Among the highlights of the April 7th Muddy River Symposium were the honors awarded to outstanding student research. In this 20th year of the event, the projects were particularly impressive and demonstrated keen insights into environmental health in and around the Muddy.
In the Water Category, top honors went to Wentworth Institute of Technology students Sofia Henriques, Nico McLean, Zachary Askinasi, and Koda Mannino for “The Salinity of the Muddy River.”
“This winter, the Massachusetts Department of Transport used over 442,000 tons of road salt. Road salt has a profound impact on the environment, as it kills aquatic invertebrates, fish eggs, and amphibians through freshwater salinization syndrome. Our group aims to educate others and bring about policy change to protect the biodiversity of Massachusetts watersheds. We plan to do this by analyzing how salting events affect the salinity of the Muddy River. We tested the Muddy River starting at the origin to the outlet at 5 different locations: Jamaica Pound, Leverett Pond, Brookline Avenue at Parkway Road, Agassiz Road, and Charlesgate Park. The tests were conducted using weighted cups and strings as well as chloride test strips graciously donated by Salt Watch. The tested salinity has been shown to consistently be above the chronic levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency. There are a few ways to mitigate the rising salinity of the Muddy River, like increasing green infrastructure and monitoring, as well as reducing the use of salt during winter months. By testing and monitoring the salinity of the Muddy River we hope to ensure the waterway remains a biodiversity hotpot in the heart of Boston for years to come.”
In the Sustainability Science Category, honors went to “DIY: GI—Achievable Green Infrastructure for Students,” presented by Alexa Pike (Simmons) Ashley Quintala (Wentworth) Cash Eck (Wentworth), and Stephanie Xiao (Massart).
“Our mission is to inform and encourage individuals to pursue independent sustainable projects by providing easy and accessible ways to practice and implement green infrastructure… We’ve identified a small, but heavily compacted piece of land to aerate directly on the shore of the Muddy River to decrease the amount of harmful chemicals draining into the River. Adding plants to urban areas, such as tree pit planting, is a way that many green spaces can be transformed to catch stormwater and filter pollutants. Our group focused on adding native plants to existing streetside tree pits with the idea that the project could be replicated on college campuses.”
Honors in the Environmental Justice Category went to “Utility Sprung Wildfires and Health Risk,” presented by Adrian Pena (Emmanuel).
“The relationship between corporate health and environmental health has become a focus for major utilities as climate-driven instabilities in California worsen. Through a strategic perspective, this case looks at Edison International and its subsidiary, Southern California Edison, and makes the case that the company’s financial stability is currently primarily threatened by unmitigated environmental health hazards, particularly poor air quality and catastrophic wildfire events. To demonstrates the connection between utility-started wildfires and serious public health consequences, such as long-term socioeconomic damage from community destruction and immediate respiratory crisis from smoke inhalation… This case makes the point that grid modernization is an essential intervention to sustain company financial solvency as well as regional public health.”
The Third Annual Frances Allou Gershwin Local Social Action Award was given to “The Course of the Stony Brook,” an investigation by Wentworth students Ava Pendleton, Aaron Chmura, Cash Eck, and Sophie Vorperian.
“The Stony Brook, an underground waterway running beneath Wentworth Institute of Technology, connects to the Muddy River in the Back Bay Fens and poses a significant but often overlooked flood risk. In 1996, the Brook flooded portions of the campus, causing substantial damage, and the likelihood of similar events is increasing due to climate change and more intense storms. This project investigates the history and path of the Stony Brook, as well as the infrastructure used to monitor and manage it. Research included mapping the brook’s underground conduits and reviewing data from the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. The findings highlight the importance of public awareness of hidden urban infrastructure. Increasing community understanding of systems like the Stony Brook is critical for improving preparedness and reducing risk in the event of future flooding in Boston.”
Congratulations to all!
Photo: The recipients of the Frances Allou Gershwin Local Social Action Award with MMOC chair Kay Mathew and Symposium co-founder Dr. Ellen Faszewski. Photo: Jack Tan