Mystic River Collaborative
Charles River Watershed Association | 2008-2011

In 2008, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) formed a partnership with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), La Comunidad, Inc. (LCI), Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP), Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), Groundwork Somerville, Chelsea Collaborative and Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) to promote the goal of improving the Mystic River watershed. In addition to providing concept designs for several restoration projects in the Chelsea Creek sub-watershed, CRWA trained the staff of our partner organizations in the Blue Cities approach. The collaboration has proved very successful, and to date, CRWA continues to work with our partners on various restoration projects within the Mystic River Watershed.

Chelsea Green Infrastructure Plan, Massachusetts
Charles River Watershed Association | 2013-2014

Over the last seven years, CRWA has continued to work with MyRWA and Chelsea Collaborative on green infrastructure planning, design and implementation projects at various scales. In 2013, CRWA partnered with MyRWA, Chelsea Collaborative and the City of Chelsea to undertake a Sub-watershed Restoration Plan for Broadway in Chelsea. CRWA worked extensively with project partners, the local environmental youth group in Chelsea and business owners and residents in the area to develop opportunities to incorporate green infrastructure (GI) retrofits within the public right of way and key sites along Broadway.

The partners focused the efforts of the GI project on the City of Chelsea, as the presence of both critical environmental conditions and environmental justice populations warrant prompt efforts to reduce pollution. This GI project ran parallel to the early planning of a major sewer separation project on Broadway in Chelsea. This allowed for the project tasks, public participation, collaboration with the City and sub-watershed planning in this GI project to be directed at a tangible, funded project (sewer separation) with near-term implementation.

As part of this Project, the team identified opportunities to incorporate low impact development (LID) stormwater treatment systems into an upcoming sewer separation project, and identified additional opportunities for stormwater improvements that can inform future planning and capital improvement projects undertaken by the City. The plan developed recommendations, conceptual designs, and built community support for implementing these environmental improvements.

Mace Apartment Retrofit Project
Charles River Watershed Association | 2010-2015

The Mill Hill neighborhood sits adjacent to the Mill and Chelsea Creeks and continual pollution in the tidal water bodies has resulted in development turning its back overtime to these neglected resources. Both Mill Creek and Chelsea Creek are classified as a Category 5 (threatened for one or more uses) on the Massachusetts 303(d) Impaired Waterways List. Given the high amounts of impervious pavement in the area, stormwater runoff is a major contributor to pollution levels in both creeks.

The Mace Apartment Complex is located adjacent to Mill Creek, at the intersection of Clinton Street, Mill Court, and Crescent Avenue. The complex is owned and managed by the Chelsea Housing Authority, and the residents are primarily low income Hispanic, Latino and Somali immigrants

The project site was selected due to its proximity to Mill Creek and its location at the end of a separated drainage area, which offers the opportunity to treat stormwater runoff before it flows into the creek. The project involved retrofitting the Mace Apartments parking lot with a system of rain gardens and planters that use soil and plants to filter polluted runoff from Crescent Street and the complex parking lot before it enters Mill Creek. In addition, the project provides a greener and more pleasant open space for neighborhood residents.