The River Current || March 26, 2008 || Issue 63

The twice monthly e-newsletter of the Charles River Watershed Association
...bringing our backyard river to your door...

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In this issue:
1)       Dual Action Alert!
2)       Environmental Bond Bill
3)       Volunteers needed

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River friends,  

Happy spring! As the weather slowly warms, take a moment to stop and enjoy the singing birds and fresh-scented air. And then please take another moment to contact your representatives about the two bills outlined below, as your support can help preserve the environment in Massachusetts. Join us now in helping to create a better future for not only the Charles, but for nature throughout the Commonwealth.

For a cleaner Charles,
Rebecca Scibek, River Current Editor

1) Dual Action Alert on Conservation Tax Incentives and the Environmental Bond Bill

With over 40 acres of land being developed across the state every day, legislation to encourage landowners to protect their land is currently before the House Committee on Ways & Means. H.799, the Conservation Incentives Act would provide a state income tax credit to taxpayers who donate land for conservation. The House of Representatives needs to act on this important bill before the formal legislative session ends on July 31! For more information on the conservation tax incentive act, go to CRWA’s website at www.charlesriver.org/alert/2008/conservationtax.html

Please contact your Representative and Senator and ask him/her to urge the legislative leadership to move H.799, the Conservation Incentives Act, for a floor vote.

Dial 617-722-2000 and ask for your representative by name. If you don't know your representative's name, then mention your town and the operator will connect you, or go to www.wheredoivotema.com. You can also get your legislator's contact information directly from the House or Senate web pages.

In addition, while you are speaking to your representative, please ask them to pass the Environmental Bond Bill before this legislative session ends in July!  This is the most important environmental bill of the next five years. See below for more information on the bond bill.

2) Rally and Lobby Day for the Environmental Bond

The Environmental Bond is the most important Land Conservation Bill of the next five years. The bond funds programs and policy initiatives ranging from land protection, aquatic and wetland restoration, rare species recovery, and MassGIS to renewable energy initiatives.

Join us on Beacon Hill on Wednesday, April 9 from 10am to 1pm to Take Action for the Environmental Bond! As many people as possible are needed to come to the State House in Boston to tell the legislature that it must pass the Environmental Bond this session! We will hear from Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Bowles, Rep. Frank Smizik and others (possibly including Governor Patrick) and then go meet with our Senators and Representatives in their State House offices.

For more information on the Environmental Bond and day of action, go to http://www.envirobond.org/
 
3) Volunteers needed!

• Monthly water quality monitoring
  Volunteers are needed to take water quality samples on a monthly basis along the Charles River for CRWA's monthly monitoring program. Sampling generally occurs the third Tuesday of each month at 6am. There are more than 30 sampling locations all along the river, and we currently have openings at sites in Boston/Cambridge and Franklin.  Volunteers will be fully trained by a CRWA staff member, and equipment will be provided; volunteers are asked to commit to at least twelve months of sampling. For more information visit http://www.crwa.org/water_quality/monthly/monthly.html  , and if you’d like to volunteer contact Rebecca by replying to this email or calling 781-788-0007 x200.

·        Summer Interns
CRWA is seeking college students who want to learn more about watershed protection, river science, and education and outreach to volunteer as summer interns. Hours are flexible; visit www.charlesriver.org/jobs.html for more detailed descriptions of the positions.

·        Sunday, April 27 - Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race
Get an insider’s view of the competition by volunteering on race day. Gather family members, co-workers, and friends and enjoy the event together while supporting a great cause. Dozens of volunteers are needed to ensure the Run of the Charles continues to live up to its reputation as fun, well-managed event. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.charlesriver.org/rotc/rotc.html or call 508-698-6810.

 

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River Current is published by the Charles River Watershed Association and hosted by NPOGroups.org, a service of Electric Embers.