Lucy Humphreys

Blending Boundaries on the Charles: Wetlands and Stormwater Management

Harvard GSD Department of Landscape Architecture, Core I

Instructor: Jungyoon Kim

In the beginning of this project, I was inspired by an article I read in an old issue of Harvard Design Magazine that split climate change mitigation into two categories: horizontal and vertical. It stated that, “Most design thinking for coastal protection explores options in the vertical plane: walls, mechanical barrier arms, levees, and houses on stilts. The alternative is to think horizontally.” I thought that this would be an interesting lens through which to view our site at Herter Park along the Charles River Reservation.

Boston infrastructure is at high risk due to rising sea levels and an increase in precipitation. Our site is projected to be particularly affected by storm surges. These two elements provided the basis for my primary research question. How can I apply both horizontal and vertical means of intervention to address stormwater runoff and storm surge throughout the park?

Through observation of the current site during a bout of heavy rain, I identified areas where there was poor drainage and a higher accumulation of water. I found that several areas in the middle (shown in Diagram A) retained the most water after the storm. Moving forward, I let those findings inform the location of the wetlands. Wetlands, my horizontal intervention, can aid in managing stormwater runoff by creating a buffer zone to slow entry to the river as well as filter dirty water before it enters the Charles. The topography provides the basis for my vertical strategy, guiding stormwater runoff from the city into a series of channels, and into the wetlands below. I also wanted the wetlands to be a focal point, allowing them to enter the urban space of the park, while simultaneously allowing the urban experience to extend to the river. While wetlands themselves may not be accessible to pedestrians at all times, I still wanted to maximize interaction with wildlife and vegetation. My planting strategy also reflects the movement of water, with the densest vegetation placed in what are expected to be the wettest areas.

I was interested in creating a park that honors and accepts the changing landscape and allows people to interact with the changing ecology on a number of levels. We are not really sure what the riverfront will look like in 2070, or even 2030, and I wanted to design a space that allows a little wiggle room for what that future may be. My hope is that to the extent this site becomes wetter, the site will adapt, the wetland species will thrive, and the park will improve with age.