| The River Current || March 28, 2006 || Issue XXIV || 

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) ACTION ALERT! Help Protect the Public's Rights in the Tidelands! 

2) Upcoming CRWA Events

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1) Your help is urgently needed! Act Now to Protect the Public's Rights to challenge waterways licenses in the Tidelands!

 

Contact your state representative and the Speaker of the House and let them know that you support the public's right to challenge waterways licenses and do not want it eliminated.   

 

As reported in the Boston Globe, last week the Legislature's Committee on Finance released a bill, HB 4741, to "streamline" permitting for development.  This pro-developer bill was never given a hearing, is being fast-tracked for passage and could be voted on as early as next week.  We do not expect the Governor to veto it.  Click here to view the Globe article:   http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/27/bill_would_foil_a_tactic_used_for_waterfront_access/

 

The bill is particularly destructive of the public trust rights in the tidelands - rights that go back further than the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  Tidelands exist both along the shore and also inland along our rivers.  In the Charles, tidelands jurisdiction extends up to the Watertown Dam.

 

The bill's outrageous provision in Section 8 would eliminate the right of ten citizens to seek administrative review of waterways licensing decisions.  Even more outrageous, Section 9 would eliminate citizens' right to go to court to challenge these decisions.  There is no question that public involvement and the possibility of a citizens' appeal have resulted in far better licenses - licenses that include public access to the waterfront and strong public benefit.  The Fan Pier project is a good example of this. 

 

Please spend a few minutes to safeguard the public legacy in our tidelands. Write or email your legislators today that you oppose these provisions in HB 4741.  Click here to view and download a sample letter:

http://www.crwa.org/alert/Streamlinedbill0306/HB4741sampleletter.html

 

To find your legislators, go to: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

 

To view the entire action alert, read the bill, and for links to more information, click here:

http://www.crwa.org/alert/Streamlinedbill0306/HB4741issuesconcerns.html

 

 2) Upcoming CRWA Events

April is a busy month for us at CRWA - we have a number of events coming up which we invite you to participate in.

 

Tomorrow - Wednesday, March 29 at 6pm - we will celebrate our new office space in Weston with an Open House. Please join us at 190 Park Road, Weston, MA 02493.

 

On Tuesday, April 11 at 12:30pm we will continue the CRWA Brown Bag Lunch series (held at CRWA's new office, 190 Park Road, Weston). Senior Environmental Scientist Kate Bowditch will be speaking about flow trading.

 

Whole Foods Market is supporting CRWA through a Shoppers Day - on Tuesday, April 25 shop at any of the ten Whole Foods Market locations in the watershed, and 5% of the day's sales will be donated to the Charles River Watershed Association! The more you shop, the more they give!

 

The 7^th Annual Charles River Cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 29. Please contact Rebecca Scibek at 781-788-0007 x231 or via email if you'd like to participate or for more information.

 

Sunday, April 30 is the 24^th Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race, with races for all - teen to seniors, 6-miles to 26-miles! Organize a team for the canoe relay, come cheer for the racers, or volunteer.  Volunteers are needed to staff ten sites along the Charles River, from Dedham to Brighton; tasks include check-in/registration, set-up, boat number spotters, safety and clean-up. Orientation and training are available in advance. Souvenir T-shirts provided for racers and volunteers. Call 508-698-6810 or email rotc@crwa.org.