Even without the movie or the book, the Mystic River merits attention. First named “Missi-Tuk” or “Great Tidal River,” its watershed covers 76 sq. mi. from Reading to the Boston Harbor, with 44 lakes and ponds (including Spot and Fresh Ponds), and many tributaries (e.g., Alewife and Mill Brooks). Ecologically, it needs help. It is densely developed, its 21 municipalities include 8 of the 15 most stressed environments in the state, and each has its own water and wetland regulations, so remediation is a procedural maze. Nonetheless, things are looking up, with help from MyRWA—a small organization with a big ambition: to make the Mystic River “fishable and swimmable” by 2010. How can they do it? By being a strategically savvy catalyst—collaborating with many volunteers, influential organizations like Tufts, and government agencies, on well-chosen projects. Knowledge is power, so MyRWA helps guide research, data collection, and publicity. Spring and fall clean-ups attract hundreds of volunteers to clear trash from the water and its banks. Its website links to swimming and boating information, and its Herring Run Festival celebrates the annual return of the fish to spawn. Philanthropy is optimistic, but with only six years to go, your help is needed.