Muddy River Restoration Project

Best Management Practices

In order to protect the investment in the restored Muddy River, a program of Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be employed. These BMPs include maintenance practices that will sustain the project’s benefits for decades after construction is completed. The US Environmental Protection Agency storm drain cleaning keeps silt out of the river (EPA) and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have identified various BMPs that can improve water quality in storm drainage systems. Improved water quality will translate into a reduction of sediment and other pollutants entering the river. BMPs can be classified as source controls and treatment controls. Source control BMPs are performed throughout the watershed. These include street sweeping and catch basin cleaning, which removes sediment before it enters the storm drainage piping and the river.

Treatment control BMPs typically include localized devices that remove sediment in the storm drainpipe before it discharges into the river. Examples include particle separators (underground tanks with baffles) and vegetative swales.
example of a treat control bmp

(At left) Example of an Underground Particle Separator used to remove sediment from storm water

The objectives of the BMP Program for the Muddy River Restoration Project are to:

1. Minimize the Re-Sedimentation Rate in the River and Ponds
2. Improve/Maintain Water Quality in the River and Pond
3. Maintain Project Improvements:
- Flood Control
- Water Quality
- Wildlife Habitat
- Historic Landscape Treatment
4. Contribute to a Fishable and Swimmable Charles River by 2005

Source control BMPs will include improved street sweeping and catch basin cleaning programs in both Brookline and Boston. A program of treatment control BMPs will be determined based on a study of the effectiveness of the existing particle separators.