A Model for River Management and Restoration [Video]

Charles River Wins Prestigious International Award

A River Reborn: From Pollution to Prize

October 2011 marks a watershed moment for Boston’s Charles River. For the once-polluted waterway most notably clinches the 2011 Thiess International Riverprize. This accolade, bestowed by the International River Foundation, recognizes outstanding achievements in river management and restoration.

Charles River Cleanup: Decades of Dedication Pay Off

The transformation spans nearly two decades. Since 1995, a coalition of federal, state, and local entities has worked tirelessly to revitalize the river. In addition, their efforts focus on reducing pollution. Moreover and also improving water quality.

Measurable Success in Water Quality

For starters, the river’s health shows remarkable improvement. In 1995, the Charles met boating standards only 39% of the time and also swimming standards a mere 19%. Fast forward to 2010, and these numbers skyrocket to 86% for boating and 66% for swimming.

A Model for Global River Restoration

Matthew Reddy, CEO of the International River Foundation more notably lauds the achievement. He states, “Charles River joins the ranks …