Mystic River Watershed Association

09/13/2026

You don't want to miss this! Join us along the Malden River on October 4th 1-4PM for the Grand Opening of Malden River Works, a new waterfront park featuring:
🌱 a restored riverfront landscape
🚣‍♂️ new public boating dock
🌳 over two-hundred new trees
💧 rain gardens
👟 a generous open lawn space
+ critical environmental upgrades for the City's DPW!

Friends of the Malden River City of Malden (Official)

09/12/2026

🐟️ 🌳 ☀️ Calling all members and friends! MyRWA's Annual Meeting and Celebration is on October 14th!

Learn about and engage with our new Theory of Change, celebrate the volunteers who make our work possible, and meet other watershed community members.

Who counts as a MyRWA member? If you have volunteered with us or donated in the last year, you qualify and can vote on our incoming board of directors (it's never too late to give!) But you don't need to be a member to join in on the celebration! All are welcome to join for the meeting, celebration, or both!

Learn more and register here >>> https://mysticriver.org/annual-meeting

09/11/2026

💅✨️ Blessing of the Bay Park is getting a makeover, and we need your help! Join us for a trash cleanup at Blessing of the Bay in Somerville next Friday, September 18th, from 2:00-4:00 PM!

Register >>> https://www.givepulse.com/event/921035-community-trash-cleanup-at-blessing-of-the-bay

The Shore Drive Greenway at Blessing of the Bay has been under construction this year. The park will get new tree plantings, a wider, more accessible shared-use path, and green stormwater infrastructure along the street.

But we need YOUR help to take care of the rest of the park! Next week, we'll be picking up trash along paved pathways and in grassy areas with gloves and trash pickers. We recommend wearing long pants, sleeves, and socks with closed-toe shoes. All cleanup materials will be provided, and students can earn service hours for this event.

🕑️ Friday, September 18th from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM
📍 We will meet next to the parking lot at the Blessing of the Bay boathouse at 32 Shore Dr., Somerville, MA
🚉 🚍️ 🚘️ There is parking available at the site. The Assembly T stop (Orange Line) and the 95 bus line have stops close to Blessing of the Bay boathouse

City of Somerville Green & Open Somerville Groundwork Somerville Paddle Boston - Charles River Canoe & Kayak Bike to the Sea SustainaVille.ma Assembly Connect Gentle Giant Rowing Club

09/09/2026

🎉 Introducing Katie Figueroa Beltran, the Mystic River Watershed Association’s new Climate and Social Resilience Associate!

Katie joins us through the RAY Fellowship, which supports underrepresented individuals in environment-related fields. Katie is joining MyRWA's Climate Resilience team for the next two years and will work at the intersection of climate and social resilience to help protect the watershed and the surrounding communities that depend on it.

Join us in getting to know Katie with this fun Q&A >>> https://mysticriver.org/news/2026/8/24/katie-figueroa-beltran-joins-myrwa-as-a-climate-and-social-resilience-associate-ray-fellow

09/08/2026

“The Clean Water Act didn't promise clean water for some neighborhoods. It didn't promise a sewage-free river only in wealthy zip codes. It promised fishable, swimmable, safe water for everyone.” -Patrick Herron, MyRWA Executive Director.

MyRWA was proud to rally this morning with the Charles River Watershed Association, Save the Alewife Brook, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, and the Conservation Law Foundation to protect our rivers from sewage pollution.

What can you do to help? Submit public comment TODAY! The comment period for the Combined Sewer Overflow control plan for the Mystic, Charles, and Alewife is open until the end of October, and public hearings are coming up this month:

👥 Join our online public hearing training workshop tomorrow at 6:30 PM: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ShdnKpdKTfm6JOykTy1OsA #/registration

🎤 Join us at the first in-person public hearing on September 17th: https://mysticriver.org/events/2026/9/17/combined-sewer-overflow-public-hearing-1

✍️ Submit online public comment: https://mysticriver.org/csos

09/07/2026

MyRWA's Climate Resilience Director, Nasser, tunes in from newly constructed cooling solutions built a five-minute walk from our office in Arlington Center. This summer, we built 9 new cooling structures across the Mystic River watershed as part of our Wicked Cool Mystic program.

More solutions are on the way, but they need funding. That's why programs like the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program are so important. It provides critical funding for cities and towns as they advance their climate priorities.

To stay in the loop about ways you can connect with our work, visit our website, www.mysticriver.org, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

09/06/2026

Falling in love with Center Falls! 😍 Have you been to Center Falls Dam in Wi******er? It's a beautiful spot with cascading water and an abundance of bird life.

If you visit, you can see the entrance to a fish passage (see last photo) that was constructed at the Center Falls Dam in 2016 to allow river herring to progress further upstream, a precursor to the new fish passage under construction at Horn Pond.

📸 : thank you to James Fessenden for sharing these great photos of Center Falls with us!

09/05/2026

🌊 Have you ever wondered who is standing behind the MyRWA table at fun community events (often in a cool MyRWA hat)? That could be you!

We're looking for volunteer River Reps to help represent MyRWA at festivals, farmers' markets, community celebrations, and other events throughout the watershed! It’s a great way to meet people in your area and to welcome others into our organization’s work.

No previous experience is necessary. Just fill out the quick form below, and we will contact you with information about River Rep training that can be completed online or in person at our office.

Fill out our interest form >>> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehvvqKW4ZvUaes1kyqPWYoOXPAzW2M66hLc-EHBtIwstur6Q/viewform

09/04/2026

We had a blast learning to sample water quality at Mill Creek with community members! 💧

Want to try your hand at water quality testing? 🙋

Learn how MyRWA samples and monitors water quality at our upcoming Water Quality Monitor Training on Saturday, September 19th from 10AM-12PM! No prior experience is necessary. Completing this training is the first step to becoming part of our volunteer monthly baseline water quality monitoring program!

More info and register at https://mysticriver.org/events/water-quality-monitor-training

📸 : Marissa Zampino & Shannon Collins

09/03/2026

The best ? A FREE tree for your yard!! See below for an opportunity to get a free tree through TreesMedford 🌳

And if you live in , , , or , check out Mass Urban Canopy's free tree program here >>> https://www.maurbancanopy.org

Step One: Decide what kind of tree you want from this list of trees. Step Two: Use the form below to request the tree. For the best selection, please request your tree by September 20th. Step Three: People who want to contribute or want delivery, and those who live in Medford outside of South Medfor...