Since 1996, the Somerville Arts Council, City of Somerville has employed high school youth during the summer to work on the Mystic River Mural Project, alongside muralist David Fichter. The Mural Project combines public art with hands-on environmental education.The youth draw and paint the mural panels based on their explorations of the Mystic River Watershed through hikes and canoe trips led by local naturalists and educators. In 1997, the mural project received a national award for excellence from Amercian Rivers association in education. The mural which is over 450 ft. long, can be viewed on Mystic Ave. (across from 530 Mystic Ave.) in Somerville. See more from David at his website here: www.davidfichter.com

The mural of the Mystic River Watershed was commissioned by John M. Corcoran & Co as a gift to the City of Chelsea and was painted by artists Michael Noel, David Bennett and Michael Harsey on September 24, 2008 to replicate a mural created by the Mystic River Watershed Association in 2001.

In March and April 2001, many of the Mystic River's tributaries overflowed. During the period of March 14-16, 2010 a total of 9.5 inches of rainfall fell in the Boston area. For the Mystic River Watershed, that meant a total of 12.5 billion gallons of water hit the ground, making it’s way downhill.

Photos from all parts of the River These pictures portray how we have depended on the Mystic River for industrial development. It's been straightened, culverted, dumped in, leaked in, and diverted. For further information, we have maps of polluted sites, a history of industrial development, and water quality studies. See the Department of Environmental Protection to learn about pollution regulation.