www.massoyster.org

Fort Point Channel

A Photographic TourAnd an Opportunity For Using Oysters to Restore the Environment

The Massachusetts Oyster Project for Clean Water

An oyster filters 30 gallons of water per day.

The Fort Point Channel is a Uniquely Attractive and Interesting

Site for Oyster Restoration• The Channel is an enclosed, shallow water body

with limited access and numerous areas that could be interesting for raising oysters.

• The water is slightly brackish ranging from 27 to 22 parts per million in our low tide testing.

• Water quality is a problem with numerous urban surface water inflows.

• There is a strong community desire to utilize this resource.

Fort Point Channel

• A remnant of a wonderful wetland

• A piece of our industrial heritage

• A once working canal

• An opportunity

How did it get this way?

It started as a bay/inlet among wet lands.

Then the industrialization began… Fill to build out the leather districtFill to widen the Boston NeckDredging to create more dockage

And the Channel becamenarrower and the bay it led to smaller

This view shows the growing industry on the West Sideand the complete fan pier.

How did it get this way?

It started as a bay/inlet among wet lands.

Then the industrialization began… Fill to build out the leather districtFill to widen the Boston NeckDredging to create more dockage

And the Channel becamenarrower and the bay it led to smaller

And it became more industrial.

Then with upstream fill for the rail-system to replace the docks we wind up with the sliver for water movement we have left today.

www.massoyster.org

Fort Point Channel A Photographic Tour

From start to Harbor

On May 23 our volunteers surveyed the channel at low tide.

• We tested for salinity• We measured bottom silt• We found many attractive

opportunities for water cleansing oysters and to involve the Fort Point Channel Community.

• We see multiple opportunities for education and involving the arts community.

The start

• Initial flows from Roxbury Conduit, Dorchester Brook Conduit

• Drainage from Boston, South Boston, Roxbury and Dorchester.

• Box culvert is CSO 070

The first section

• Stony banks• Mud Flats• Green Water

East Bank

West Bank

Shopping carts

Bridge 1Broadway Bridge

• Activation plan calls for kayak launch and urban wild.

Bridge 2- Unidentified

• Narrow foot bridge• Takes walkers from

East side to closed in area on West Bank that is closed in by highway.

• Cobbles on both east and west banks

Bridge 3 MBTA Railroad

• Substantial wide bridge with cement piers

Space Between Bridge 3 and 4

• Cobble on East Bank• Wall on West Bank

Traffic Barrel

Bridge 4 Dorchester Avenue

• Extensive pilings at North End beneath building

Seawall Basin

• A vast expanse of open water • With unique opportunities for oysters• Eventual site for a boat launch

West Bank Post Office East Bank Gillette Plant

Gillette Plant

• Uses 30 million gallons of water per day for cooling.

• Discharges warm water (Could it keep properly placed oyster colonies growing year round? Is their food?)

Cobbled Area With Pilings

• Located behind Post Office

• Could be an area for raising oysters.

• Across the channel from a drainage outlet. They are numerous throughout the channel.

Existing Dockage Opportunity• Could be fixed up and

used as platform for hanging oysters and education

• Structure needs some attention.

Bridge 5 Summer Street

• Hard Bottom• Hard to access• Signs of existing

shellfish.

Cobble Opportunity

Live Mussel Clam Shell

Bridge 6 Congress Street

• Carries foot and car traffic to Boston Children’s Museum.

Channel Hub

• There are numerous resources for educational tie-ins.

• Boston Children’s Museum

• Barking Crab• Hooks lobster• Heavy foot traffic

Bridge 7- Evelyn Moakley

• Wide• 16 foot clearance• Ample sidewalks • Low clearance at high

tide. Restricts access to the Channel

Bridge 8 Northern Avenue

• Disrepair• Closed to traffic• Hut would make

terrific bar• Pilings create lots of

opportunity for structures to support oysters.

Fan Pier Marina can accommodate an upweller.

• The location is protected.

• The location is highly visible.

What will the future of Fort Point Channel be?

Special thanks to:Friends of the Fort Point Channel

www.friendsoffortpointchannel.org/

Boat Captain Dave Wolfe