CRAB - Report Archive

Historical Publications of the Charles River Basin and Boston Harbor

As part of the due diligence for this project, we have collected various charts, maps, and reports that have been generated for areas in the Lower Charles River Basin in the past. In the sidebar to the right, there are several sets of documents in approximate chronological order. There is also a Google Drive spreadsheet that is more extensive.

USGS Reports

Muddy River Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project, 2013
A multi-metric assessment of environmental contaminant exposure and effects in an urbanized reach of the Charles River near Watertown, Massachusetts, Open-File Report 2012-1195, 2012
Simulated Effects of Year 2030 Water-Use and Land-Use Changes on Streamflow near the Interstate-495 Corridor, Assabet and Upper Charles River Basins, Eastern Massachusetts, Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5132, 2008
The Charles River, Eastern Massachusetts: Scientific Information in Support of Environmental Restoration, General Information Product 47, 2007
Water resources and the urban environment, lower Charles River watershed, Massachusetts, 1630-2005, Circular 1280, 2007
Comparison of methods for determining streamflow requirements for aquatic habitat protection at selected sites on the Assabet and Charles Rivers, Eastern Massachusetts, 2000-02, Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5092, 2004
Evaluation of Strategies for Balancing Water Use and Streamflow Reductions in the Upper Charles River Basin, Eastern Massachusetts, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4330, 2003
Testing ground-water-management alternatives in the Upper Charles River basin, eastern Massachusetts, Fact Sheet 042-03, 2003
Simulation of ground-water flow and evaluation of water-management alternatives in the upper Charles River basin, eastern Massachusetts, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2002-4234, 2002
Potential effects of structural controls and street sweeping on stormwater loads to the lower Charles River, Massachusetts, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2002-4220, 2002
Streamflow, Water Quality, and Contaminant Loads in the Lower Charles River Watershed, Massachusetts, 1999–2000, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2002-4137, 2002
Measured and simulated runoff to the lower Charles River, Massachusetts, October 1999-September 2000, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2002-4129, 2002
Preliminary assessment of streamflow requirements for habitat protection for selected sites on the Assabet and Charles rivers, eastern Massachusetts, Open-File Report 2002-340, 2002
Spatial distribution, temporal variability, and chemistry of the salt wedge in the lower Charles River, Massachusetts, June 1998 to July 1999, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2000-4124, 2000
Distribution and potential for adverse biological effects of inorganic elements and organic compounds in bottom sediment, lower Charles River, Massachusetts, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2000-4180, 2000
Water resources and aquifer yields in the Charles River basin, Massachusetts, Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4173, 1988
Aerial profiling of terrain system (APTS) applications test report; Charles River Project, Open-File Report 85-302, 1985
Hydrology and water resources of the Charles River basin, Massachusetts, Hydrologic Atlas 554, 1975
Hydrology and water resources of the Charles River basin, Massachusetts, Open-File Report 74-241, 1974
Ground-water management, Charles River basin, Massachusetts, Open-File Report 73-77, 1973
Flood of March 1968 on the Charles River, Massachusetts, Hydrologic Atlas 419, 1971

EPA Reports

MIT Reports

Lower Charles River Bathymetry: 108 Years of Fresh Water, Senior Undergraduate Thesis, Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Madonna K. Yoder, MIT, 2017
The Use of Turbulent Jets to Destratify the Charles River Basin, Masters Degree Thesis, Jeffrey H. Church, MIT, 2012
Remote Depth Survey of the Charles River Basin, Senior Undergraduate Thesis, Evan A. Karlik, MIT, 2007
Sonar search, BUBBLE wreck, Charles River (Boston, MA), Harold Eugene Edgerton and Martin Klein, 1985
Sonargraph, Charles River (Cambridge, MA), "Bubble" on river bottom, Harold Eugene Edgerton and Martin Klein, 1985
Sonargraph, Charles River (Cambridge, MA), Harold Eugene Edgerton and Martin Klein, 1975
Sonar Survey Map, Charles River (Cambridge, MA), Hand-drawn map of targets identified, Harold Eugene Edgerton and Martin Klein, 1975

