other local waterways.
The resolution states that the current draft recommendations offer incomplete CSO control and fail to eliminate CSO outfalls and sewer overflows into local waterways. It calls for the final plan to include modern infrastructure solutions, such as tunnel storage and/or sewer separation, that would achieve effective CSO control and result in no discharges except during a 2050 25-year storm or larger.
Submit comments by Public Hearing: Verbal comments can be made at one of three Public Hearings to be held this fall:
Thursday, September 17, 2026
6pm-8pm [HYBRID]
Or attend in person at Cambridge City Hall, Sullivan Chambers, 795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
Thursday, September 24, 2026
1pm-3pm [VIRTUAL]
Virtual only
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
6pm-8pm [HYBRID]
Or attend in person at Somerville City Hall, Council Chambers, 93 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA
Public comments on the Draft Plan can be submitted to the project team through an online comment portal, by email (UpdatedCSOControlPlan@aecom.com), or by mail through September October 30, 2026. The deadline to provide public comments has been extended to October 30, 2026 at the request of the public.
Project office hours: The MWRA’s CSO Control Plan project team announced a series of upcoming virtual and in-person office hours from June through September. Note: While participation in office hours does not constitute a public comment, there will be laptop stations set up for anyone wishing to submit a public comment during in-person office hours.
Worth reading: The Boston Globe (May 12, 2026) publishes “New plan would dump sewage into the Charles River for decades to come“.
The sewage is not just a problem for Boston-area residents. These outflows take place in more than 100 locations across the state, disproportionately impacting lower-income communities. In Lowell and Springfield, more than 400 million gallons of this toxic mixture are discharged into rivers every year on average, according to data compiled by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, a nonprofit conservation organization. “Combined sewer overflows are a statewide challenge, from the Pioneer Valley to Buzzards Bay,” said David McGlinchey, the alliance’s executive director.
We had a TIME last night! Thanks all for joining us at Lynch Family Skatepark for TAGALONG, our 2026 Artists-in-Residence program closing ceremony. Congratulations to @thirteenvicarchive & @anandatoulon on their residency success (joining @aoasupply as program alums!) and all the folks who supported, amplified, and celebrated the CRC’s public art initiative. Swipe to glimpse some of the amazing experiences brought to the park by @soundzofnow, @floorlordsboston, and @chainmailgoblin (as well as so many skaters, artists, and friends who joined us), all captured by the one-and-only @matt.r.photo! Special shout out to @massdcr Director of Partnerships Paul Fahey for bringing the state park realness🔥
FREE WALLS PSA 👀 It’s true! Artists are always welcome year-round to paint on the free walls at Lynch! The CRC’s Graffiti/Street Artist-in-Residence and Free Wall Program is possible through a combination of permits from various agencies and the support of key partners. The CRC has secured a permit from DCR and MassDOT for the painting of the skatepark and the pillars. For the safety of all, please only paint non-skatable surfaces and respect the flow of the park ✌️
#lynchfamilyskatepark #publicparks #publicart #graffiti #streetart #bostonart #cambridgeart
Sep 25
Join us in giving a warm welcome to our new Land Stewardship Coordinator: Ela Gronek!
Ela (she/her) joins the Charles River Conservancy as the @terra_corps member for the 2026/27 service year. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire (@uofnh) where she studied Environmental Conservation & Sustainability and spent a semester abroad in New Zealand. From this experience, she gained a deep appreciation for environmental stewardship and is passionate about connecting people to nature. Ela has spent the past year teaching earth science, biology, and environmental science to middle school students, and looks forward to working with volunteers on the Charles and continuing to advocate for the needs of our local ecosystem. Outside of work, Ela enjoys bird watching, hiking, and celebrating her Polish heritage.
#teamupdate #servicemember #landstewardship @massservice
Sep 23
The LAST day of summer is upon us! Which means… It’s time to celebrate the Fall Equinox!
Did you know that on the Fall Equinox—the official first day of autumn—Day and Night are in perfect balance? @revels_inc RiverSing returns on Saturday, September 26, 2026, 4-7pm, to celebrate this annual event. Attendees are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to the Charles riverbank on the @CambridgeMass side of the Weeks Footbridge, or gather at Winthrop Park in @harvard_square. This FREE event features performances by Songleader @coffin.david, the Puppeteers Cooperative, @goodtroublebrassband, @pinewoodsmorris, the Revels RiverSing Chorus, @bostoncitysingers, and many more. All are invited to join in this family-friendly program!
