Our Vision

A healthy, vibrant, and resilient Mystic River watershed for the benefit of all our community members.

Our Work

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) builds solutions so that all people across the watershed, no matter who you are or where you live, have safe and easy access to nature and a healthy environment. MyRWA is rooted in science and the understanding of environmental injustices. We believe access to information and opportunities to learn about the natural world empower us all to work together for a better future in the Mystic.

Our Watershed

The Mystic River watershed is a network of rivers, streams, and ponds that all flow into the Mystic River and ultimately Boston Harbor.

EXPLORE THE MYSTIC

The watershed encompasses 21 cities and towns and is home to 600,000 people, including the highest density of environmental justice communities in New England.

Environmental Justice in the Mystic

Communities within the Mystic River watershed

Strategic Plan

MyRWA’s strategic plan provides a roadmap to improve our watershed to benefit all residents—no matter who you are or where you live. This plan explicitly outlines how we are integrating equity into our programs and organization, and it builds on our 50+ year history of strong initiatives that are rooted in science, collaboration, and innovation.

Within all our programs, we are becoming more inclusive, bolder, and more effective to have a greater impact for all our residents. Programs like water quality—which has grown from monitoring and advocating for improvements to piloting regional green infrastructure—to our newest initiative that is focusing on building climate resilience at a watershed-wide scale to protect people and places. We are committed to connecting all residents to the watershed through stewardship, events, educational programming—and, of course, 25 miles of connected paths and improved parks.

Our Values

Commitment to the Environment: We recognize the profound interconnectedness between human well-being and the health of our planet. We are committed to the environment and the protection and restoration of the Mystic River watershed. We embrace a commitment rooted in environmental justice, working to ensure that no community bears a disproportionate burden of environmental harms and that all communities within our watershed have equitable access to a healthy environment. We work to safeguard and nurture the Mystic River watershed, striving for sustainability, conservation, and resilience in all our endeavors.
Science and evidence-based: Our initiatives are grounded in scientific research and data, ensuring that our efforts to address environmental and climate challenges are informed and effective. We embrace flexibility, innovation, and problem-solving to address the complex environmental and related social issues impacting the river, watershed, and our community members.
Collaboration: We collaborate with residents, governmental bodies, municipalities, and community organizations, valuing diverse perspectives and collective wisdom. Through shared knowledge and cooperative efforts, we implement impactful programs, policies, and projects that bring about positive change.
Equity at the Core: We prioritize equity in all aspects of our work and actively work to dismantle racism in our programs, policies, hiring practices, and board representation. Recognizing historical injustices and contemporary barriers faced by communities of color in environmental matters, we center equity to create a more just and inclusive environmental movement that empowers all voices and addresses systemic inequities head-on.

Our Progress

For more than 50 years the Mystic River Watershed Association has been protecting and restoring our watershed — for the benefit of both the people and wildlife that call the Mystic their home.