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A Partnership between Tufts University
and the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA)
The Mystic Watershed Collaborative (MWC) envisions strategies and catalyzes the resources of
Tufts University and
MyRWA to address
challenges and opportunities in the Mystic Watershed.
The MWC was formalized in 2000 under the leadership of President DiBiaggio. In 2005 on the
5th anniversary of the MWC, President Bacow reaffirmed Tufts University's commitment to the
restoration of the Mystic River Watershed.
Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA)
MyRWA's mission is to protect and
restore clean water and related natural resources in the basin's
communities and to promote responsible stewardship of our natural resources through educational
initiatives. A small organization, MyRWA accomplishes its mission by forging links with citizens'
groups, universities, businesses, and government agencies. These alliances permit MyRWA to work
throughout the watershed, to document current conditions, and advocate for resource management
and protection. As an umbrella organization, MyRWA connects, but does not direct, the efforts of
many smaller groups working in each watershed community and leads watershed-wide environmental
programs. This collaborative approach has created a stronger watershed voice and is helping to
attract much-needed public and private resources to the Mystic.
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private
university founded
in 1852. Its main campus is situated in the Mystic
Watershed in Somerville and Medford, Massachusetts. As an institution, Tufts has long been committed
to improving the human condition through education and discovery. Beyond this commitment, Tufts
strives to be a model for society at large. Embracing both a tradition of rigorous academic research
and a belief that active citizen participation is essential to freedom, democracy, and a better world,
Tufts is uniquely suited to engage in a partnership such as the Mystic Watershed Collaborative. Diverse
departments and student groups have worked directly with community partners through research or
coursework to advance goals such as "fishable and swimmable" through activities including water
quality research, capacity building with local grassroots organizations, land use surveys, media
outreach strategy development
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