Charles River EcosystemCharles River Ecosystem

Mark ThompsonMark Thompson

Table Of ContentsTable Of Contents

• HistoryHistory

• Pollution and IndustryPollution and Industry

• River FeaturesRiver Features

• Flora and FaunaFlora and Fauna

• Updates on Condition of the CharlesUpdates on Condition of the Charles

Satellite Image of the Satellite Image of the CharlesCharles

HistoryHistory• Native Americans lived Native Americans lived

in harmony with the in harmony with the Charles. The river was Charles. The river was used for fishing, used for fishing, transportation and transportation and raising crops on the raising crops on the flood plainflood plain

• Colonists named the Colonists named the river “ Charles “ after river “ Charles “ after Prince Charles Prince Charles

• The Charles was The Charles was diverted in 1639 to diverted in 1639 to power mills as the first power mills as the first industrial canal in North industrial canal in North America was completedAmerica was completed

Filling the Tidal MarshesFilling the Tidal Marshes

• Factories and tanneries Factories and tanneries began to use the began to use the Charles as a dumping Charles as a dumping groundground

• The marshes at the The marshes at the mouth of the Charles mouth of the Charles were filled to add land to were filled to add land to Boston in the 1800’s. A Boston in the 1800’s. A dam was built forming a dam was built forming a freshwater river basin freshwater river basin instead of a tidal instead of a tidal estuary.estuary.

The Charles and Industry The Charles and Industry

• The first factory in America The first factory in America was built on the Charles in was built on the Charles in Waltham, Massachusetts in Waltham, Massachusetts in 18141814

• In 1875 a government report In 1875 a government report listed 43 mills along a 9.5 listed 43 mills along a 9.5 mile stretch from the tidal mile stretch from the tidal estuary in Watertown to estuary in Watertown to Boston. This area became Boston. This area became one of the most industrialized one of the most industrialized areas in Americaareas in America

• By 1900 twenty dams (four By 1900 twenty dams (four with fish ladders) were with fish ladders) were constructed for hydropower constructed for hydropower and flood controland flood control

PollutionPollution

• Effluent waste from factories and raw sewerage Effluent waste from factories and raw sewerage from cities and towns damaged the ecosystemfrom cities and towns damaged the ecosystem

• Industry today is less common, but sewerage Industry today is less common, but sewerage problems persist today due to storm runoff and problems persist today due to storm runoff and illegal or damaged connectionsillegal or damaged connections

• Fertilizer runoff leaches into the Charles from Fertilizer runoff leaches into the Charles from suburban lawns and causes nutrient loading and suburban lawns and causes nutrient loading and lack of oxygen particularly in the summer monthslack of oxygen particularly in the summer months

FeaturesFeatures

• Echo Lake in Hopkinton, Ma. is the source Echo Lake in Hopkinton, Ma. is the source for the Charles 26 miles west of the mouth for the Charles 26 miles west of the mouth in Bostonin Boston

• The river meanders for 80 miles fed by 17 The river meanders for 80 miles fed by 17 streams and several aquifersstreams and several aquifers

• The watershed contains 33 lakes and The watershed contains 33 lakes and ponds which are mostly man-madeponds which are mostly man-made

• The drainage area is 308 square miles with The drainage area is 308 square miles with a 350 foot drop from source to mouth. a 350 foot drop from source to mouth. Although a small river it is the longest in Although a small river it is the longest in MassachusettsMassachusetts

River FlowRiver Flow

• The upper Charles flows in shaded pools and riffles through The upper Charles flows in shaded pools and riffles through deciduous forests and groves of evergreens such as pine deciduous forests and groves of evergreens such as pine and hemlockand hemlock

• There are several meadow areas where the flow slows to a There are several meadow areas where the flow slows to a “snake like” marsh through tall grass, willows and cat nine “snake like” marsh through tall grass, willows and cat nine tails. The slow flow rate of 368 cubic feet/second attracts tails. The slow flow rate of 368 cubic feet/second attracts certain species of plants and organisms not found in fast certain species of plants and organisms not found in fast moving water. moving water.

• The color of the water is brown due to the “seepage” The color of the water is brown due to the “seepage” through the wetlands. High concentrations of plants and through the wetlands. High concentrations of plants and algae use a lot of dissolved oxygen which can affect algae use a lot of dissolved oxygen which can affect sensitive invertebrates and result in fish killssensitive invertebrates and result in fish kills

• The Army Corp of Engineers has protected 8000 acres of The Army Corp of Engineers has protected 8000 acres of wetlandswetlands

Common Bird SpeciesCommon Bird Species

• Mallard DucksMallard Ducks

• Great Blue HeronGreat Blue Heron

• Canadian GeeseCanadian Geese

• OspreyOsprey

• Sea GullsSea Gulls

• Numerous nesting birdsNumerous nesting birds

Key Species of FishKey Species of Fish• CarpCarp• CatfishCatfish• PerchPerch• PickerelPickerel• Large and Smallmouth BassLarge and Smallmouth Bass• SunfishSunfish• PikePike• Trout (stocked)Trout (stocked)• Shad and Herring (migratory)Shad and Herring (migratory)

AnimalsAnimals

• DeerDeer• MuskratMuskrat• Snapping TurtleSnapping Turtle• CoyotesCoyotes• RaccoonRaccoon• BeaverBeaver• FoxFox• Voles, RatsVoles, Rats• FrogsFrogs• InvertebratesInvertebrates