Schedule below:
4:00 PM
At Winthrop Park – March in the Revels RiverSing Puppet Processional! While we prepare to march, enjoy music from the Good Trouble Brass Band. Children are also invited to create a special RiverSing craft that they can use as part of the puppet parade!
At the Weeks Footbridge – Bring along a picnic and set up alongside the Charles River while we await the Puppet Parade! Watch incredible Morris dancing from the Pinewoods Morris Men, or get a special souvenir from our amazing balloon artist.
5:00 PM
The Puppet Processional leaves Winthrop Park and travels to the Weeks Footbridge, led by Puppeteers’ Cooperative, Good Trouble Brass Band, and YOU! Join the fun in puppet costume or march along in street clothes as we spread joy through Harvard Square.
5:30 PM
Performances and singalongs begin at the Weeks Footbridge, featuring David Coffin, Elijah Bokin, the Revels RiverSing Chorus, Good Trouble Brass Band, puppets from the Puppeteers’ Collective, and the Revels Dragons, Desmond the Day Dragon and Nigel the Night Dragon. Songsheets will be provided for all!
6:30 PM
As the sun sets, Stan Strickland and his saxophone float down the Charles River on our Equinox boat, replacing the sun with the moon. With this special ritual, we welcome in the fall and the coming of the Shortest Day as we celebrate along the river.
📷: @revels_inc
#charlesriver #fallequinox #livemusic #freecambridgeevent #freefamilyevent
Sep 21
New gorgeous Charles River POV unlocked 👀
All are invited to Boston University`s DeWolfe Boathouse Open House on Saturday, Sept 26, 2026! The community is invited to explore the space, enjoy the waterfront, and get a closer look at this iconic @bostonu facility.
Fun fact: The Boathouse marks the starting line of the Head of the Charles Regatta @hocr1965!
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 12–4 p.m.
📍 619 Memorial Drive—Cambridge, MA
🎟️ FREE, open to the public
Whether you’re a longtime BU community member or a neighbor curious to see the boathouse, stop by and say hello.
For more info or questions, email Jim Curley at curley@bu.edu
#charlesriver #bostonfreeevent #bostonopenhouse #bostonuniversity #boathouse
Sep 18
Let’s celebrate! TAGALONG: 2026 Artists-in-Residence program closing ceremony is Thursday Sept 24, 5-7pm at Lynch Family Skatepark. Totally free, drop in, drop out, all are welcome. Congratulate @thirteenvicarchive & @anandatoulon on their residency success and BYO spray paint and wheels to make art & memories at the skatepark!
What’s on the lineup? Swipe →
@soundzofnow is a healing-centered music project rooted in the power of rhythm, ritual, and community. Blending ancestral practices with contemporary sound, the project weaves together organic and electronic elements, creating immersive soundscapes grounded in the musical traditions of the African diaspora and Caribbean cultures. The audience will not simply be observers, but active participants in the music. The sounds, movements, and energy of the space will become sources of inspiration and characteristics within each piece. Come hear, see, and feel how the art of skating connects with sound, rhythm, movement, and collective expression.
The @FloorLordsBoston were established in 1981. Since then they`ve played a significant role in the growth of hip hop culture, contributing wholeheartedly to define and expand the art of breaking in the community, and using hip hop dance to reach young people through positive impact of the culture. They’ve performed with @RUNDMC, @Madonna, @JLo & more, and Aug 6 was proclaimed "Floor Lords Day" in the @CityofBoston. Through performance, competition, and teaching, the Floor Lords and the Flava Squad family carry the work locally and worldwide.
Brookline-based tattoo artist Mik will be ready to apply crafted temp tats to event attendees! Explore their flash portfolio at @chainmailgoblin & find their work @thebrightonemporium.
Event photographer @matt.r.ringler will be capturing all angles of the action, no matter the speed.
Join us next Thursday for this celebration, music, spray painting, skating, and more good vibes! Can’t wait to see you there!
