The Muddy River: A Century of Change Tom Brady, Brookline Conservation Administrator, Tree Warden, Town Arborist 617-730-2088 or
[email protected] Muddy River Flood Damage Reduction and Environmental Restoration Project A cooperative effort of the City of Boston, Town of Brookline, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts Emerald Necklace Parks Master Plan 1894 •Olmsted designed and built parks: Charlesgate, Back Bay Fens, Muddy River (now Riverway &Olmsted Park), and Franklin Park. •Olmsted designed and built Parkways:Fenway, Riverway, Jamaicaway, and Arborway. Sanitary Improvement of the Muddy River . to abate existing nuisances, avoid threatened dangers, and provide for the permanent, wholesome and seemly disposition of the drainage of the Muddy River Valley. and provide for Completing a Continuous Promenade from Boston Common to Jamaica Pond 1887 plan of the Back Bay Fens 1892 Plan of the Riverway shown over current conditions Developed by KZLA for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy Environmental Problems ∗ Accumulated sediment impacting aquatic and benthic habitats (High SOD, low DO). ∗ Contaminated sediments pose a risk to aquatic life and wildlife (metals, PCB’s, PAH’s). ∗ Invasive species (Phragmites) impacting riparian biodiversity and encroaching on open water. ∗ Aquatic weed (fanwort) infestation in the Fens. Flood Problems ∗ Widespread recent flooding - October 1996 and June 1998. ∗ Major damage to public and private buildings including flooding at numerous universities (Northeastern, Simmons, Emmanuel and Wentworth), the Museum of Fine Arts and many others. ∗ Major damage to the MBTA transit system. ∗ Primary causes are undersized culverts and channel restrictions. Kenmore Station closed for 2 months At peak in 1996 - river 11 feet higher than normal elevation.