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LAW, ADVOCACY & POLICY


 

How to Take Action

Public Hearing:

Attend the public hearing scheduled for 1pm on July 23, at UMASS Dartmouth's School of Marine Science and Technology, 706 S. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA.  

Write a letter:

Send a letter to Representatives Resor and Smizik, chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Room 473F, State House, Boston MA 02114, as well as to your legislator. 

Click here to find your legislator  

Tips for writing an effective comment letter

Writing a letter is more effective than emailing or calling, however, use the mode of communication that is convenient and will result in your immediate action. 

If you would like to call the Joint Committee on the Environment, their office number is 617-722-2210

If you would like further information, please contact Margaret Van Deusen at CRWA at 781-788-0007 x234 or via email. 

An Act to Protect Rivers and Streams - Proposed streamflow standards to guide river management 

July 9, 2007

In partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Trout Unlimited, CRWA is supporting An Act to Protect Rivers and Streams,  H. 833, supported by Representative Douglas Petersen. Click here for a PDF version of the bill.

With this legislation, Massachusetts has the opportunity to improve the condition of the state's rivers and streams and meet the needs to community. Currently, state water management laws do no require the development of standards to protect water level and flows. Standards will help ensure consistent protection of rivers, streams and lakes ac ross the state. 

Passage of House Bill 833, An Act to Protect Rivers and Streams, will protect our rivers by establishing a set of specific criteria for protecting fisheries, aquatic life and other instream uses, such as recreation.  These standards will:

  • Account for differences in rivers and water resources as well as the natural variations in water levels during different seasons and different years;
  • Recognize that essential human needs are given the highest priority while providing consistent protection for natural resources;
  • Continue to make certain that other critical needs, such as flood control and recreation, are met.

For more complete information about the importance of this bill, please click here to download a full-color, two-page PDF fact sheet.

Read the testimony of CRWA Deputy Director Margaret Van Deusen on the streamflow standards legislations.