The Mystic River Watershed Initiative

The Mystic River Watershed Initiative is a collaborative effort with a goal to improve water quality and environmental conditions as well as create and protect open space and public access to the Mystic River and its tributaries through safe public pathways and access points. The Initiative is guided by a steering committee composed of 22 organizations including not-for-profit community groups, local, state, and federal governmental agencies. To hear thoughts, perspectives, and insight from some of the not-for-profit and municipal Steering Committee members, play video below.

For questions or more information about this initiative, contact us.

Mystic River Watershed Initiative Video, May 2010

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Upcoming Meetings

To be announced.

Past Meetings Archive

Non-EPA presentations from past meetings are available on the Mystic River Watershed Association's webpage.

Steering Committee

Steering Committee Meeting, September 13, 2023
Location: Remote/Virtual

Steering Committee Meeting, May 11, 2023
Location: Remote/Virtual

Steering Committee Meeting, January 19, 2023
Location: Remote/Virtual

Environmental Justice Workshop 102: A Deeper Dive into Racial Equity in the Mystic River Watershed, December 1, 2022
Location: Chelsea GreenRoots education classroom

Steering Committee Meeting, November 10, 2022
Location: Remote/Virtual

Environmental Justice Workshop 101: Building a Common Foundation for Racial Equity in the Mystic River Watershed, October 13, 2022
Location: Remote/Virtual

Steering Committee Meeting, September 9, 2022
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, May 5, 2022
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Steering Committee, January 13, 2022
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Steering Committee, November 10, 2021
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Steering Committee, June 3, 2021
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Steering Committee Meeting, April 29, 2021
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, December 3, 2020
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, September 10, 2020
Location: Remote/Virtual

Webinar – Mystic River Watershed Alternative TMDL Development for Phosphorus Management, August 20, 2020
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Watershed Steering Comittee, June 4, 2020
Location: Remote/Virtual hosted by the Consensus Building Institute

Mystic River Watershed Steering Comittee, April 8, 2020
Location: Remote/Virtual

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, December 5, 2019
Location: Winchester Town Hall, Waterfield Rm (Lower Level), 71 Mt. Vernon Street, Winchester

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, September 12, 2019
Location: Encore Boston Harbor, Picasso Room, One Broadway, Everett

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, June 13, 2019
Location: U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Community Planning & Development, 10 Causeway Street, Room 535 (5th Floor), Boston, MA 02222

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, March 5, 2019
Location: Waterfield Room at Winchester Town Hall, 71 Mt. Vernon Street, Winchester, MA 01890

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, October 11, 2018
Location: MassDEP - 205 Lowell St, Wilmington, MA

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, June 14, 2018
Location: City Council Chamber, Chelsea City Hall, 500 Broadway, Chelsea, MA

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, April 12, 2018
Location: 200 Rivers Edge Drive, Medford, MA

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, November 30, 2017
Location: Arlington Town Hall, 2nd Floor Lyons Hearing Rm, 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, September 14, 2017
Location: Century Bank Executive Conference Room, 400 Mystic Ave, Medford, MA 02155

Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee, June 15, 2017
Location: GreenRoots Chelsea, 227 Marginal St #1, Chelsea, MA 02150

Steering Committee Meeting, April 13, 2017
Location: MADEP - 205 Lowell St, Wilmington, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, January 26, 2017
Location: Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St, Watertown, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, October 13, 2016
Location: Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection, 205 Lowell St, Wilmington, MA

Open Space Subcommittee Meeting, September 29, 2016
Location: Green Roots Chelsea, 227 Marginal St. Suite 1, Chelsea, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, June 9, 2016
Location: City of Everett, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA

Mystic River Federal Partners Grant Information Event, March 31, 2016
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, March 10, 2016
Location: Arlington Town Hall, 2nd Floor Lyons Hearing Room, 730 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA

Open Space Subcommittee Meeting, February 11, 2016
Location: Century Bank, 400 Mystic Ave., Medford, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, December 10, 2015
Location: House Member's Lounge, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St., Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, September 10, 2015
Location: Chelsea Collaborative, 318 Broadway, Chelsea, MA

Mystic River Watershed Federal Partnership Annual Call, September 1, 2015

MA DCR's Mystic Master Plan Presentation, June 18, 2015
Location: EPA Region 1 - Leighton Hall, 1st Floor, 5 Post Office Sq., Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, June 4, 2015
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, April 16, 2015
Location: Teleconference

