Mystic River Watershed Association

The Mystic River Watershed Association's mission is to protect and restore the Mystic River, its tributaries and watershed lands for the benefit of present and future generations and to celebrate the value, importance and great beauty of these natural resources.

By working together, we can achieve improved water quality, increased access to our water ways, and greater environmental awareness in the Mystic River Watershed. There is much work to be done - please join our efforts!

MyRWA was founded in 1972 and has largely functioned as a volunteer-run organization, mobilizing activists on a project-by-project basis. Volunteers are needed for planning and participating in events, performing water quality monitoring, serving on a Committee, and more.

Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle - a 5K road race and several paddling races along the Mystic River in Somerville.
River Cleanups, typically in the spring.
Annual Meeting, in the fall.
Guest speakers/lectures.

The Mystic River Watershed covers 76 square miles or roughly 1% of the land area of Massachusetts. Its headwaters begin in Reading, MA and form the Aberjona River, then flow into the Upper Mystic Lake in Winchester. From the Lower Mystic Lake, the Mystic River flows through Arlington, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Chelsea, Charlestown, and East Boston before emptying into Boston Harbor.

The Mystic River Watershed is one of the most urban and densely populated watersheds in the Commonwealth. It has three Superfund sites within it's borders, and is home to various Environmental Justice communities. The Mystic has a history of industry along it's banks - evidence of which continue to linger. Find out what environmental issues are present and current water quality information by following the links.