Restoring a Living River: Past, Present, and Future of Dams on the Charles

Early settlers relied heavily on dams to provide power for industry. As a result thousands of dams were constructed on waterways across the Commonwealth. Today, these relics remain, typically offering no benefit to society, but still impeding river connectivity and degrading water quality and wildlife habitat. Many of these aged structures are in poor condition and are vulnerable to breaches from intensified storms, and increased precipitation caused by climate change. This hazard puts downstream residents and infrastructure at risk. CRWA was involved in the removal of the Old Mill Dam in Bellingham on the main stem of the Charles River in 2016. Now, we are working with local and state officials to assess the feasibility of removing other dams in our watershed, including the Watertown Dam and the South Natick Dam.

​Join us for a lively and informative presentation and discussion about dams on the Charles River, what CRWA is doing to promote their removal, and how you can help.

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