P.S. All are always welcome at the @massdcr skatepark, but be aware of increased traffic at the park during the event. Stay safe everyone ✌
#skating #streetart #graffiti #freeeventboston #freeeventcambridge #livemusic
Sep 17
Join us next Tuesday for free food, a free sunset harbor cruise, AND free fascinating Boston waterfront insights! 💚
The @bostonwaterfrontcoalition and @bostonharbornow will host a one-day Waterfront for All Summit on Thursday, September 22 at @bostonchildrensmuseum. The summit is free to attend, and breakfast and lunch are included. Connect with a cross-section of groups, partners, and stakeholders who share a common goal: creating greater access to the waterfront for all. Come hear from @charlesriverconservancy Impact Director, Scott McCue, on the River Group Data Session alongside co-panelists Karina Ramos (@mystic.river.watershed) and Karen Groce-Horan (@neprwa), moderated by John Dello Russo (@barrfdn). In this session, members of the river groups will share the work they are doing to increase inclusivity amongst folks at riverfront space. Learn from each panelist about what they’re hearing on the ground from folks in the community and what is working and what strategies have been challenging in the current climate. They’ll also discuss how their organization defines and measures success.
Registration for the summit is free and required in advance.
As the cherry on top, a free sunset Boston Harbor cruise is included for all summit registrants to cap off the day in style! 🛳️
Register with the link in our bio. See you there!
#waterfrontaccess #waterfrontequity #boston #bostonharbor #bostonfreeevent
Sep 16
Don`t want raw sewage in the Charles? NOW is the time to speak up for clean rivers and call for the strongest level of CSO control.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), @cambridgemass, and @somervillecity have submitted the Draft Updated Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan (Draft Plan), and the crucial public commenting period is open through Oct. 30, 2026. (For more information on the Draft Plan and our advocacy priorities, see “Get the facts” in our link in bio.)
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Massachusetts to invest in clean rivers for the public health benefit, quality of life, and climate resilience of future generations.
In addition to written comments, verbal comments can be made at one of three Public Hearings held this Fall:
✅ Thursday, September 17, 2026, 6pm-8pm [HYBRID]
Zoom & Cambridge City Hall, Sullivan Chambers, 795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
✅ Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1pm-3pm [VIRTUAL]
Zoom only
✅ Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 6pm-8pm [HYBRID]
Zoom & Somerville City Hall, Council Chambers, 93 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA
Please help us share the word. We encourage everyone, regardless of background or level of expertise, to share your personal experience with the river and why a clean, swimmable, healthy Charles River matters to you!
#cleanrivers #cleancharles #publicmeeting #takeaction #cutthecrapcharles
Sep 14
It’s THAT time of year again! 🙌
Each fall, we gear up for COASTSWEEP, the statewide beach cleanup organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (@massczm).
Volunteers of all ages are invited to join the @charlesriverconservancy on Saturday, Sept 19, 10am-12pm for COASTSWEEP cleanups at @massdcr Richard McKinnon Park (Cambridge) and “Little Greenough Boulevard” (Watertown between Arsenal St. and North Beacon St.).
Gather your friends and family and spend a morning outdoors helping to keep the parks clean, welcoming, and vibrant for all to enjoy. We`ll work together as a group to pick up litter and spruce up the parks, making a positive impact in our community while having fun!
How to participate in either cleanup? Email Sasha at svallieres@thecharles.org 💚 Spots are limited!
More about COASTSWEEP:
From late August into November, thousands of people in Massachusetts volunteer for COASTSWEEP. COASTSWEEP is part of the International Coastal Cleanup coordinated by @oceanconservancy in Washington, DC. Volunteers from all over the world collect marine debris—trash, fishing line, and any other human-made items—and categorize and tally what they find. This information is then used to help discover marine debris sources and find solutions to this problem. Over the last 39 years, over 114 thousand dedicated COASTSWEEP volunteers have removed more than 1.4 million pounds of marine debris from Massachusetts shores.
#communityservice #freefamilyactivities #bostonfreeevents #cleanparks #cleanrivers @watertownmagov @cambridgemass
Sep 11
The Charles River comes with a lot of interesting statistics and numbers, and this week we wanted to highlight some of them!
