We thank you for making every day Earth Day in the Neponset Watershed.
The Neponset River Watershed Association, with your support, helps to make the Neponset River, streams, and surrounding lands cleaner and more supportive of wildlife and people.
Earth Day, the Holiday
On Earth Day, people all over the world celebrate the environment and discuss current issues and next steps. They perform environmentally-helpful activities and make the time to enjoy our natural world.
How did Earth Day start? In 1969, then-Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin proposed this holiday as a “teach-in”, where there could be local environmental education activities across the US. He created Earth Day (then called “The National Teach-In on the Crisis of the Environment”) for a time of year when college students would be available, and he recruited many other groups to get involved.
Thanks to the work of organizer Denis Hayes, the US celebrated Earth Day for the first time on April 22, 1970, with approximately 20 million people! In 1990, over 140 nations participated, and these days, almost 200 countries celebrate Earth Day.
Make It a Neponset Earth Day: Learn more about the Neponset Watershed!
The Neponset River Watershed includes roughly 130 square miles of land southwest of Boston. All of this land drains into the Neponset River, and ultimately into Boston Harbor.
- The 29-mile-long Neponset River starts in Foxborough, near Gillette Stadium, and ends in Dorchester/Quincy, near the “Rainbow Swash” gas tank by I-93.
- Over 330,000 people currently live in the Neponset Watershed and more than 120,000 get their drinking water from within the boundaries.
- Cities and towns include Boston (Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan), Canton, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Medfield, Milton, Norwood, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, and Westwood.
- Its history includes 10,000 years of human habitation and over 375 years of industrialization.
Explore the Watershed!
What is a watershed? Watch the video to learn more!
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a body of water, like a river, pond, harbor, or lake.
Our Environmental Issues
Inhabited by people for thousands of years, and industrialized for 375 years, it’s not a surprise that Neponset River Watershed has its share of environmental issues, including:
- Climate Change
- Dams
- Exotic, Invasive Species
- Fish Consumption — If you fish in freshwater and eat your catch, it’s important to keep up to date on the Freshwater Fish Consumption Advisory List, published by the MA Department of Health. Decide whether to eat your catch based on the pollutants in the fish.
- Fish Kills — The sight of dead and dying fish along the shores of a favorite lake or pond can be distressing and trigger concerns about pollution. However, the vast majority of fish kills reported are natural events.
- Legacy Toxins
- Low Water Levels
- Sewage Contamination
- Stormwater Runoff
- Threats to Aquatic Habitat
Our solutions:
- Strengthening policy to protect the natural resources of the watershed
- Commenting on development proposals to permit better water recharge for our river and underground water supplies
- Boosting towns’ water efficiency through school programs
- Offering rebates for water-efficient appliances
- Managing a water-quality monitoring program (CWMN)
- Planning for the construction of stormwater treatment structures
- Guiding abutters’ yard maintenance around a pond
- Releasing biocontrol insects into wetlands to control exotic, invasive plants
Take Action
There are many ways to make a difference in the health of the Neponset Watershed, whether by taking action at your home or office, by volunteering for a cleanup, or by supporting us with your membership.
Make Changes Around Your Yard
There’s a lot that we can do around our home that can make a difference in our environment – and it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive!
- Take Care of Your Septic System
- Create a Water Efficient Lawn
- Build a Rain Garden
- Always Bag or Compost Yard Waste
- Build a Backyard Habitat
