The River Current

Charles River Watershed Association's new email newsletter
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|| The River Current || March 24, 2005 || Issue XVI ||

The mostly monthly e-newsletter of the Charles River Watershed Association

...bringing our backyard river to your door...

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In this issue:

1) ADVOCACY ALERT: March 29 is Environmental Lobby Day at the State House

2) SAVE THE DATE: May 19th is CRWA’s 40th Birthday Kick-Off

3) CRWA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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Dear friends of the Charles River,

Every spring, when they submit their proposal for the budget, our state

legislators make the choice of how much money to invest in public health and

the environment. And since 1989, the percentage of funds allotted to

environmental programs has been in nearly continual decline. According to

the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, since 2001, environmental programs

have suffered the worst cuts of any of our state's programs.

Our state legislators need to hear from us. They need to hear that we,

their constituents, are outraged by these cuts, and that we deserve better.

These are the funds that safeguard our health and safety, protect our air

and water, and ensure that our open spaces and parks will be around for

generations to come. We invite you to join us on March 29 at the State

House, in collaboration with Environmental League of Massachusetts, for

Environmental Lobby Day. Your legislator needs to know that you care. Read

more below about the Lobby Day.

For a cleaner Charles,

Ariel Dekovic, Publications Manager

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1) ADVOCACY ALERT: Speak out on funding of environmental programs in the

state

Please attend the Environmental Lobby Day at the State House on Tuesday,

March 29th at 2:00 pm. Your voice is urgently needed on Beacon Hill. Tell

your legislators that you want to see the environment adequately funded.

The Massachusetts Environmental Collaborative, a partnership of over 60

environmental organizations of which CRWA is a part, is holding an

Environmental Lobby Day to get out the word to our legislators on Beacon

Hill that we want to see better funding for environmental programs in the

Fiscal Year 2006 budget.

For more information on the lobby day, lobbying and what else you can do,

please visit:

http://www.charlesriver.org/alert/lobbyday2005.html.

2) SAVE THE DATE: May 19th kicks off CRWA’s celebration of our 40th

Birthday

On Thursday, May 19th, Charles River Watershed Association will kick off the

celebration of our 40th birthday with a boat trip down the Charles and

through the locks into Boston Harbor. We will be treated to a riverside

view of the New Charles River Basin parks at sunset. Celebrate 40 years of

CRWA’s pioneering environmental work where we should – on the Charles!

Space is extremely limited. A light supper, cocktails and, of course, cake

will be served. Tickets are $150 each. All proceeds support the work of

Charles River Watershed Association. Call Louise at 781-788-0007 x231 to

reserve your spot at the party.

3) CRWA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

6th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup

Saturday, April 30, 2005 || 9am - 12pm

Please join us for our Annual Earth Day Cleanup when over 1,000 volunteers

pick up trash at different cleanup locations along the entire length of the

Charles River. To participate or for more information, please contact Anna

Eleria of CRWA at (781) 788-0007 x 225 or via email, or Sara Miller

of Massachusetts Community Water Watch (MCWW) at (617) 879-7735 or

massart@waterwatchonline.org. This event is organized by CRWA, MCWW, the

Charles River Stream Team, Senator Steven Tolman's Office, the Charles

River Conservancy, DCR, and the Esplanade Association.

Monthly Water Monitoring Program

Become a water sampling volunteer, and be a proactive part of the

restoration of the Charles! We have openings for volunteers in Brighton,

Wellesley, Millis and Bellingham. Call Ariel Dekovic at CRWA, 781-788-0007

x200, or reply to this email for more information.

23rd Annual Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Join the 100 volunteers who help racers check-in, keep them going in the

right direction while they carry their boats on the 6 portages, and cheer

the racers on. If you’re an experienced paddler, you can help “sweep” the

race from your boat on the river, following the racers to monitor progress.

Contact: (508) 698-6810 or rotc@crwa.org. Look for on-line information and

registration at www.charlesriver.org.