The Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area lies throughout 16 eastern Massachusetts communities in the middle and upper areas of the Charles River.
The Charles River extends inland from Boston Harbor and meanders for 80 miles to Hopkinton, a straight distance of about 30 miles. Thousands of acres of undeveloped wetlands, which normally appear dry, lie along the river and form a natural reservoir that store floodwaters in times of excess precipitation. These wetlands make up huge volumes of natural storage that soak up water like sponges. Potential development on these wetland areas threatened to eliminate the storage area of the natural reservoir. If development had been left unchecked, floodwaters that would normally settle in the natural water storage area would rush downstream, causing flood damage to existing development in the lower reaches of the river. The natural valley storage areas reduce flood levels by retaining this excess water.
A 1972 study of the Charles River watershed showed a need to protect the natural valley storage areas from further development. The study recommended that the federal government purchase and preserve these lands as a viable means of flood control. The Corps purchased the first acres in May 1977 and made its most recent acquisition in September 1983. Resolutions to acquire remaining lands are continuing. To date, the Corps has purchased land in 17 different areas at a cost of $8.3 million.
The Charles River Natural Valley Storage areas total approximately 8,095 acres. These lands are located in Mills, Medford, Norfolk, Franklin, Holliston, Needham, Sherborn, Bellingham, Dedham, Dover, Medway, Newton, Wrentham, Walpole, Natick, and Boston. (Note: Although there are no storage lands in Cambridge, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, and Weston, the Charles River Natural Valley Storage areas protect land and property in these communities also). The watershed of the Charles River covers 307 square miles.
In addition to its primary purpose of flood damage reduction, project lands are used for recreation and fish and wildlife management. Hiking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, and cross-country skiing are some of the more popular activities. Of the 8,095 acres, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife manages 2,640 acres affecting nine parcels.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is updating the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area Master Plan. The Master Plan is the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all project resources throughout the life of a USACE project. The Master Plan guides efficient and cost-effective management, development, and use of project lands. It is a vital tool for the responsible stewardship and sustainability of project resources for the benefit of present and future generations. The Master Plan guides and articulates USACE responsibilities, pursuant to federal laws to preserve, conserve, restore, maintain, manage, and develop project lands and waters and associated resources. The intent of an updated Master Plan is to present a current inventory and assessment of resources, provide an analysis of resource use, and evaluate existing and future needs required to protect and improve the value of resources at a project.
The current Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area Master Plan, last approved in 1984, needs revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and the USACE management policy. Key topics to be discussed in the revised Master Plan include revised land use classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special issues such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat. The Master Plan revision WILL NOT address the technical and operational aspects of the lake related to flood risk management or the water conservation missions of the project. During the process, the team will collect data, conduct analysis, prepare a draft report (which will become available for public and agency comments), and ultimately finalize and adopt the new Master Plan.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will host an open house on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the Millis Public Library, Roche Bros. Community Room at 961 Main Street in Millis to share details on a draft revision process of the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area Master Plan and showcase the existing land use classification maps, which are from 1984. A 30-day public comment period began on October 8, 2024, and will end on November 9, 2024.