Fresh Pond Reservation and Upper Watershed Improvements

Protecting drinking water via restored natural filtration

Wetlands, meadows, and native woodland habitats restored

Engineered wet meadows manage stormwater naturally

Enhanced access with permeable paths and restored landscapes

Challenges

Protect the City of Cambridge’s primary drinking water source while enhancing passive public recreation and wildlife habitat.
Upgrade aging drainage, stormwater, and shoreline systems to reduce erosion, improve water quality, and mimic natural hydrologic processes.
Restore degraded woodlands and wetlands by removing invasives, reestablishing native species, and strengthening overall watershed ecosystem function.
Balance ecological protection with heavy recreational use supported by long-term management and coordinated community engagement.

Implemented comprehensive green infrastructure BMP upgrades, including bioswales, bioretention basins, and porous pavements, to improve infiltration, reduce erosion, and protect reservoir water quality.
Designed and installed bioengineered shoreline and slope stabilization treatments tailored to site conditions, repairing gullies and reinforcing vulnerable edges.
Led long-term habitat restoration including removal of invasive species and native plantings selected using an NHESP native plant community-based approach.
Supported the Cambridge Water Department and Fresh Pond Advisory Board on phased implementation, permitting, and community outreach to ensure coordinated, resilient, and publicly supported stewardship that adheres to the reservation master plan.

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