Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated.

The Charles River, which flows into Boston Harbor, is one of the premier urban rivers in America and a crown jewel of the Boston area. The Charles and its banks provide boating, jogging and other recreational opportunities for hundreds of thousands of city dwellers who have limited access to natural resources. But after a heavy rain, the lower river becomes notable not for its recreation potential, but for the stench of sewage. EPA has set an ambitious goal: to make the lower Charles River swimmable and fishable by Earth Day, 2005. This plan relies on cooperation among federal, state, and local governments; citizen participation; good science; and, where necessary, strong enforcement. Many actions are already getting underway, including the elimination of illegal sewage discharges to storm drains, control of combined sewer overflows, and implementation of comprehensive storm water management programs.