Organization Looking To Remove South Natick Dam Gets $1 Million Grant

NATICK, MA — The Charles River Watershed received a hefty financial bump from an anonymous donor this week.

The anonymous grant of $1 million allows the organization to accelerate its work to restore the Charles River watershed, officials said.

“This is a game changer for the Charles River. We will be able to move much more quickly to remove defunct dams that are harming native fish, restore streams and tributaries in urban areas, and tackle invasive plants that crowd out native species,” said Executive Director Emily Norton.

“Over time, these actions will reconnect miles of stream, improve water quality, and restore aquatic habitat for fish, insects, and wildlife.”

The grant will impact Natick as its part of the group's plan to remove the defunct South Natick Dam, a move they say will help with water quality and more.

"For more than 400 years, the Charles River has been culverted, dammed, and buried in order to power progress and support the development of cities and towns," a news release from the organization read.

It continued:

"As a result, the Charles River suffers impaired water quality from stormwater runoff, impeded fish passage by aging, defunct dams, invasive species growth, harmful cyanobacteria blooms, and biodiversity loss. Climate change is amplifying these impacts, as these interventions have diminished the river’s natural resilience to increased precipitation, stronger storms, drought, and extreme heat."

In addition to the dam in South Natick, there are two other dams that the group has identified as priorities: Watertown Dam and Wrentham Eagle Dam.