Mystic River Watershed Association

08/30/2026

This summer, MyRWA piloted our first-ever Mystic Mini-Grants for inclusive programming at Mystic Lakes State Park and the Alewife Brook and Mystic River Reservations. The program was made possible by a generous grant from the Barr Foundation. We are exceedingly grateful to our grantees, Coloring Club, Mystic Merfolk, Mouli Pal and Phil Scarff, and Class Insecta for running four fabulous events!

Photos:
1) Coloring Club at the Mystic Lakes
2) Mystic Merfolk leading "SAFER SUMMER," a free water safety course at the Mystic Lakes
3) Mouli Pal and Phil Scarff present Fluid Soul on the Mystic River in Macdonald Park
4) Kinsey Mustafa-Widberg leads Pollinators of the Mystic at the Alewife wetland

08/29/2026

Calling , , , and Residents!! You can get a FREE tree for your yard through our partners at the Greening the Gateway Cities Program. Call (617) 626-1400 to request a tree and set up a site visit for a DCR Urban Forester to help you pick a tree and location.

The Greening the Gateway Cities team will plant the tree for you and share instructions for how to care for it. Importantly, your new tree will need watering once a week for the first three years!

A tree in your yard has so many benefits:
🌳 Cools your home and neighborhood
🌳 Reduces energy usage and related cooling and heating costs
🌳 Increases carbon sequestration
🌳 Improves air quality through pollution absorption.
🌳 Enhances stormwater management (reduced runoff).
🌳 Improves public health and well-being (reduced stress, improved mental health).
🌳 AND Increases biodiversity and wildlife habitat creation

Learn more at mass.gov/ggc

Mass Urban Canopy

08/28/2026

What a beautiful tribute to MK the bald eagle ❤ Thank you Mystic River Mural Project, David Fichter, student artists, and Save Arlington Wildlife for raising awareness about the harmful impacts of rodenticides!

You can view the Mystic River Mural Project along Mystic Ave in Somerville near Blessing of the Bay + check out https://www.savemasswildlife.org for educational resources on rodenticides and actions you can take to prevent these poisons from harming more wildlife.

GORGEOUS--JUST GORGEOUS!! And what a way to raise awareness and hopefully--encourage action on rodenticides!

This week the Mystic River Mural Project revealed their new mural expansion, which focused on the issue of rodenticides and its fatal impacts on the Mystic River watershed eagles, especially MK!

In June I met with David Fichter to discuss the issue and fill him in on the background of the eagles and how these poisons are harming so many of our local wild animals. Then last month, I was a guest speaker in classroom with the kids, presenting to them about MK and her family and what we have learned about rat poisons and what actions have (and have not) been taken up on this issue.

This mural is so beautiful and though I knew it would be wonderful, I couldn't prepare myself for how breathtaking it is.....these kids are so very talented.

This comes at a delicate time when the Somerville City Council is finally considering codifying a prohibition of anticoagulants on their city properties and filing Home Rule petition legislation. If you live in Somerville, please reach out to the Mayor Jake Wilson & the Somerville City Council member to tell them you wholeheartedly support these measures.

Photo by David Fichter.

Save Somerville Wildlife

08/27/2026

💧 Mill Creek in Chelsea regularly gets an "F" grade for water quality. So, this summer we launched an investigation. Watershed Field Scientist Jennifer Delgado explains what we did and what we found!

We were proud to partner with the City of Chelsea on this project, which was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While we've been sampling at the creek, the City has been investigating the vast network of underground pipes that drain into it. Together, we hope that this data will help us pinpoint where the pollution is coming from and fix it for good!

If you want to learn more and share your experiences around Chelsea Creek, join us for our walk and talk this Saturday at 10:00 AM. We'll meet at Creekside Common Skatepark (Cabot St, Chelsea, MA 02150).

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El arroyo Mill Creek, en Chelsea, suele recibir una calificación de "F" en cuanto a calidad del agua. Por ello, este verano iniciamos una investigación. Jennifer Delgado, científica de campo especializada en cuencas hidrográficas, nos explica qué hicimos y qué descubrimos.

