The Lower Neponset River is a 3.7-mile stretch of the river between Mother Brook in Hyde Park and the Walter Baker Dam in Dorchester/Milton, Massachusetts. While the river has the potential to be a site for water recreation and community beauty, this section of the river has been found to contain sediment polluted with high levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), a harmful chemical.
Between 2002 and 2006, the USGS, along with state and federal agencies, conducted studies that confirmed increased PCB contamination, especially downstream of Mother Brook. In March 2022, the EPA added the Lower Neponset River to the National Priorities List (NPL), making it a recognized Superfund site eligible for long-term cleanup and federal resources. The clean up process is ongoing and requires community input and oversight to make based use for our neighborhood.