The Charles River in Massachusetts has received the International RiverFoundation’s 2011 Thiess International Riverprize, a prestigious award that recognizes the development and implementation of the most visionary and sustainable program in river management.
Once the scourge of Boston, as epitomized in the Standells’ rock-and-roll classic “Dirty Water,” the Charles River joins the ranks of the Thames, Danube and Mekong rivers, all previous recipients of the annual award. Projects from more than 20 countries applied for this year’s award, which is given by the International RiverFoundation. The winner was announced at the 14th International River Symposium in Brisbane, Australia. Valued at $330,000, the award is the world’s largest environmental prize. It includes a $100,000 grant for the Charles River Watershed Association, which accepted the award, to share its river restoration expertise with a river organization in another country.
In 1965, when CRWA was founded, the Charles was an open sewer: tetanus shots and antibiotics were standard treatment for anyone unfortunate enough to fall in. Today, the Charles is heralded as the cleanest urban river in the United States by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Riverprize recognizes and rewards this rejuvenation. “In the world of river management, this is akin to winning the World Series — and it was made possible through the engagement, cooperation and hard work of hundreds of partners — at the federal, state, local and grass-roots levels,” said Robert L. Zimmerman Jr., CRWA’s executive director. “In the end, however, it’s a trophy for the people that live and work in the communities that comprise the Charles watershed, and for everyone who loves this river,” Zimmerman said.
“The Charles River is one of Boston’s most iconic and cherished landmarks. I have so many memories from down on its banks — from bringing my daughters down to play on the river path when they were kids, to watching the Sox parade down the river in duck boats when they won the World Series. Now the Charles River Watershed Association’s 46 years of dedication has transformed the river into one of the cleanest urban rivers in the United States. That’s something we can all be very proud of,” said U.S. Sen. John Kerry.
"CRWA has fought for decades to bring the Charles back to life. This urban river is well on the path to recovery, and CRWA deserves great credit for raising awareness of the river's problems; for pushing, pulling, and prodding governments at all levels; and for building the tools and testing the solutions to restore the river," said Curt Spalding, the regional administrator of EPA New England.
“The Charles River is a resource cherished by Boston-area residents, and an icon enjoyed by visitors from around the world,” said Gov. Deval Patrick. “The river’s renaissance is due to the hard work and dedication of organizations such as the Charles River Watershed Association, in partnership with federal, state and city agencies, and it is gratifying to see that success recognized by this prestigious international competition.”
The Charles River is now safe for boating 90 percent of the time due to the dramatic improvements in water quality, and well over a million people enjoy the river and its parklands each year. CRWA will use the prize money to continue to improve and protect the health of the Charles through fisheries restoration, water-sensitive design, and development of tools and practical solutions to watershed problems, including the growing problem of nutrients carried by stormwater to the river.
About CRWA
CRWA’s mission is to use science, advocacy and the law to protect and enhance the health of the Charles River and its watershed. One of the country’s first watershed organizations, CRWA was formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles River. Since its earliest days, CRWA has figured prominently in major clean-up and watershed protection efforts that have dramatically improved the health of the Charles and protected its parklands.