Splash!

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

The Cleanest Urban Beaches in America!

After nearly a decade of debate and discussion, years of focused advocacy, and nearly $280 million of public investment, it’s finally time to celebrate!

Later this month, Save the Harbor will stand with the Governor, the Mayor, the MWRA, EPA and our communities leaders as we cut the ribbon on the North Dorchester Bay CSO Tunnel Project, making the beaches of South Boston and North Dorchester the cleanest urban beaches in the nation!

Despite the extraordinary success of the Boston Harbor Project, the beaches of South Boston and North Dorchester Bay have been plagued by persistent pollution problems that have prevented the public from swimming after even a small summer storm. In recent years at least one of these beaches exceeded state and federal standards for bacterial contamination as often as one out of every five days during the beach season.

The North Dorchester CSO Tunnel Project restores critical recreational opportunities to the residents of South Boston and Dorchester - and to the more than 1 million people who live within a short commute of these important public swimming beaches. This $259 million project provides important environmental benefits to the marine environment at a substantial savings of more than $100 million to the region's ratepayers over the previous proposed solutions. It was completed with $3.4 million in Federal funds from the stimulus package

  • The project will eliminate combined sewer overflows from these beaches in all but the largest “25-year storms.” There are currently 16 discharges per year on average on these beaches.
  • The project will also prevent storm-water discharges on these beaches during smaller storms up to the “5-year storm” level. There are currently 100 discharges per year on average on these beaches, which have prevented the public from enjoying the benefits of our $5 billion investment in the Boston Harbor Clean-up.

Working in partnership with the residents of South Boston and Dorchester, Save the Harbor / Save the Bay has advocated for the completion of this important phase of the project for nearly a decade.

It marks an important milestone in a cleanup that has been widely hailed as the largest environmental success story in the nation, a model for other communities across the Commonwealth and around the country.

Both the MWRA and the City of Boston deserve recognition for their outstanding work that has transformed Boston Harbor from a “Harbor of Shame” into a source of opportunity and pride for Bostonians and the region's residents.

While we recognize that there is still more work to do, this project is an important next step towards the late Judge A. David Mazzone's goal of a harbor that is safe for swimming, fishing and boating “damn near every day.”

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay will also host the “Blue is Back” Family Beach Bash and Splash for kids and families on Carson Beach on August 12 and 13, 2011.

On Friday, August 12 we will kick off the celebration with a day of kid’s events and activities on Carson Beach, including a sand castle competition and kite - flying contest. On Saturday, August 13 at noon we will host a family friendly beach party with a short swim and splash, followed by an afternoon concert on Carson Beach.

We’d love for you, your family, and your friends, to join us as we celebrate our great harbor and its magnificent beaches so please stay tuned for more on this exciting event!

Want to learn more?