Figure 7: A copy of the EPA Region 1 Charles River Web Page.

Links have been fully qualified to point to the EPA website.

The Charles River, which flows 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston Harbor, is one of New England's crown jewels. One of the busiest recreational rivers in the world, the lower Charles is lined with boat houses, jogging paths, sports fields and performance facilities that are used by hundreds of thousands of city dwellers each year. Still, the river suffers from pollution problems, particularly after heavy rains which wash bacterial contaminants into the river from sewer overflows, stormwater runoff and illegal sewer connections.

EPA-New England has launched an ambitious effort to restore the river so that it is fishable and swimmable by Earth Day 2005. The project relies on the cooperation and commitment of numerous federal, state and local agencies as well as strong participation from citizens, nonprofit groups and private institutions.

Using sound science, cutting-edge technologies and, when necessary, strong enforcement, EPA and its partners are making remarkable progress tackling storm overflows, illicit sewer connections and other pollution sources to the river. The result: much cleaner water! At this year's Earth Day celebration, EPA's annual report card grade on the river's health was upgraded to a "B-", a dramatic improvement from the "D" we gave the river three years ago when the project was first launched.

• Fact Sheet
  
  
• History & Progress
  
  
• Clean Charles 2005 Update
  
  
• Enforcement: Pollution Prevention
  
  
• Economic Aspects
  
  
• Charles River Watershed Association
  
  
• Boston Harbor Water Quality/Beach Links
  
  

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url:http://www.epa.gov/region01/charles

revised 7/26/99

United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region 1, New England
Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, and Vermont.