Charles River's water earns a B-plus in health

The US Environmental Protection Agency gave the Charles River a B-plus on its 2005 report card on the health of the river's water yesterday. The river received the same grade in 2004, and it is the highest grade since 1995, when the river received a D.

''It's a long way from the D, but it's not the A-plus we are striving for," said Robert Varney, the EPA's New England administrator.

Officials said the river met boating standards 97 percent of the time, and swimming standards 50 percent of the time in 2005.

''Now I know how my kids feel when they come home with a B-plus and I say, 'Good job. With a little extra effort you'll get to an A,' " said Fred Laskey, executive director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Officials said the extra push they need to get the river to its best health -- and transform it from one of the nation's dirtiest urban rivers to one of the cleanest -- is on the way. A settlement announced last month among the EPA, water resources authority, and US Justice Department will enable the authority to reduce the amount of sewage-laden water that flows into the river during storms. The judge is set to review the settlement Wednesday.

Despite the celebratory tone over the recent settlement and the high grade for the water, one activist said a clean Charles River could be a danger to itself.

''Because the Charles is getting cleaner, there are more and more development pressures on the river," said Vivien Li, Boston Harbor Association executive director.