Nos enorgullece haber colaborado con la ciudad de Chelsea en este proyecto, financiado por la Administración Nacional Oceánica y Atmosférica (NOAA). Mientras nosotros tomábamos muestras en el arroyo, la ciudad investigaba la extensa red de tuberías subterráneas que desembocan en él. ¡Esperamos que estos datos nos ayuden a identificar el origen de la contaminación y a solucionarlo definitivamente!

Si desea obtener más información y compartir sus experiencias en torno a Chelsea Creek, acompáñenos este sábado a las 10:00 a. m. en nuestra actividad de caminata y charla. Nos reuniremos en el parque de patinaje Creekside Common (Cabot St, Chelsea, MA 02150).

08/26/2026

These beautiful late-summer colors are a reminder of what great combined sewer overflow solutions can look like!

The Alewife Stormwater Wetland stores rainwater that once overwhelmed sewer systems near the brook, causing overflows. But the work at Alewife Brook is far from over. Advocate with us this September to let your leaders know that we need creative solutions like this to eliminate sewage pollution in the Mystic and Alewife once and for all! Get involved:

CSO In-Person Public Hearing:
🗣️ Sept 17, 2026, 6:00-8:00 PM at Cambridge City Hall, Sullivan Chambers, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA

MyRWA Public Hearing Workshops:
📝 Sept 2nd, 6:30-7:30 PM | IN-PERSON at MyRWA Office (23 Maple St., Arlington, MA) | Sign up >>> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0BQG9Kjkpt7IqP7YMbSpPNjmhQzJESXFbnilv46_X5omKyA/viewform
📝 Sept 9th, 6:30-7:30 PM | Online via Zoom | Register >>> https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ShdnKpdKTfm6JOykTy1OsA

Cut the Crap Rally to End Sewage Pollution
💩 September 8th, 10-11am at Fielder Dock on the Charles River Esplanade | Register >>> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/its-time-to-cut-the-crap-rally-for-sewage-free-rivers-tickets-1997913103876

08/25/2026

Join MyRWA and our partners for a virtual public update about the work being done in and around Belle Isle Marsh to protect communities while preserving the marsh!

When: Tuesday, September 15th 6-7PM
Where: Zoom (register at https://tinyurl.com/belleisle2026)

We will be hearing a round of lightning updates from:
➡️ Department of Conservation & Recreation
➡️ City of Revere
➡️ MBTA
➡️ Massachusetts Port Authority
➡️ Friends of Belle Isle Marsh
and others!

08/24/2026

Exciting progress photos of Hurld Park Phase 1 construction! 🚧 Phase 1 includes a cool, community gathering space, playground, and splash pad that will keep residents cool in the summer months.

You can see the great shade the new pavilion is getting already in the top left of the first photo!

Learn more about this climate resilient transformation at https://woburnma.gov/government/recreation/hurld-park-vision/

📸 : Matthew Barrett
The City of Woburn

08/23/2026

NEXT SUNDAY! Come celebrate the campaign with Governor Maura Healey!

Join the coalition, campaign supporters, and Governor Maura Healey on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 10AM at the Hammond Pond Trailhead in Chestnut Hill to rally for YES on Question 6, the Protect Water and Nature initiative.

Question 6 will dedicate as much as $100M annually to protect clean water and conserve natural areas—all WITHOUT raising taxes. Attendees get first pick of official YES on 6 lawn signs, buttons, and swag, followed by food and drinks after the speaking program.

This is your chance to vote YES for clean drinking water, healthy forests, and local parks on the ballot this fall!

RSVP for this exciting, impactful, and free event >>> https://actionnetwork.org/events/yes-on-6-rally-w-governor-healey

08/22/2026

💡 It was such an honor to be a part of this summer children's program in Arlington with Da Vinci Jr, helping students explore connections between art and engineering. Finding solutions to local environmental challenges like stormwater pollution requires ingenuity AND creativity!

Read more >>>

News New Arlington program blends art, science and engineering for young learners August 19, 2026 by YourArlington staff For Arlington children, summer learning has taken on a more hands-on approach. A new program kicked off this year and gave young learners the chance to explore their interests, wo...