The Floating Wetland is an exciting way to engage community members in learning about water quality and the Charles River’s health!
We hope you will learn more about the challenges the Charles River faces and the role of the Charles River Floating Wetland by exploring additional resources on this page.
Floating Wetlands Quick Start
Fun Ways to Learn More
Detailed Resources
INTRO VIDEO SERIES
Learn more about the ecological concepts behind the floating wetland and the hypothesis that the research team studied through our brief 4-part intro video series. Start with the “Introduction,” which gives a 2-minute overview of everything. Then take a deeper dive by watching the video series that interests you; each video is just a few minutes long.
WATCH HOW IT’S MADE
PLANTING AND ASSEMBLY
Curious how the floating wetland was planted and assembled before being placed into the Charles River? Watch a time-lapse of our team on installation day to catch a glimpse of the process.
NATIVE PLANT SPECIES ON THE FLOATING WETLAND
Want to know what’s growing on the wetland? Check out the full list of native wetland species featured to learn about their notable characteristics, bloom period, and more!
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Because public engagement is central to the mission and success of the project, we have taken many opportunities to attend community events and developed unique interactive games to demonstrate ecological concepts to folks of all ages. To find out where our team will be, follow along on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter for updates.
FISH CAMERA
In partnership with MIT Sea Grant, we installed a solar-powered fish camera on the floating wetland in 2024, which allowed us to count and identify the fish in the Charles River.
Check out our fish friends! Aren’t they awesome? They’re (most likely) bluegills treating themselves to a snack hiding within the floating wetland’s root system.
FLOATING WETLAND MODELS: STEAM ACTIVITY KITS
As part of a pilot program, we worked with teachers, educators, and students in Cambridge to help them create their very own floating wetlands! Developed in partnership with the MIT Sea Grant and support from the MIT Community Service Fund, the STEAM Activity Kit provides a hands-on opportunity to learn about Charles River ecology, pollution, and water quality. This booklet, created for a four week class for grades 3-6, includes lessons and activities that fit within a one-hour period. Activity Kits explore the lifecycle of daphnia and show changes in water when daphnia, spirulina, and a wetland are present in the same environment!
In partnership with Lesley University students, an informational leaflet was developed to engage student families with the project outside of school. It is translated to six languages including English.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
The CRC designs and leads exciting, hands-on programs for local student groups—often culminating in a kayak trip to see and explore the floating wetland up close! Youth learn about the function of the floating wetland and how it helps maintain healthy Charles River ecosystems and increases wildlife biodiversity.
“Thanks for the trips you hosted and the work you did to help us make this a summer to remember for the youth in our Summer Green Team Program. Your partnership helped us provide a unique, accessible, and exciting opportunity for high-priority youth right here in Cambridge and Boston.”– Alex Frank, Youth Program Manager, CitySprouts
Want to learn more about floating wetlands programming and community resources? Email Taylor Leonard at tleonard@thecharles.org.
CHARLES RIVER CONSERVANCY’S FLOATING WETLAND REPORT (2023)
A comprehensive 45-page report, Lessons Learned from the Charles River’s First Floating Wetland, provides a detailed overview of the first four years of the project.
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM
Curious about the science behind the project? Dive into the research process and findings in From Water Quality to River Health by McNamara Buck Rome, who led a three-year research program to examine the impact of the floating wetland on the local ecology.
FLOATING WETLAND VIDEO LIBRARY
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE CHARLES
On March 28, 2023, the CRC celebrated the conclusion of the pilot phase of research and shared insights into engagement with and expansion of floating wetlands in the Charles.
VIRTUAL EVENING EVENT: UPDATES ON THE FLOATING WETLAND
On September 23, 2021, we hosted a virtual event to share updates on a year of weekly data collection on the floating wetland. Watch the presentation to hear from Executive Director Laura Jasinski, Program Manager Taylor Leonard, and Ph.D. Candidate Max Rome.
VIRTUAL EVENING EVENT: INTRODUCTION TO THE FLOATING WETLAND
On September 24, 2020, community members joined us for an informative virtual event! Watch the event recording to hear from Executive Director Laura Jasinski and Ph.D. Candidate Max Rome.