Muddy River (Massachusetts)

The Muddy River during the spring in the Olmsted Park

The Muddy River is an artificial river and actually consists of a series of interconnected streams and ponds in parts of the Emerald Necklace in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. In its course it also touches on the southern end of Brookline, which bore the name Muddy River Hamlet to its incorporation in 1705. The river, which is fed despite its small size, as such, together with the adjacent parks and parkways, a protected recreation area with several hiking trails, which is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Geography

Course

The Muddy River rises in Jamaica Pond in Boston and follows a largely by Frederick Law Olmsted certain artificial river bed, with a few turns through a large part of the Emerald Necklace from Jamaica Pond through the Olmsted park along the Riverway and Fenway by the Back Bay window to the estuary meanders into the Charles River.

Tributaries

Because of its short length and the artificial course there are no tributaries.

Towns

The river rises in and passes completely through Boston.

History

When Boston was first settled in the early 17th century, was the Shawmut Peninsula, on which the town was built, connected by a thin, sandy stretch of land called Boston Neck with Roxbury. The adjoining the west wetland was doing a mud flat area of the Charles River. The area began increasing very bad smell over time, as the sewage from the growing settlement were introduced thereinto.

In order to fulfill the dual purpose of eliminating health and aesthetic problems caused by the contaminated water and the acquisition of new and valuable land for Boston Land, a series of land reclamation projects in 1820 launched and continued for the rest of the century. The filling of the present-day Back Bay was completed in 1882, the Kenmore Square was reached in 1890 and the establishment of the Back Bay Fens was completed in 1900. These projects have the scope of the peninsula more than doubled.

For Olmsted, it was a big challenge, the wetland to be restored so that made ​​him an ecologically healthy place arise and which could also be used as a recreation area. These combined Olmsted his talents "wakes scenery of a writhing, slightly salty Bach with wooded banks, the interest with the meandering course of the water. " As a landscape architect with the plumbing equipment to the then state of the art and made a foul stinking tidal creek and marsh a - today's the Muddy River was born.

Environment

Currently, the flow through the Muddy River Restoration Project will be fully restored, mainly to improve the control of floods and water quality. The work of the Emerald Necklace parks and the river's ecosystem are just as essential supports, restored landscape features and historic resources, and implemented improved management methods. The project intends in particular the recent devastating floods, which were caused by the Muddy River, be contained and made ​​more manageable.

Attractions and buildings

Along the river course many sights of the Emerald Necklace can be considered, but also the surrounding facilities and buildings of the city of Boston ( such as the Longwood Medical and Academic Area) and Commonwealth Avenue are worth a look.

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