If you want to learn more about the Charles River, we highly recommend taking a look at our StoryMaps. Most of the information in this post was collected from that source (see “Getting to Know the Charles River” in our link in bio) as well as @epagov ‘s “About the Charles River”.
Did you know? The Indigenous name for the river is Quinobequin, which means ‘winding’ or ‘turning’. It`s hard to argue that it`s a more fitting and descriptive name than Charles.
Make sure to comment down below which fact surprised you the most and if you have any fun facts about Charles that you want to share!
#CharlesRiver #Boston #Cambridge #MassachusettsRivers #Explore
@esrigram #PoweredbyEsri
Sep 4
As part of the Eliot Bridge Preservation Project, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation @massdot has notified the public about the Eliot Bridge Cambridge-side Pedestrian Underpass Closure.
Pedestrians and cyclists will be directed to use the Boston-side underpass.
Details:
Beginning Friday, September 4, 2026, the Contractor will close the pedestrian underpass on the @cambridgemass side of Eliot Bridge. The purpose of this closure is to maintain public safety while the Contractor works on the underside of the bridge deck. Please note that all work operations and dates are subject to change.
The Cambridge-side pedestrian underpass will close to pedestrians and cyclists starting September 4, 2026, and will remain closed until further notice. During the closure, the detour shown on the map will be in place.
Please take care to pay attention to all posted signage and message boards. Police details, changes to lane markings, and/or temporary controls such as barriers and traffic cones, may be utilized throughout the duration of the project to control traffic and create safe work zones within the project limits.
Stay up-to-date and informed by following @MassDOT and Mass 511 for real-time updates, visiting the project website (https://www.mass.gov/eliot-bridge-preservation), or emailing (eliotbridgepreservation@dot.state.ma.us) with any questions.
#bikeboston #walkboston #CambridgeMA #CharlesRiver #publicsafety #pathclosure @massbike @walkmass
Sep 3
We loved adapting this new trend that has been going around and thought it was a fun way to showcase the many different features that make up the Charles River. Just like diverse elements of the river and its parks, our community is made up of so many different people: each with their own personalities, roles, and ways of contributing to the shared collective.
Make sure to send this post to your friends and ask them which Charles River feature they think they are! See which one resonates best with your friends’ personalities and share your results with them.
If you like these kinds of posts, please comment a 🏞️ in the comment section below!
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#newtrend #CharlesRiver #Cambridge #Boston #explorepage
Sep 2
UPDATE 9/23/26: The health advisory alert on the cyanobacteria algae in the Charles River lower basin has been lifted.
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UPDATE 9/16/26: @officialmassdph recommends *maintaining* the public health advisory in the Charles River Lower Basin for all points downstream of the Boston University Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences Building, also known as the "Jenga Tower." DPH will continue to monitor and test the Lower Basin.
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Charles River Public Health Advisory, Update Aug 27, 2026, 12:33pm: Based on the high cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) levels measured on 8/25/26 at four Lower Basin sampling locations (@mit Boathouse, Broad Canal, Lechmere Canal, and @sailcbi Community Boating), the @officialmassdph Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is recommending the Charles River public health advisory be expanded to include all points downstream of the Boston University Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences Building, also known as the “Jenga Tower.” In terms of the street grid, the advisory extends to Granby Street (Boston side) and Audrey Street (Cambridge side)
Signage is posted at all public access points warning against any contact with the water.
Do not swim.
Do not jet ski.
Do not boat.
Do not swallow water.
Do not eat fish.
Keep animals away.
Rinse off after contact with water.
Included in Advisory: Broad Canal, Lechmere Canal, North Point Park, Lederman Park, Community Boating @sailcbi docks, Storrow Lagoon, @MIT Boathouse
Not included in Advisory: @bostonu DeWolfe Boathouse, @magazine_beach, and points further upstream
DPH staff will continue to monitor conditions in the Lower Basin and perform additional testing if/when conditions change. DPH requires two rounds of samples below the guideline level, collected one week apart, to recommend rescinding an advisory.
For general questions about cyanobacteria, contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health: 617-624-5757 http://www.mass.gov/dph/algae
WHEN IN DOUBT, STAY OUT.
📷: "Jenga Building (Center For Computing & Data Science" by clembore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Aug 31
