The Charles River Conservancy (CRC) believes that returning swimming to Boston's Charles River is the ultimate sign of a restored river. In the last 25 years, significant investment has brought this vision within reach, but challenges remain. Harmful algal blooms have emerged as the biggest barrier to regular river swimming and are only projected to increase, fueled by climate change’s rising temperatures and increased rainfall.

To address this growing issue, the CRC is partnering with Northeastern University and engineering firm Foth to pilot a floating wetland, the first of its kind on the Charles. Research will offer data that is needed to understand algal blooms, quantify the scale at which water quality could be improved, engage the public in a conversation about the relationship between ecology and water quality, and offer a model that can be used to strengthen other rivers’ ecologies, making them more resilient to the pressures of urban development and climate change.

Join us at StormCon Direct on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 9:30 am CDT, for a live and interactive plenary discussion with key participants from the CRC and Northeastern University and learn how the Charles River Floating Wetland will serve not only to demonstrate an ecological intervention to reduce harmful algal blooms in the Charles but also to engage and educate the public about the relationship between river ecology, pollution, and water quality.