Common InsectsCommon Insects

• Damselflies and DragonfliesDamselflies and Dragonflies

• MayfliesMayflies

• CaddisCaddis

• Stone FlyStone Fly

• MidgesMidges

• Mosquitoes Mosquitoes

Common PlantsCommon Plants

• DuckweedDuckweed

• Fox TailFox Tail

• Lilly PadsLilly Pads

• Cat tails Cat tails

• WillowsWillows

• AldersAlders

• Purple loose strifePurple loose strife

Feeding Levels In An Aquatic Food Feeding Levels In An Aquatic Food WebWeb

• Key:Key: 1)algae 2) zooplankton 3) bacteria 4) water strider 5) 1)algae 2) zooplankton 3) bacteria 4) water strider 5) largemouth bass largemouth bass 6) mosquito larva 7) damselfly naiad 8) bluegill 9) tadpole 6) mosquito larva 7) damselfly naiad 8) bluegill 9) tadpole 10) predaceous 10) predaceous diving beetle 11) giant water bug 12) crayfish 13) caddisfly diving beetle 11) giant water bug 12) crayfish 13) caddisfly larva 14) water larva 14) water flea 15) cyclops 16) rotifer flea 15) cyclops 16) rotifer

Geology and Flow DiagramGeology and Flow Diagram• Click for mapClick for map

Geological HistoryGeological History

• Glacial activity shaped the Charles Glacial activity shaped the Charles 11,000 years ago.11,000 years ago.

• Glacial debris carved the meandering Glacial debris carved the meandering shape out of bedrock as it moved shape out of bedrock as it moved around ice and rock towards the seaaround ice and rock towards the sea

Role of MWRA+CRWARole of MWRA+CRWA

• The Massachusetts Water Resource The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority monitors water clarity and Authority monitors water clarity and bacteria in the Charlesbacteria in the Charles

• The Charles River Watershed The Charles River Watershed Association was formed in 1965 to Association was formed in 1965 to clean and protect the riverclean and protect the river

Pollution and Water QualityPollution and Water Quality

• The Charles received a The Charles received a grade of B plus from the grade of B plus from the EPA in 2006, a significant EPA in 2006, a significant improvement from a D in improvement from a D in 19951995

• Swimming is allowed in Swimming is allowed in some stretches but there some stretches but there are still toxic sediments are still toxic sediments and concerns about high and concerns about high bacteria counts after bacteria counts after heavy rainheavy rain

• Algae blooms are still an Algae blooms are still an occasional problemoccasional problem

• Runoff from urban activity Runoff from urban activity can affect PH which in turn can affect PH which in turn affects aquatic organismsaffects aquatic organisms

ChallengesChallenges• Invasive species such as Purple Invasive species such as Purple

loose-strife are crowding native loose-strife are crowding native plants. plants.

• Lowering of flow rates due to Lowering of flow rates due to development and pressure on development and pressure on aquifersaquifers

RecreationRecreation

• Despite the Despite the pollution, diverted pollution, diverted flow and dams, the flow and dams, the Charles River is a Charles River is a productive productive ecosystem and one ecosystem and one of the most heavily of the most heavily used recreation used recreation areas in the United areas in the United StatesStates

Possible Charles River Outdoor Possible Charles River Outdoor Lessons and VisitationsLessons and Visitations

• Water sampling/testing for PH, Water sampling/testing for PH, phosphates, dissolved oxygenphosphates, dissolved oxygen

• Journals of Aquatic Plants and Journals of Aquatic Plants and Animals with formal observationsAnimals with formal observations

• Collecting and identifying Collecting and identifying invertebrates invertebrates

Work CitedWork Cited• http://http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/crn/crnhist.htmwww.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/crn/crnhist.htm

• http://www.epa.gov/boston/charles/http://www.epa.gov/boston/charles/

• http://www.epa.gov/boston/charles/pdfs/charles-factsheet.pdfhttp://www.epa.gov/boston/charles/pdfs/charles-factsheet.pdf

• http://www.crwa.org/index.html?wavestop.html&0http://www.crwa.org/index.html?wavestop.html&0

• http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/harbor/html/cr_wq.htmhttp://www.mwra.state.ma.us/harbor/html/cr_wq.htm

• http://ma.water.usgs.gov/basins/charlessfq.htmhttp://ma.water.usgs.gov/basins/charlessfq.htm

• http://www.iowadnr.com/education/wrlpnd.htmlhttp://www.iowadnr.com/education/wrlpnd.html

• http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~ferdi/OURCharles/Charles%20River.hthttp://www1.coe.neu.edu/~ferdi/OURCharles/Charles%20River.ht

• Pictures and Diagrams:Pictures and Diagrams:

• http://www.oceansart.us/OceansArthome/PixPollution/images/4.htmlhttp://www.oceansart.us/OceansArthome/PixPollution/images/4.html

• http://www.picsearch.com/search.cgi?q=dragon+flieshttp://www.picsearch.com/search.cgi?q=dragon+flies

• http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/exotics/carp.htmhttp://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/exotics/carp.htm

• http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-042-03/page2bdiagrm.htmhttp://hawky.net/photo/trips/walk_to_the_store/cat_tails.jpghttp://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-042-03/page2bdiagrm.htmhttp://hawky.net/photo/trips/walk_to_the_store/cat_tails.jpg

• http://www.naturealmanac.com/archive/snappers/snappers.htmlhttp://www.naturealmanac.com/archive/snappers/snappers.html

• http://www.labri.org/mass/photosd1.htmhttp://www.labri.org/mass/photosd1.htm

• http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-042-03/index.html#Anchor-54293http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-042-03/index.html#Anchor-54293• http://alongthecharles.com/index/25/Sights/Dsc06240.jpghttp://alongthecharles.com/index/25/Sights/Dsc06240.jpg• http://www.boquetriver.org/adoptaqecosys.htmlhttp://www.boquetriver.org/adoptaqecosys.html• http://maps.google.com/mapshttp://maps.google.com/maps