Water Quality
We’re working towards healthy waterways that are safe for people to recreate in and provide robust habitat for native species.
Credit: David Mussina
With the help of dedicated volunteers and fellows, we’re collecting data to understand which communities are most impacted by poor water quality and publicizing what we can do about it as a region.
Credit: Isaiah Johnson
We’re working with Town and City engineers on nature-based solutions to improve water quality. From infiltration trenches—which can help address phosphorous—to constructed wetlands—which also address climate risks.
Credit: Daria Santollani
Many pollutants wash into our waterways with rain and snow melt (stormwater). But the good news—you can do something about it. From adopting a storm drain to rethinking your garden—there are so many ways to get involved.
Monitoring Programs
MyRWA runs many monitoring programs—from our monthly baseline program—to our work to study chloride (road salt) or cyanobacteria. Additionally we report out on these results—using tools such as our water quality report card.
Baseline Monitoring
Since July 2000, MyRWA has been monitoring trends in water quality with the help of a dedicated corps of volunteers. Water samples are collected from fifteen sites across the watershed and are analyzed for: Bacteria: Enterococcus or E. coli; total suspended solids; nutrients: nitrate-nitrite, total phosphorus; conductivity; dissolved oxygen; water temperature and water color and odor. Resources for monitors here.
Water Quality Report Card
MyRWA, together with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), issues a yearly water quality report card for the Mystic River watershed. Baseline data is used as the basis for this annual water quality report card. Water quality grades are given to sections of the rivers and streams based on how often they comply with state swimming and boating standards.
Boating advisory
During the boating season, estimates of water quality conditions are generated by an automated bacteria prediction model and by additional cyanobacteria testing. The predictions are made each day at 5 AM and are valid for the remainder of the day. To find out if it safe to swim in any of the DCR owned beaches including Shannon Beach, check the DCR Advisory Dashboard.
Cyanobacteria bloom. Photo by Jack Bitney
Cyanobacteria
MyRWA staff and interns monitor cyanobacteria levels throughout the Mystic River Watershed and alert authorities of the potentially harmful bacteria. Cyanobacteria, also referred to as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria that grow in all types of water and are usually not visible to the naked eye except when they form colonies. Blooms often occur from the late summer to early autumn and can appear overnight. For more in-depth information about what Cyanobacteria is, how to spot it, and the potential health risks, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health webpage.
Starting in 2017, the Mystic River Watershed Association has engaged in a major phosphorus study, which can cause algal blooms, designed to measure the amount of phosphorus entering the system and the effects it is having.
Road Salt
The potentially harmful component of the salts that gets applied to roads (for example sodium chloride) is chloride, a pollutant that degrades the ecological quality of freshwater systems. Freshwater ecosystems like the Upper Mystic watershed possess a low threshold for heightened levels of chloride. Meaning that an increase in chloride concentrations in water for long periods of time within these ecosystems can create stress and toxic environments for freshwater organisms, from fish to dragonfly larvae to native plants. MyRWA is completing a study on the impacts of road salt and you can read more about it here.
Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure is a cost-effective, nature-based approach to managing pollution flowing into our waterways. It includes built solutions like rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, and even constructed wetlands — all of which catch water before it enters drains, removing pollution before it reaches our rivers, lakes, and streams. Our vision is for the broad distribution of green infrastructure throughout the Mystic River watershed so that our natural resources stay clean and safe for everyone to enjoy. Click below to learn about the types of green infrastructure we are building.
Infiltration trenches reduce runoff by redirecting stormwater to structures below the ground that allow water to infiltrate into the soil.
Tree trenches combine a stormwater infiltration trench with a street tree, decreasing tree mortality and providing co-benefits associated with increased tree canopy.
Rain gardens are engineered to capture stormwater from streets in above-ground landscape features. They can be a cost-effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff.
Stormwater wetlands
MyRWA is working with municipalities on stormwater wetland projects in Everett, Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn. These open space improvements will help filter pollutants from rain and snowmelt, provide flood storage during large rainstorms, enhance paths and trails, and expand wildlife habitat.
What Can You Do?
Stormwater pollution occurs when rain or snowmelt washes pollutants such as oil, fertilizers, pet waste and trash over land and into the nearest catch basin, which flows directly to the nearest water body. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that contaminants in stormwater runoff cause over half of the pollution in our waterways. The great news is you can help address stormwater pollution! Help us remove trash in your neighborhood—that ends up in our rivers or remember to bag your leaves and reduce or don’t use pesticides or fertilizer. Want to go neighborhood-wide—consider adopting a storm drain—keeping the drain free and clear of trash.
