Charles River finalist for international river prize

July 08, 2011|Beth Daley, Globe Staff

The Charles River — once so dirty it turned colors depending on the paint being manufactured on its banks — is a finalist for the International Riverprize, an award that annually awards $350,000 for the development and implementation of visionary and sustainable river management.

Projects from more than 20 countries applied for the award given by the Australia-based International RiverFoundation. Along with the Charles, the Mattole River in California and the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia are finalists. The final prize winner will be announced in September.

International River Foundation CEO Matthew Reddy said in a statement "Charles River should be congratulated for their achievement as a finalist for best river basin manager, vying for the world's largest environmental prize creates a lot of competitive tension, with winners to join the ranks of iconic rivers like the Thames, Danube and Mekong.”

In the 1960s, swimming was banned, sewage overflows were common and industrial contaminants regularly flowed in the river. Even as late as the middle 1990s, rowers who fell into the river routinely received tetanus shots and antibiotics.

Today, however, the Charles is considered one of the cleanest urban rivers in the nation

"CRWA has fought for decades to bring the Charles back to life,’’ said Curt Spalding, Regional Administrator EPA New England. “This urban river is well on the path to recovery.”

The winner will receive a $250,000 cash award and a $100,000 grant to share its river restoration expertise with another river.