LAW, ADVOCACY & POLICY

CRWA Legislative News

CRWA works closely with other environmental groups on legislation that will protect the environment and natural resources in Massachusetts and to oppose bills that would weaken them. We meet with statehouse legislators and testify on bills pending before legislative committees that will impact the Charles River Watershed and water resources throughout the state. We also lobby for increased environmental agency budgets and this year, for the Environmental Bond Bill which would provide millions of dollars for vital state environmental programs over the next five years.  Kate Bowditch, Senior Project Manager, is CRWA’s registered legislative lobbyist. 

In 2007, CRWA joined other leading environmental organizations to develop the Mass Green Agenda, which is a shared set of legislative priorities.  Our goal is to combine our resources to provide a strong and effective voice to preserve our waterways and ocean resources, increase park funding, and to protect our open spaces.  Click to read the Mass Green Agenda’s 2007 Priorities.  

For the 2009 legislative session, CRWA has three main priorities, which are all within one omnibus water bill which we have drafted with a broad-based working group of environmental organizations. The bill does not yet have a number, but it is titled An Act Relative to Sustainable Water Resources. Chairman Frank Smizik is chief sponsor of the measure, and Senator Jamie Eldridge is leading the effort in the Senate.  Our priorities include:

• Ensure adequate water in rivers and streams: Adopting streamflow standards, as outlined in the Water Management Act, will ensure adequate water flow and water levels for community water suppliers, fish, and other river-dependant plants and animals.
• Encourage water conservation:  Authorizing water suppliers to implement "waterbanking", under which they could charge a small fee to residents and businesses for any new water withdrawal. This fee would offset and remedy ecological impacts of water withdrawals.
• Further river restoration:  Dam removal would be an added option offered to dam owners by owners by the Office of Dam Safety (within the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation).  DCR’s existing authority currently only extends to repair of failing dams; removal of unneeded dams would allow for further ecosystem restoration.

An Act Relative to Sustainable Water Resources

• Draft text of the bill.

Updated January 2009