Other Reports on Charles River

MMOC Muddy River Restoration Project
Evolution Over the Life Span of Complex Systems, from 'Global Product Development: Proceedings of the 20th CIRP Design Conference', 2011.
The report discusses water quality in 'the tidal basin before 1910 and the construction of the first dam, the original Charles River Dam, the new Charles River Dam as it was originally intended, and the current state of the basin without a functioning bubbler system.'
Excerpt from Users of the Water Sheet, Bathymetry and Aquatic Vegetation in the Charles River Basin, Findings, Figures, Cortell Associates for MDC, 1997
Charles River Destratification Report, Metropolitan District Commission, 1981
An Evaluation of the Removal of Salt Water from the Charles River Basin, Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc., August 1976
Interim Report on Charles River for Flood Control and Navigation, Lower Charles River, Massachusetts, Plates, Appendix 8, US Army Corp of Engineers, 1968
Report Upon Use of the Charles River Basin and Lock for Commercial and Recreational Boating, Sections 1,3,5, Charles A. Maguire & Associates and Elson T. Killam Associates, Inc., 1959
Report of the Special Commission Established to Investigate Methods of Making the Charles River Basin More Suitable for Recreation and Civic Welfare Purposes, Special Commission on the Charles River Basin, 1929
Annual Reports of the Charles River Basin Commission, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, Final, Charles River Basin Commission, 1903-10
Final Report of the Charles River Basin Commission, Charles River Basin Commission, 1910
Seventh Annual Report of the Charles River Basin Commission, Charles River Basin Commission, 1909
Sixth Annual Report of the Charles River Basin Commission, Charles River Basin Commission, 1908
Fifth Annual Report of the Charles River Basin Commission, Charles River Basin Commission, 1907
Fourth Annual Report of the Charles River Basin Commission, Charles River Basin Commission, 1906
Third Annual Report of the Charles River Basin, Charles River Basin Commission, 1905
Second Annual Report of the Charles River Basin, Charles River Basin Commission, 1904
First Annual Report of the Charles River Basin, Committee on the Charles River Dam, 1903
Report of the Committee on Charles River Dam, Committee on the Charles River Dam, 1903
Evidence and Arguments Before the Committee on the Charles River Dam, Committee on the Charles River Dam, 1903
The Improvement of the Charles River Basin, Henry Higginson, et al., 1901
Report of the Joint Board consisting of the Metropolitan Park Commission and the State Board of Health upon the Improvement of Charles River from the line between Watertown and Waltham to Mother Brook, 1896
Charles River Dam : Evidence and Arguments before the Board of Harbor and Land Commissioners and Report Thereon, 1895
Report of the Joint Board consisting of the Metropolitan Park Commission and the State Board of Health upon the Improvement of Charles River from the Waltham Line to the Charles River Bridge, 1894
First Report of the Charles River Improvement Commission, Massachusetts House Bill 0197, 1892
Charles River Pollution: Investigations made by the Engineering Department, Nathan Matthews, City of Boston, 1892

Other Reports on Boston Harbor and Charles River

Commission on Waterways and Public Lands, 1916-1919
Report of the Board of Metropolitan Park Commissioners, 1893-1919
Harbor and Land Commissioners, 1879-1915
Board of Land Commissioners, 1878-1879
- Second Annual Report of the Board of the Land Commissioners for the Year 1878, 1879
- First Annual Report of the Board of the Land Commissioners for the Year 1877, 1878
Boston Department of Parks, 1869-1922
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year Ending January 31, 1922, Document 19, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1922
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year Ending January 31, 1921, Document 19, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1921
- Annual Report of the Park and Recreation Department for the Year Ending January 31, 1920, Document 22, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1920
- Annual Report of the Park and Recreation Department for the Year Ending January 31, 1919, Document 22, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1919
- Annual Report of the Park and Recreation Department for the Year Ending January 31, 1918, Document 22, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1918
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year Ending January 31, 1916, Document 22, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1916
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1909, Document 25, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1910
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1908, Document 27, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1909
- Annual Report of the Park Department, Document 29, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1908
- Annual Report of the Park Department, Document 29, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1907
- Annual Report of the Park Department, Document 28, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1906
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1904-05, Document 28, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1905
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1903-04, Document 28, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1904
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1902-03, Document 28, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1903
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1901, Document 28, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1902
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1900, Document 27, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1901
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1899, Document 27, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1900
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1898, Document 24, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1899
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1897, Document 24, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1898
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1896, Document 22, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1897
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1893, Document 25, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1894
- Annual Report of the Park Department for the Year 1892, Document 25, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1893
- Annual Report of the Department of Parks for the Year 1891, Document 26, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1892
- Report of the Park Commissioners of the Amount of the Contracts Awarded during the Year 1890, Document 11, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1891
- Fifteenth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 15, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1890
- Fourteenth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 72, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1889
- Thirteenth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 14, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1888
- Twelfth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 24, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1887
- Eleventh Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 26, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1886
- Tenth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 7, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1885
- Report of Park Commissioners on Additional Appropriation Required for the Charles River Embankment, Document 107, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 3, 1885
- Ninth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 9, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1884
- Eighth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 20, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1883
- Seventh Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 16, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1882
- Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 12, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol. 1, 1881
- Fifth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 15, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1880
- Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 15, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1879
- Third Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 16, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1878
- Second Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Parks for the City of Boston, Document 10, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1877
- First Report of Park Commissioners, Document 12, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 1, 1876
- An Act for Laying Out of Public Parks in or near the City of Boston, Document 61, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol 2, 1875
- Report of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor, on establishment of a Public Park, Document 105, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol. 3, 1874
- Report of the Joint Special Committee of the City Council, relating to a Public Park, Document 123, Documents of the City of Boston, Vol. 3, 1869
Harbor Commissioners, 1867-1878
Commissioners on Harbors and Flats, 1863-1866
Arguments of the Harbor and Land Commissioners and Testimony given in Regard to the South Boston Flats, 1880
Report of the Committee appointed under Chapter 93 of the Resolves of 1867 in relation to the Commonwealth Flats near South Boston, Massachusetts House No. 100, 1875
Report of the Committee appointed under Chapter 93 of the Resolves of 1867 in relation to the Commonwealth Flats near South Boston, Massachusetts House No. 76, 1868
Communications and Reports in Relation to the Surveys of Boston Harbor by the United States Commissioners, includes several reports on Boston Harbor and Mystic River with several maps, 1862

