8-Foot Deep Sinkhole Opens Up Along Muddy River

BROOKLINE, MA — A large 8-foot deep sinkhole appeared along the east bank of the Muddy River this weekend, pointing to potential problems in the future along the Muddy River, according to Emerald Necklace Conservancy officials.

"It's hard to look at one sinkhole and know if this is indicative of a larger problem, I will say that it does remind us that all parks have to be taken care of," Emerald Necklace Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek said.

The sinkhole appeared right by the "Grove" — the brick patio-type area in between Charlesgate East and the river right before Beacon Street not far from the Brookline border.

Conservancy officials said the hole was about 5ft in diameter and 8ft deep at the center with water visible in the lower right corner when facing the river.

Unlike the sinkhole found last month in Dorchester, the hole here is unlikely to be a well, because the area was made by people using artificial fill around 1880. The area has been a park landscape since it was created.

The team at Emerald Necklace Conservancy think this could be connected to a problem with water running through the soil and could represent a flaw in the structures underground.

The hole points to a need to work on river bank stabilization, especially as stormwater becomes more a concern and infrastructure from old times exhibit issues, Mauney-Brodek said.

Mauney-Brodek has been working with a number of local organizations on improving the water infrastructure at Charlesgate.

Previously: The Ronan Park Sinkhole In Boston Is Actually A 19th Century Well

"This area has gone through a few changes," she said in a phone interview. "It used to be marsh when Frederick Law Olmsted first reshaped the area."

The area was water, and tidal, before Olmsted shaped the area to be the mouth of the Muddy River and created a system to manage storm water for both Boston and Brookline.

She's been working with DCR and communities nearby to try to restore the natural edge of the river.

"It's possible this could stabilize more of the land," Mauney-Brodek said.

The sinkhole comes as the Muddy River just scored a D- on cleanliness, based on high ecoli levels, she said.

"The good news is that we have a very involved community" she said, adding that they're working on helping to design a solution.