Reflections from NepRWA’s 2025 Summer Interns
We’re grateful to our summer interns for the fresh energy and perspective they bring. Even in a short time, they make a big impact. Wishing Neil and Katherine the very best in their next adventures!
Read about their experiences below, in their own words.
Neil Cahill, University of Pittsburgh, Urban Planning & Geographic Analysis undergraduate major. Neil worked as a Greenways intern this summer.
This past summer with NepRWA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my young professional career. I grew up entirely within the Neponset River Watershed, exploring its parks and communities and getting to know the many different inhabitants who call this area of Massachusetts home.
In seeing the work that goes into creating a better Neponset with NepRWA, I was able to have an even better appreciation for this place I have called home for so long.
I worked with groups across the Lower Neponset, including the Neponset River Greenway Council, Hyde Park River Access Committee, Edgewater Neighborhood Association, and so many more.
By talking with the members of these volunteer-led organizations, I was able to see the incredible amount of time and energy that people have dedicated to improving access along the Neponset River, and I am happy to say that I was able to help in my own short amount of time with NepRWA.
A major project I worked on this summer was improving signage and information regarding Greenway trail access and amenities. This involved the installation of temporary paper maps created using ArcGIS in the many kiosks located along and nearby to the trail.
This map allows for more information regarding updates to the trail, including the Northern Extension, and will be replaced with a more permanent material very soon. I also worked on creating better wayfinding signage located in Mattapan Square and Port Norfolk to better show trail users how to access further areas of the trail and how to link to places such as the Boston Harborwalk or Blue Hills Reservation.
Another section of my time was spent working on NepRWA and the Greenway Council’s ongoing mural restoration effort. Along the Greenway, there are roughly 11 murals that were primarily painted in the early 2000s.
Over time, these murals fell into disrepair due to weathering, vegetation growth, graffiti, and the general passage of time. This project had me working with Milton-based art group the Blue Hills Bohemians (tremendous name) and Dorchester artist Vincent Crotty.
This project was so fulfilling to see a mural brought back to life and hear about passersby’s excitement about seeing the public art restored and making the Greenway more beautiful by highlighting the work of local artists. Vincent even gave me one of his pieces that was in his studio, which I will be taking as a memento back to school to remember the connections I made during this summer.
Both of these projects allowed me to leave a mark on work that will continue and have a lasting impact on the future of the Lower Neponset, but my work at one-time events was oftentimes just as rewarding.
Tabling at Hyde Park’s Juneteenth Joy event and talking with community members about NepRWA and the Lower Neponset Superfund site made my work feel even more real, especially since it was earlier in the summer.
By talking with people who live and have lived along one of the most polluted sections of river in the country, I was able to see firsthand how vital the work of groups like NepRWA and the EPA’s Community Advisory Group is in improving the health and well-being of local communities affected by generations of pollution.
My work at NepRWA further reinforced my growing desire to commit my future career to serving my community and making lasting changes that will better the lives of individuals across neighborhoods, municipalities, and perhaps even watersheds.
The experience in working with countless organizations and individuals is invaluable for my future as a community organizer or planner.
I gained so much confidence in working with the local community and understanding the complexities that exist within the intersection between urban areas and the natural spaces they inhabit.
After I finish my time in undergrad, whether I end up returning to Massachusetts, staying in Pittsburgh, or venturing someplace new (the west coast of Ireland could be nice?), the people I met and the things I learned along the Neponset will not soon be forgotten.
Katherine Ziska, Loyola Marymount University, Environmental Studies and Theater Arts double major. Katherine worked as a Water Quality/Ecology Intern this summer.
This summer, I had the most wonderful experience as a water quality and ecology intern at NepRWA. My internship flew by so fast, and it’s remarkable how much I learned and how much experience I gained in just a few months.
During my time at NepRWA, one of my main focuses was the Embrace-A-Stream Project. This program works with Greater Boston Trout Unlimited to monitor specific cold water streams and the brook trout that live there.
I put on waders for the first time and learned how to collect and download data from “data loggers,” which record important data values, such as temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO).
They show how stormwater runoff impacts the temperature and DO levels, which then affect the sensitive brook trout populations living in the streams.
I also learned how to collect and sample benthic macroinvertebrates. While macroinvertebrates are often one of the main food sources for brook trout, they can also be an important indicator of stream health.
I’m happy to report that I didn’t collect any samples that qualified a stream as poor quality.
NepRWA also gave me the opportunity to work with younger students, advancing my communication and leadership skills. I was introduced to the Southwest Boston CDC Green Team and helped the students sample and identify macroinvertebrates and look at them under a microscope.
Additionally, I worked with the NepRWA education team to create a video that will be used to educate students about the trout population in Traphole Brook.
Another fun experience was working with the NepRWA Greenways team to clear and clean debris that blocked the River. Although it was a challenge, every bit of progress we made was extremely rewarding.
While working outside was a huge bonus of this internship, I also gained valuable experience learning how to use NepRWA’s database and how to create and log new data properly.
I was able to correct and upload old data from previous years, as well as enter new data that was collected by the Community Water Monitoring Network (CWMN).
This internship has been an incredible experience and has benefitted me in so many ways.
I have definitely advanced my understanding of environmental conservation, and I gained valuable experience working in the field.
I loved being able to spend so much time in nature, and the community at NepRWA made me feel so welcomed throughout my time here. I am so thankful for this opportunity and feel lucky to have worked with such wonderful people.
