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Urban Waters - The Charles River

  • 2021 Charles River Report Card

    • View 2021 report card.
  • Using science, cutting-edge tech and enforcement, EPA and its partners have made real progress on the Charles River.

    Learn more about the Charles River.

The Charles River runs for 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston, Massachusetts. Since the early 1990's EPA and many public and private partners have worked to improve water quality in the Charles.

Charles River Water Quality

Water monitoring buoy in the Charles River near the Museum of Science.
  • Live water quality data for the Lower Charles River
  • How EPA collects water quality data in the Charles River

About the Charles

Community Boating Inc. launches sail boats in the lower Charles River.
  • The Charles River Watershed
  • Historical Timeline

Environmental Challenges

Header: Sewer Challenges
  • Bacterial Challenges
  • Nutrient Challenges
  • Residual Designation Authority

Clean Charles Initiative

Header: Report Card
  • Initiative
  • Sound Science on the Charles River
    • Reports and Links
  • Report Card Data
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 19, 2023
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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