The River has come a long way from its days as a severely polluted industrial river. Today, most streams in the Neponset River system meet swimmable standards during dry weather, and much of the river has been opened up for canoeing, bike paths and waterfront parks.
Our Mission Statement
The Neponset River Watershed Association is a grassroots, member-supported conservation group working since 1967 to clean up and protect the Neponset River, its tributaries and surrounding watershed lands.
Our goal is a clean, healthy, accessible river and watershed, from the smallest headwater stream to the wide-open brackish water of the estuary.
Click here to see our Action Plan
A Unique Natural Resource
The Neponset River Watershed is:
- A 120-square mile area that drains into the Neponset River
- A home to 330,000+ people
- A drinking water source to 120,000 people
- A destination for hikers, cyclists, fishermen, and paddlers. It offers invaluable habitat for our native fish and wildlife.
The Watershed includes parts of 14 cities and towns: Boston (Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Dorchester), Canton, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Medfield, Milton, Norwood, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Westwood
Click here to see a map of the Neponset Watershed
The History of the Association
NepRWA was formally founded in August of 1967, as the Neponset Conservation Association (the name was “modernized” in 1987). The founders were Harry Fraser, Hanna Bigelow, Henry Lyman, Frank Chase, Lawrence Newcomb, Nicholas DeSalvo, Charles Strumski, Edgar Grout, and Bettina S. Cottrell. Read more…
Working in Your Neighborhood
Our members, volunteers and staff are working in your neighborhood, every day, to stop water pollution, educate area residents, monitor river health, conserve water, open the watershed to recreation, and restore fish and wildlife habitats.