Human
activities have significantly altered many natural systems of the Neponset River
Watershed over the centuries.
The
Neponset River Watershed Association is working to mitigate
ecological degradation associated with that alteration and restore higher levels of
native species diversity and better wildlife habitat to the
watershed.
In general - all of the work that NepRWA does,
i.e., monitoring water
quality in streams, ponds, lakes and the River and pursuing
fixes to water quality problems detected (for example,
getting broken sewer pipes fixed, along with malfunctioning septic
systems and wastewater that has been incorrectly connected to the stormwater system
to flow
into our waterways) helps to improve ecological conditions
and wildlife habitat. NepRWA also works
specifically on ecosystem restoration projects.
Examples
of this ecological restoration work include the Lower
Neponset River Restoration Project and the Fowl
Meadow Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project, besides
the other projects listed at the top left column, above.
NepRWA also has organized volunteer-staffed surveys of local
dams and culverts. The surveys help us to understand the
location and condition of many small dams located throughout
the watershed that are not necessarily recorded in the state dams
database. Most of these dams do not control water levels or produce energy, and
instead degrade water quality and the ecological quality of
the watershed's waterways as well as obstruct the migration
of aquatic wildlife throughout the Neponset River system.
Dec.
2009
