Throughout the year, we worked with 1,838 volunteers across 68 volunteer groups to increase the health and resilience of river ecosystems by removing invasive plants, picking up trash, and planting trees along Mystic waterways. Our stewardship efforts are supported by our corporate partners. This year, corporate sponsors pledged $44,490 to this program.
Join us in celebrating the highlights of our 2025 stewardship season!
Invasive Land Plants
We hand pulled Bittersweet Vine and Garlic Mustard from the following four locations in the watershed: Stoneham Wetland, Macdonald Park, Riverbend Park, and Belle Isle Marsh. Bittersweet Vine kills trees— as it grows, it girdles the tree and makes them top-heavy and vulnerable to wind and ice damage. Garlic mustard is allelopathic, which means that it produces compounds that impede the growth of other plant species and degrades soil.
By the Numbers
Invasive Bittersweet Vines: 112 piles/lawn bags removed
Invasive Garlic Mustard: 95 bags removed
Invasive Water Plants (Water Chestnut)
The 2025 stewardship season highlighted the powerful impact that 10+ years of dedicated volunteer efforts of removing water chestnut have had on the river. Across all historic water chestnut volunteer sites, we saw significantly smaller patches of this invasive plant. Next season, we will continue to monitor and hand-pull at these hisoric locations and expand water chestnut removal efforts at Horn Pond in partnership with the City of Woburn and Friends of Horn Pond.
By the Numbers
Water Chestnut Baskets: 1,682
Pounds of Water Chestnut removed: 33,630
Trash Removal
Each time it rains, trash takes a journey from the side of our roads into our waterways, harming aquatic ecosystems and negatively impacting human health. This year, we hosted volunteers at 15+ parks and paths in the watershed to remove trash.
By the Numbers
Trash: 1,512 bags
Large trash/tires removed: 19 items
Tree and Shrub Planting
28 volunteer groups helped to establish new native trees and shrubs in the watershed. Some common species planted were Black Tupelo, Swamp White Oak, American Hornbeam, Eastern Redbud, Serviceberry, Gray Birch, Dogwood, and Red Maple. These tree species are native to this area, grow canopies that provides shade, and bring many more benefits to the surrounding community. For example, in the Gateway Park Forested Wetland, these new tree and shrub saplings will provide food and habitat for wildlife and help to filter pollutants from the air and water.
By the Numbers
Somerville: 157 trees planted
Chelsea: 86 trees planted
Everett: 30 trees planted, 2158 saplings established in Gateway Park Forested Wetland
Volunteer with us in 2026!
Interested in joining us for a volunteer day next year?
Subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter to hear about upcoming opportunities!
Corporate group opportunities — contact ShaSha Kingston (shasha.kingston@mysticriver.org)
Non-corporate group opportunities — contact Daria Clark Santollani (daria.santollani@mysticriver.org)
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors and partners!
Sponsors
Intellia Therapeutics
JPMorgan
National Development
MIT Sloan School of Management
Point32Health
Rapid7
S2N Health
S&P Global
Tufts CORE Fellows
Tufts Leadership for Social Change
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
ZS Associates
Agero
Aspen Technology
Avalon Bay
Avangrid
Beam Therapeutics
Bevi
BNY Mellon
Building Impact
Dyne Therapeutics
EY
Financial Recovery Technologies
partners
Macy's
Mass Audubon Fellows
McGlynn Elementary School
Mennonite Congregation of Boston
M&T Bank
Native Land Conservancy
NOAH Youth Organizers
Padres Latinos
Portico Brewing
Power Corps Boston
Radius Recycling
Rewilding Massachusetts
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Shir Tikvah Temple
Somerville Climate Justice Cohort
Stoneham High School
Sunrun
Trustees Waterfront Ambassadors
Tufts Fencing & Golf Teams
Tufts FOCUS
Tufts University Advancement
Waypoint Leaders in Training Alumni
Wellness Blueprint
American Red Cross
AVOYCE
Belmont Day School
Bike to the Sea
Biodiversity Builders
Body & Brain
Cambridge Savings Bank
Cellarity
Clean up Everett
Curtis-Tufts High School
Dottir Labs
EarthCORE
Encore
Geosyntec
Groundwork Somerville Green Team
Harvard Climate Leaders Program
Harvard HUCBE
Impact Church
International School of Boston
Keep Eastie Clean
Latino Outdoors
Liberty Mutual
