Climate Action in Our Watersheds
Charles River Conservancy
LEARN AND DISCOVER: CHARLES RIVER PLANTS
While walking along the Charles River, have you ever wondered about the types of beautiful flowers you see growing by the river’s edge? Have you ever been curious why some plants seem to dominate and take over entire banks of the river? Do you want to learn more about your local ecosystem?
https://bit.ly/35iqJz0
Come explore the Charles River’s plants with us! Join us each week as we dive into the basics of the Charles River ecosystem, the native and invasive plants that live there, and how to get involved with your local ecology. Then, test what you learn with fun games!
Charles River Watershed Association
The Charles River Watershed Association strives to protect, restore and enhance the Charles River and its watershed through science, advocacy, and law. The association develops science-based strategies to increase resilience, protect public health, and promote environmental equity as we confront a changing climate. In 1965, a group of concerned citizens formed Charles River Watershed Association in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles River. The association is one of the country’s oldest watershed organizations and has figured prominently in major cleanup and protection efforts. Since our earliest days of advocacy, we have worked with government officials and citizen groups from 35 Massachusetts watershed towns from Hopkinton to Boston.
Groundwork Somerville
Through community engagement, environmental and open space improvements, fresh food access, youth education, and employment initiatives, Groundwork creates the building blocks of a healthy community, and empowers residents to improve their quality of life.
Learn all about rain barrels and their importance for keeping our Cambridge rivers clean and clear! This informative lesson teaches you about rainwater and gives you some great tips for how to turn your rain barrel into a piece of art.
Rain barrel Art: a beautiful step towards cleaner rivers
Mystic River Watershed Association
Cambridge Has Two Rivers!
Image: MyRWA Watershed
Pop Quiz:
When a raindrop falls in Cambridge, it flows into one of two rivers. Do you know their names?
Answer:
Most Cantabridgians will be able to identify the Charles River, which forms a highly visible, beautiful border between our city and Boston. The other one is the...Mystic River! It’s less well known because the river itself lies on the other side of Somerville. Much smaller Alewife Brook flows into the Mystic from the aptly-named Alewife MBTA station along--wait for it--Alewife Brook Parkway. Rain (or snow) falling north of Porter Square flows to the Mystic, while precipitation in West Cambridge and Cambridgeport goes into the Charles. Now you know!
Find out more about the mighty Mystic, including what fish and wildlife you might see, places to explore, activities to do, and what the Mystic River Watershed Association is doing to prepare people and places for a changing climate. See you (safely!) on the Mystic!
Dip a Toe In
What can You Do with a Stick? (Part 1)
Sticks, Trees and the Environment – More things you can do
Sticks and Trees take three!
Mini Challenge! Explore, Think, Learn, Connect– At Home
Mini Challenge! Explore, Think, Learn, Discover– At Home
Take our Climate Quiz!
Take a Deeper Dive: Video Learning
• Use iNaturalist to document biodiversity | https://bit.ly/2zHD9oT
• Herring EcoSuccess Story | https://bit.ly/2yF55Jq
• Climate change and Social Resiliency | https://bit.ly/3chFOD6
Do more IRL (In Real Life)!
Did we, uh, wet your appetite for the Mystic? There are so many more opportunities for you to safely enjoy the watershed as a citizen scientist or explorer! Help us count fish, try out nature hikes, learn how to prevent stormwater pollution, and help us keep trash out of the river! Happy Stream Fest!
• Explore The Mystic in the real world with our Mystic River Watershed Rambling Routes: https://bit.ly/2M7qGxk
• Monitor the Migration: Each spring nearly 1 million river herring migrate up the Mystic River to spawn. Learn about this spectacular, hidden migration--and become a citizen scientist by helping us count fish using our underwater fishcam. Count Fish Here: https://bit.ly/3eshBev
• Be a Litter Detective: All too often, litter on the street ends up in the Mystic River (find out how, here). We are developing a long-term plan to target the high-trash areas in our watershed and prevent this trash from entering the river in the first place. You can help us get a big picture of the overall trash problem in our watershed by performing a visual assessment of litter in priority areas. Register Here: https://bit.ly/2Bc839h
• Keep it clean! Protecting the river starts at home. Do you know that stormwater pollution is the biggest source of pollution in our waterways? When heavy rain falls, it picks up whatever is on the ground and carries it to storm drains which empty directly into rivers, brooks, and ponds – untreated. Reducing stormwater pollution is something everyone can do – easily! Find out more about our stormwater work, and help us reduce pollution in our watershed. https://bit.ly/2M6i1ev
• Watch this webinar: A Threat to Clean Water: Stormwater Pollution | https://bit.ly/2M3kcj4
• Students - Spread the Word! https://bit.ly/2TOcDky
• Watch: Stormwater – What is it? It’s only two minutes long!