Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Across the US, rivers are stressed, water supplies are running dry, and water infrastructure is crumbling. A changing climate means these problems loom even larger. Conventional solutions are expensive and often solve one problem while creating another. Climate science offers dire predictions for the Northeast in coming months and years from climate change: increases in total precipitation; extreme precipitation events; recurrent flooding; more heat-related deaths; greater evacuated and displaced populations; and all of these impacts are exacerbated by our aging infrastructure including water, sewer, stormwater, and transportation. Climate impacts disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, chronically ill, and low-income residents, not only in the long term but also in the immediate aftermath of severe weather events.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
River Science
Regularly monitoring water quality is key to improving conditions in our complex and dynamic urban watershed. With this solid background knowledge, CRWA is able to properly address the issues threatening the Charles River. CRWA has been measuring change in the Charles River since 1995, and our River Science program serves as a model for watershed science programs across the country. We are the only organization that maintains a robust, year-round sampling program spanning the full extent of the Charles River. Our program includes monitoring water chemistry, pollutant levels, cyanobacteria algal blooms, streamflows, invertebrate species, and invasive plants. The Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection rely on our sampling results to develop and enforce water quality standards. CRWA scientists continuously analyze our robust dataset to identify spatial and temporal trends that allow us to better understand the river system as a whole.
Blue Cities Initiative
Blue Cities incorporates the design of natural green corridors and infrastructure to help treat stormwater runoff – all while enhancing neighborhoods and connecting existing open spaces. Using historic maps as a starting point to understand how rainwater once functioned before urbanization, Blue Cities analysis evaluates opportunities for restoration that work with, rather than against, natural hydrology. CRWA evaluates soil types, historic groundwater flow, and historic versus constructed drainage patterns. This information forms the basis for retrofitting buildings, streets, and parking lots to capture and treat runoff, connect isolated greenspace, and create greenways—in effect, mimicking historic natural conditions. CRWA’s work includes partnering with others to build and monitor our demonstration projects, modeling the potential impacts of large-scale Blue Cities designs, and training other environmental advocates, local residents, and municipal officials.
Climate Change
CRWA is working with our communities and residents to implement “nature-based” solutions that employ natural processes to build resilience into our landscape. These are often the most cost-effective way to build climate resilience, and they bring numerous co-benefits in terms of improving air and water quality, decreasing local temperatures, and adding green space. Many cities and towns across the watershed are taking proactive leadership roles in adapting to climate change.
There are challenges that individual towns cannot address on their own, however, and are more appropriately addressed at a regional or watershed scale. Additionally, communities cannot act in a vacuum as the actions of one community will have impacts on neighboring or downstream communities. CRWA is bringing together communities in the Charles River watershed to work on climate adaptation issues such as flooding, heat impacts, tree health, dam removal, and regional collaboration.
Advocacy
CRWA advocates for a healthy, vibrant, and climate-resilient Charles River watershed for all.
When major decisions are made affecting the Charles River, CRWA is there advocating for the river and those who value it. Working in close partnership with watershed communities and allied organizations, we are committed to protecting the ecological integrity of the Charles and building the entire watershed’s resilience to climate change. Whether we are weighing in on permits and development proposals; testifying before conservation commissions, planning boards, environmental agencies, and legislative committees; or filing legal challenges, our advocacy work is grounded in science and innovative solutions to watershed protection.
Over the past five decades, CRWA has pushed for the cleanup of contaminated sites along the Charles, fought to reduce pollution, protect critically important resources like wetlands, and develop sustainable solutions to our biggest environmental challenges.
Where we work
Awards
Thiess International Riverprize 2011
International River Foundation
Environmental Merit Award 2014
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Green Star Award 2010
Environmental League of Massachusetts
The EBC Nicholas Humber Environmental-Energy Award for Outstanding Collaboration 2016
Environmental Business Council of New England
Affiliations & memberships
River Network 1995
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
CRWA’s goals are to protect, restore, and enhance the health, beauty, and accessibility of the Charles River and its watershed communities through science, advocacy, and the law.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
CRWA has developed several key, interconnected programs to explore, test, and implement change. Focused on seemingly diverse elements such as educating local elected officials on nature-based solutions to stormwater runoff, collaborating on a Charles River Flood Model, creating a Climate Resilience Toolkit for watershed municipalities, regularly monitoring water quality, and more, CRWA’s programs work together to create real change. CRWA builds on a long legacy of advocating for the river. For over fifty years CRWA has been a fierce advocate for laws, policies, regulations, and enforcement actions that protect and restore the Charles River. With the vital assistance of over 80 Volunteer Monthly Monitors, CRWA has established one of the most extensive water quality data sets of any river in the nation since 1995. The Charles River watershed is also rich in diversity, both ecological and human. We are committed to centering equity, inclusion, and justice in all that we do. When we invest in climate resilience and water quality improvements, we help all our residents but particularly those who are disproportionately harmed such as BIPOC, low-income, elderly, or disabled community members.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
CRWA is marshaling expertise, experience, and knowledge gained from our long and documented history of improving environmental conditions to address our climate challenge. Many of the strategies we have employed for environmental restoration over the past five decades—such as strong community engagement, developing partnerships, and a focus on restoring nature—are the exact same tools that can help our watershed adapt to climate change.
CRWA has been measuring change in the Charles River since 1995, and our River Science program serves as a model for watershed science programs across the country. We are the only organization that maintains a robust, year-round sampling program spanning the full extent of the Charles River. Our program includes monitoring water chemistry, pollutant levels, cyanobacteria algal blooms, streamflows, invertebrate species, and invasive plants. The Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection rely on our sampling results to develop and enforce water quality standards.
CRWA scientists continuously analyze our robust dataset to identify spatial and temporal trends that allow us to better understand the river system as a whole, and to identify problem areas. Our River Science program goes one step further and puts observations into action through river restoration projects like dam removals, invasive plant removal, stream naturalization, and fish stocking.
Our River Science program engages watershed residents as volunteer community scientists who help collect samples and restoration volunteers who participate in on-the-ground projects. This training and hands-on experience gives volunteers of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn about watershed management challenges and solutions. Equipped with this experience and knowledge, our volunteers are some of the strongest advocates for the Charles River.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
CRWA has over 50 years of progress protecting and preserving the Charles River. To read more about our projects, past, and present, please visit our website, www.crwa.org, or read through our Annual Reports at www.crwa.org/financial-information!
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Charles River Watershed Association, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/03/2022
Ms. Linda McLane
Mr. Lance Campbell
Boston Planning and Development Agency
Term: 2019 - 2022
James Healy
Boston Duck Tours
Edward Englander
Englander, Leggett, & Chicoine
Ralph Abele
Resident of Newton, MA
Laurie Doyle
U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
Diane Hall
Resident of Wellesley, MA
Larry Yu
Bridgespan Group
Peter Fernandez
Jennifer Hillenmeyer
Ernst & Young
Toni Hicks
Boston University School of Law
Stephanie Hsia
Reed Hilderbrand
Matthew Jasmin
Howard Stein Hudson
Patricia King
Resident of Newton, MA
Ihssane Leckey
Federal Reserve
Aditya Perakath
Gunderson Dettmer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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