Massachusetts Rivers Alliance

Today is World Rivers Day! In Massachusetts and around the world, rivers are threatened by pollution, climate change, and habitat degradation. Support Mass Rivers in our fight for clean water, healthy ecosystems, and climate resilience. Link in bio to sign up for our newsletter, register for an event near you, and donate!

Clean Water. Climate Resilience. Healthy Ecosystems. Mass Rivers is leading the fight to protect and restore 8,000 miles of rivers across the state for people, wildlife, and future generations. Join us through the link in our bio!

Bet you’ve heard of Plymouth Rock but have you heard of the Jones River? Take a minute to learn about this winding river near one of the South Shore’s most well-known locations!

In 2025, Massachusetts led the nation in dam removals and that momentum is continuing. Last Friday, Mass Rivers brought together advocates, practitioners, state, and municipal officials, and other partners for our first ever in-person Dam Busters Conference.

Removing obsolete dams can reconnect rivers, restore wildlife habitat, and make waterways more resilient to climate change, while also mitigating public safety risks. But a dam removal project can take years of planning, technical expertise, funding, and persistence. The conference was designed to share expertise and experience, and build stronger connections between communities. It built on incredible enthusiasm from our webinar series and our technical assistance program, and featured presentations on everything from sediment management, to emergency dam removals, to managing freshwater mussels.

Attendees also had the opportunity to visit the site of the former Natick Dam on the Charles River, which was removed this summer.

Want to get involved? Register for Mass Rivers’ upcoming Dam Busters webinars. Presentations and resources from the conference will be available soon on our website!

Dams were once the life force of Massachusetts’ industrial economy, but most have become unused and abandoned. When crumbling dams are no longer maintained, their ecological impact cannot be justified by economic value. Curious about learning more? Register for our Dam Busters webinar series through the link in our bio and stay tuned for additional resources from our in-person conference.

Stormwater management means dealing with aging infrastructure and increasing pressures from climate change. Yesterday, Mass Rivers held a workshop to advance municipal stormwater utilities and increase resilience throughout the Commonwealth.

This workshop was just the first in a series of free stormwater management events that Mass Rivers will be hosting throughout the fall. Register for our series of free webinars on other aspects of culvert design through the link in our bio!

On Thursday, October 1st we will kick off our third Mass Rivers on the Road event, at Bay State Brewing Company in Worcester, co-hosted by the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative. This event is open to the public, and will spotlight the work of our incredible partners in Central MA. Feel free to bring a friend! Link to register is in our bio.

Meet the Connecticut, the longest river in New England!

What are culverts? Most people in Massachusetts interact with culverts every day without even realizing it! Learn more about these incredibly common and crucial, yet frequently overlooked forms of river infrastructure!