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The Mystic River Watershed is a collection of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds that drain an area of approximately 76 square miles and 21 municipalities north of Boston. The Mystic River proper, which flows from the Mystic Lakes in Winchester and Arlington through Medford, Somerville, Everett, Charlestown and Chelsea to Boston Harbor, is one of the great urban rivers of New England.

The river and the watershed that feeds it, served as an epicenter of much of the activity from which sprung settlement and economic activity in the colonies: mills, shipyards and villages. Unfortunately, settlement and industrial activity have not always been kind to the Watershed.

The watershed became a designated Urban Waters Partnership location in 2013. The Partnership works to improve coordination and focus among federal agencies on problems in the watershed. The Partnership promotes community-led efforts at economic, social and ecological revitalization. The focus of efforts for the Mystic River Watershed include:

• urban water restoration and monitoring
• water quality awareness
• scientific research
• marine and environmental education

List of Partners

View the Mystic River Watershed Initiative for more information on this location's ongoing projects.