Steering Committee Meeting, December 11, 2014
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, June 19, 2014
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, March 6, 2014
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, September 25, 2013
Location: Preotle, Lane & Associates, Ltd., River's Edge Office Park, 200 River's Edge Drive, Medford, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, June 12, 2013
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, March 28, 2013
Location: River's Edge, 200 River's Edge Drive, Medford, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, December 5, 2012
Location: Arlington Town Hall, 730 Mass Avenue, Arlington, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, September 5, 2012
Location: Winchester Town Hall, 71 Mount Vernon Street, Winchester, MA

Open Space Sub-Group Meeting, July 26, 2012
Location: Draw 7 Park, Somerville, MA (Back-up location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA)

Steering Committee Meeting, June 6, 2012
Location: MassDEP Northeast Regional Office, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, March 7, 2012
Location: Pfizer Building, 200 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge MA

Steering Committee Meeting, December 7, 2011
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, September 7, 2011
Location: Conservation Law Foundation, 62 Summer Street, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, May 18, 2011
Location: Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Open Space Group - Conference Call, April 26, 2011

Water Quality Subgroup Meeting, April 11, 2011
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, February 16, 2011
Location: MAPC, 60 Temple Place, Boston, MA

Water Quality Subgroup Meeting, January 24, 2011
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Water Quality Group, December 8, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, November 17, 2010
Location: Tuft's Boathouse, 300 River's Edge Drive, Medford, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Open Space Group, November 8, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Open Space Group, October 4, 2010
Location: Groundwork Somerville, Somerville, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Water Quality Group, September 29, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, September 15, 2010
Location: Delta Dental Building, Schrafft's Complex, 465 Medford Street, Charlestown, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, July 21, 2010
Location: Whip Hill Park, Perkins Street, Stoneham, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Open Space Group, July 7, 2010
Location: Pfizer, 25 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Water Quality Group, June 14, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Open Space Group, May 26, 2010
Location: Pfizer, 200 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, Water Quality Group, May 12, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, March 31, 2010
Location: Century Bank, 400 Mystic Avenue, Medford, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, January 20, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, November 18, 2009
Location: Chelsea City Hall, 500 Broadway, Chelsea, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, September 16, 2009
Location: EPA New England, 1 Congress Street, Boston, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, July 15, 2009
Location: Century Bank, 400 Mystic Avenue, Medford, MA

NAWCA Grant Writing Workshop, June 9, 2009
Location: Chelsea City Hall, 500 Broadway, Chelsea, MA

Steering Committee Meeting, May 20, 2009
Location: Town Hall in the Winchester Room, Winchester, MA

First Mystic River Watershed Steering Committee Meeting, March 11, 2009
Location: JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA

Pre-Steering Committee Meetings

Municipal

Trash Reduction in the Mystic River Watershed Webinar Series, April 2, April 14, & May 9, 2021

Phosphorous Reduction in the Mystic River Watershed 101, November 2, 16, & 30, 2020

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program Workshop for Mystic Municipalities, October 29, 2015
Location: Lexington DPW, 201 Bedford St., Lexington, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, November 25, 2014
Location: Woburn Senior Center, 144 School St, Woburn, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, November 15, 2012
Location: Arlington Town Hall, 730 Mass Avenue, Arlington, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, September 22, 2011
Location: Everett City Hall, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, July 20, 2011
Location: Woburn Senior Center, 144 School Street, Woburn, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, October 28, 2010
Location: Winchester Town Hall, Winchester, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, July 29, 2010
Location: Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, April 29, 2010
Location: Senior Center, 144 School Street, Woburn, MA

Municipal Subcommittee Meeting, January 14, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Science

Mystic River Watershed Science Forum, April 30, 2019
Location: Court Rm #6 (15th Floor), EPA Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Mystic River Watershed Initiative Science Forum, May 4, 2017
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Sq., Boston, MA

Water Quality Subcommittee Meeting, March 3, 2016
Location: EPA New England, Mt. Madison Room (15th Floor), 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Science Forum, April 9, 2015
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Water Quality Subcommittee Meeting, March 19, 2015
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Water Quality Subcommittee Meeting, November 18, 2014
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Water Quality Subcommittee Meeting, July 15, 2014
Location: EPA New England, Mt. Madison Room (15th Floor), 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Annual Mystic River Water Quality Forum, January 24, 2013
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Mystic River Watershed Water Quality Sub-Group Meeting, July 25, 2012
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Science Subcommittee Meeting, Water Quality Workgroup, May 11, 2011
Location: EPA New England Regional Laboratory, 11 Technology Drive, Chelmsford, MA

