About Us 

Climate Action

Environmental and Energy Services

Environment Department

Parks Department

Inspectional Services Department

Department of Neighborhood Development

Boston Water & Sewer Commission

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Boston Groundwater Trust 

Upcoming Events 

Recognition

2010 Named 2nd Best City for Cleantech Jobs by Fast Company

2009 Named Best City for Cleantech Companies by PhysOrg

2009 Named 8th Greenest 'Smart City' by Natural Resources Defense Council

  Asian Longhorned Beetle Update  

On Tuesday, July 13th at 6:00pm, USDA, state and city officials will host a community meeting at the Golf Clubhouse, Circuit Drive at Franklin Park. Please attend this important meeting to learn how you can help!!

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the discovery of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), a devastating invasive species, in six red maple trees on Faulkner Hospital property in Jamaica Plain. The trees have been destroyed and the grounds closely monitored.  Mayor Meniono has pledged his full support and cooperation with federal and state partners. The  MA Department of Conservation and Recreation has designated a 1.5 mile radius around the site as a restricted zone where no woody material will be permitted to enter or leave the area. 

Asian longhorned beetle larvae tunnel into hardwood trees, feeding on nutrients while weakening and ultimately killing the host tree. The pest has no natural predators in the U.S., making the beetle particularly devastating.

The beetle is a serious threat to deciduous hardwood species found in the Boston area (e.g maple, elm, willow, and birch). For a complete list of host species, visit: http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle/hosts.htm.  Be on the lookout for adult beetles, round pits or holes the size of a pencil head in bark, oozing sap, saw dust, and weak-looking trees. For detailed information on the beetle and instructions on identifying an infestation read the following USDA publication (2 pages). The University of Vermont provides useful information on distinguishing an ALB from a look-a-like as does APHIS.
 
Report any suspicious signs by calling 866-702-9938.    

Senator John Kerry and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino recently announced that the Boston Bike Share Program will receive $3,003,051 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to implement a new bike share system throughout the city.

The Regional Bike Share System is a multiple-city bike sharing system that will make thousands of bicycles available throughout the Boston metropolitan area with the swipe of a card. The Bike Share system was conceived as an extension and enhancement of the existing public transit system. More than 500 Bike Share stations will be located at or near MBTA bus and rail transit stations to encourage and facilitate the use of public transit. The system will create two million new bike trips per year.

Boston Latin School’s Youth CAN group is profiled on a segment of the Today Show for their climate action work. The student organization is working to develop and construct an outdoor green roof and environmental education space at the oldest school in America. They are also committed to spreading the word about the importance of understanding climate change and its impacts on our environment and future generations. Watch the Today Show segment here and learn more about BLS Youth CAN here.

Thanks to the support of the Highland Street Foundation, the Boston Harbor Alliance announced a Free Ferry Day to the Boston Harbor Islands Friday July 16, 2010. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis. This is a great time to get out to the Islands with your family. Get ticket details here. Check out the Boston Harbor Islands calendar of programs and activities happening all summer long.

Allston Brighton CDC's partnership with the Charles River Watershed and City of Boston has resulted in a new greenspace along Everett Street in Allston. An area that was formerly an asphalt parking area has been transformed into a beautiful green space with grass, plants and trees. With the use of permeable pavement and stormwater tree pits, the area now will filter and recharge stormwater. See the project  here.