Friends of Alewife Reservation

Friends of Alewife Reservation is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and stewardship of the Alewife Reservation urban wild in the Greater Boston area. Founded in 2000, the organization works to protect the freshwater ecosystem and its biodiverse habitats while fostering public access and environmental education. It engages in advocacy, scientific monitoring, and collaborative partnerships with municipal governments and academic institutions to balance conservation with regional development pressures.

History

The group formed in response to development threats in the Alewife area, notably the City of Cambridge's plans for the Alewife Quadrangle and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's CSO storage facility. Early efforts involved legal challenges and advocacy, collaborating with entities like the Mystic River Watershed Association and the City of Somerville. Key milestones include the 2002 designation of the area as an official Urban Wild by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the organization's instrumental role in the creation of the Silver Maple Forest conservation area, involving lengthy negotiations with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Mission and activities

Its core mission is to protect the ecological integrity of the Alewife Brook floodplain and adjacent uplands through hands-on stewardship, public education, and science-based advocacy. Primary activities include organizing regular bioblitzes and citizen science projects, often in partnership with Tufts University and the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. The group leads guided nature walks, invasive species removal workdays, and water quality testing in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Charles River initiative. It also produces educational materials and maintains public trails to promote respectful recreational use.

Alewife Reservation ecosystem

The Alewife Reservation encompasses over 120 acres of freshwater wetlands, meadows, and uplands surrounding Alewife Brook and Little River. It is a vital component of the larger Mystic River watershed and provides critical habitat for numerous species, including the Spotted turtle, Great blue heron, and migratory alewife fish. The Silver Maple Forest, a significant stand of silver maple trees, acts as a major carbon sink and stormwater buffer for the densely populated municipalities of Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont.

Advocacy and community involvement

The organization is a persistent advocate for sustainable land-use policies, frequently providing testimony before the Cambridge City Council, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It mobilizes community opposition to projects that threaten the riparian corridor, such as large-scale residential developments. The group also co-hosts the annual Alewife Brook cleanup with the Mystic River Watershed Association and participates in regional coalitions like the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program to address climate change impacts like increased flooding.

Organization and leadership

The group is governed by a volunteer board of directors and relies on a network of members, interns, and community scientists. Leadership has included ecologists, educators, and legal professionals with deep ties to local environmental movements. Strategic partnerships are maintained with agencies including the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the Somerville Community Growing Center, and the Belmont Citizens Forum. Funding is derived from memberships, grants from foundations like the Cambridge Community Foundation, and municipal support for specific stewardship projects.

Category:Environmental organizations based in Massachusetts Category:Organizations based in Cambridge, Massachusetts Category:2000 establishments in Massachusetts