The River Current

|| The River Current || April 19, 2005 || Issue XVIII || 

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: Call your representative and ask them to support an amendment to fund DCR's stormwater management
2) HYDRATION: Building 19 marketing "Charles River Water"

3) VOLUNTEER: Sign up for the Earth Day Cleanup!

4) EVENT: Visit us at the WBOS Earth Day Festival on the Esplanade!
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Dear friends of the Charles River,

Budget season is officially open!  The legislature is all aflutter, making the tough choices of what programs should be funded and how, for 2006.  Representative Anne Paulsen has been working with Charles River Watershed Association on an amendment giving the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) the funds needed to bring their stormwater management program into compliance with the Clean Water Act.  Now we need you to make some noise!  DCR is the agency tasked with protecting our natural resources; yet, their stormwater management continues to negatively impact our environment, including our state's waterways.  Let your representative know that cleaner, healthier Massachusetts rivers are important to you!  Take a five-minute break and call them right now.

The House will be debating the budget next week, and we need our members to call their representatives and the Speaker of the House and urge them to support this amendment.  Below you will find the talking points, and easy links for finding your representative's number.  This whole call process should take less than five minutes.

For a Cleaner Charles, 

Ariel Dekovic

Publications Manager

1) ADVOCACY ALERT: Call your Representatives and ask for DCR Stormwater Funding

The Massachusetts House of Representatives will be debating their budget next week.  Please call your Representative and the Speaker of the House this week and ask them to take up Rep. Paulsen's Department of Conservation and Recreation Stormwater Amendment (#1216).  Tell them their support for this amendment is vital for protecting our state's natural resources, and without this money, DCR will remain in gross violation of the Federal Clean Water Act.

For talking points, click here:

http://www.charlesriver.org/projects/stormwater/dcramendment.html

To find your state representative, click here:

http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

Call Speaker of the House Salvatore (Sal) DiMasi: 617-722-2500.  You can ask for the staff person who works on environmental issues, or just leave a message for the Speaker.

2) HYDRATION: Charles River Spring Water now for sale!

Building #19 has teamed up with the Charles River Watershed Association to create a private-label spring water with the unusual title of "Charles River Spring Water".  Ten percent of the proceeds from the bottled water - no, it's not actually Charles River water; it's bottled in the Adirondacks - will go to CRWA!  The water, for once, comes cheap - it's just 19 cents a bottle, so buy a few bottles!

Building #19, Inc. is the water sponsor for The Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race on April 24, 2005. Over 4,000 bottles of Charles River Spring Water will be donated to paddlers, volunteers and bystanders. An additional 1,000 bottles will be donated to the Charles River Cleanup volunteers on Earth Day, April 30, 2005.  Building #19, Inc., operates fifteen retail stores serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Building #19, Inc., is a surplus and salvage retail store founded in 1964.  Visit their website to find a location near you!

3) VOLUNTEER: Volunteer for the Earth Day Cleanup!

Only a week and a half left till this year's Earth Day Charles River Cleanup.  The cleanup is April 30, from 9 AM - 12 PM.  If you are an individual and you would like to join us in Boston, Allston, Brighton or Watertown, click here to get a list of sites.

If you are in Bellingham or the Upper Watershed, please respond to this email and I will put you in touch with the Bellingham site coordinator.

4) EVENT: Join Charles River Watershed Association at 92.9 WBOS EarthFest 2005!

Saturday, 12- 6 PM, on the Esplanade

After spending the morning doing good for the environment, let the environment do you good!  WBOS' EarthFest 2005 brings together great music, important environmental work and family-friendly activities, all on the beautiful banks of the Charles.  Join CRWA and friends - we'll have a table with lots of interesting goodies and information.  Come say hi!  Among the bands performing will be the Wallflowers, Ari Hest, Low Millions, Carbon Leaf, and Five for Fighting.  The music starts at noon.  See you there!