Related Books

Remaking Boston: An Environmental History of the City and Its Surroundings, edited by Anthony N. Penna and Conrad Edick Wright, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009
Boston's Back Bay, The Story of America's Greatest Nineteen-Century Landfill Project, William A. Newman and Wilfred E. Holton, Northestern University Press, 2006
Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston, Nancy Seasholes, The MIT Press, 2003
Inventing the Charles River, Karl Haglund, The MIT Press, 2002
Mapping Boston, Alex Krieger and David Cobb, The MIT Press, 1999
The Crooked & Narrow Streets of the Town of Boston 1630-1822, includes undated maps of the North End, Government and Business Centre, Residential Part, the West End, and the Neck, presumably reconstructed from 1822, Annie Haven Thwing, 1920
Boston Harbor and Surroundings. A Descriptive and Historical Sketch [booklet with map], Peleg Aborn, 1885

Annual Reports of the Metropolitan District Commission

Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1920, Public Document No. 48, 1920
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1921, Public Document No. 48, 1921
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1922, Public Document No. 48, 1922
Fourth Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission, 1923, Public Document No. 48, 1923
Fifth Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission, 1924, Public Document No. 48, 1924
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1925, Public Document No. 48, 1925
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1926, Public Document No. 48, 1926
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1927, Public Document No. 48, 1927
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1928, Public Document No. 48, 1928
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1929, Public Document No. 48, 1929
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year ending November 30, 1930, Public Document No. 48, 1930
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1931, Public Document No. 48, 1931
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1932, Public Document No. 48, 1932
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1933, Public Document No. 48, 1933
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1934, Public Document No. 48, 1934
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1935, Public Document No. 48, 1935
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1936, Public Document No. 48, 1936
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1937, Public Document No. 48, 1937
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1938, Public Document No. 48, 1938
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Year 1939, Public Document No. 48, 1939
Annual Report of the Metropolitan District Commission for the Years 1940-'41-'42-'43-'44-'45-'46 and to June 30, 1947, Public Document No. 48, 1940-47
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1972, 1972
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1973, 1973
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1974, 1974
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1975, 1975
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1976, 1976
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1977, 1977
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1978, 1978
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1979, 1979
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1980, 1980
Metropolitan District Commission Annual Report, Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1981, 1981

Depth Data

Spatial distribution, temporal variability, and chemistry of the salt wedge in the lower Charles River, Massachusetts, June 1998 to July 1999, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2000-4124, 2000
Distribution and potential for adverse biological effects of inorganic elements and organic compounds in bottom sediment, lower Charles River, Massachusetts, Water-Resources Investigations Report 2000-4180, 2000
Charles River Destratification Report, Metropolitan District Commission, 1981
Charles River Lower Basin Study, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1976
Interim Report on Charles River for Flood Control and Navigation, Lower Charles River, Massachusetts, Plates, Appendix 8, US Army Corp of Engineers, 1968
An Evaluation of the Removal of Salt Water from the Charles River Basin, Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc., August 1976