Annual Mystic River Water Quality Forum, January 11, 2011
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Science Subcommittee Meeting, Water Quality Workgroup, November 3, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Science Subcommittee Meeting, Water Quality Workgroup, May 4, 2010
Location: EPA New England Regional Laboratory, 11 Technology Drive, Chelmsford, MA

Water Quality Science Subcommittee Meeting, January 7, 2010
Location: EPA New England, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Water Quality Science Committee Meeting, February 11, 2009
Location: EPA New England, 1 Congress Street, Boston, MA

Science Subcommittee

Summit

EPA New England would like to thank everyone that participated in the Mystic River Watershed Summit, held April 10, 2008 in Boston. Over 170 people attended the summit and we are quite pleased with all the energy and enthusiasm that was displayed at the summit. We look forward to working with the Mystic watershed groups and communities to restore water quality in the watershed. Revitalizing the Mystic will be quite a challenge, but forming strong partnerships is the first step toward reaching our common goals.

The draft meeting notes from the Summit have been posted on this web site. Numerous conference calls were held over the summer to finish up discussions and review our typed notes from the breakout sessions. The goal of these calls was to review and refine the meeting notes and further develop actions and priorities.

As an outgrowth of the Summit, EPA New England is spearheading a collaborative effort to revitalize the Mystic with federal, state, and local partners. We are hoping to work with a formal steering committee to implement short- and long-term water quality goals that will be established early 2009. This winter, EPA New England hopes to co-sponsor a science committee meeting, which will be a forum to provide opportunity for researchers to share information on their projects within the watershed.

Mystic River Summit Notes:

Flooding
The flooding group met at the summit and discussed several opportunities for additional communication between agencies and municipalities during a flood event. Currently, DCR, Winchester and Woburn work together during a flood event, but there is opportunity for additional collaboration with the Arlington-Belmont-Cambridge flooding group and the City of Somerville. There remains difficulty discussing flooding as it relates to water quality. A brainstorming session was summarized into several types of actions that could improve flood conditions and reduce flooding in the watershed. They are: maintenance actions, regional communication/collaboration, and updated land use policies.

Land Use and Connecting people to the River
The land use group identified several areas where action is needed in the watershed. The group tackled issues such as changing land use and its impact on the river, reconnecting people to the river, and fish advisories. The group determined that access and redevelopment are needed in designated port areas; that enforcement of permits and regulations at the federal and state level should be a priority; that there is a need to add and connect bike paths, multiuse paths, and walkways in the watershed; that all new development and redevelopment should be environmentally responsible; and that public access to the river is still a big issue. This group recommended public education campaigns for many of these issues as well as for subsistence fishing, for which there is a watershed-wide advisory.

Bacteria & Stormwater
One of the biggest outcomes of the bacteria group is the recommendation to add a Science Committee to the Initiative structure. The Science Committee will provide a venue once or twice a year for scientists to share research and information about water quality in the watershed. The committee may also be accessed for recommendations or scientific advice in future steering committee actions. Other follow-ups suggested from the session are to reduce the inflow from CSOs and SSOs, to increase monitoring thru increased funding and support for monitoring, and to reduce and eliminate stormwater and illicit connections in the watershed.

Industrial Contaminants
The Industrial Contaminants group has continued to focus on expanding recreational uses in the watershed by prioritizing key sites (Mill Creek, Malden River, Spy Pond, and Upper Mystic Lake). These locations were selected from an initial list of ten sites* based on their geographic distribution, potential for improvement, and diversity and number of people who will benefit from their improvement. This is still a draft list, as the group intends to vet these to a wider audience. Since July, MyRWA and EPA have conducted water quality studies, collecting more than 500 samples from throughout the watershed. USGS has also conducted sediment quality monitoring. Data from these studies are being used to identify and eliminate both point and non-point sources of pollution in areas that can provide greater recreation to residents.

*The original list of sites included:

  • Mill Creek, Chelsea
  • Urban Wild, Chelsea
  • Admirals Hill, Chelsea
  • Spy Pond, Arlington
  • Sandy Beach, Winchester
  • Cross St. Swimming Area, Winchester
  • Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, Somerville
  • Constitution Beach, East Boston
  • Tufts University Boathouse, Malden
  • Horn Pond, Woburn

Summit documents

Business

Business Subcommittee Meeting, September 22, 2010
Location: Century Bank, Medford, MA

Mystic River Watershed

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Last updated on July 8, 2024