Background: Governor Baker recently filed a bill (H.4650, “An Act to Mitigate Arbovirus in the Commonwealth) that would give state authorities dangerously broad authority to eradicate mosquitoes through means that include chemical spraying. H.4650 would exempt the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board from all state laws and allow them to conduct mosquito eradication measures anywhere… Read more »
Late last week, the Trump administration took another major step forward in revoking some of the most fundamental national protections for our waters. The administration is expected to shortly remove and replace scientifically-supported water protections (the Clean Water Rule) which were designed to clarify the scope of Clean Water Act protections, which include protections for headwaters,… Read more »
There has been yet another attack on our federal protections for rivers and streams. We need your help to let Congress know this new proposal should be rejected! A bill before Congress (H.R. 1764) would double the length of Clean Water Act (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System or NPDES) pollution permits. The Clean Water Act… Read more »
This past week, Mass Rivers organized a sign-on letter opposing updates to the state hydropower dam regulations that could potentially harm rivers. The sign-on letter was supported by 70 organizations from across New England. The Issue Recently, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) put forward a proposal to change state hydropower regulations so that hydropower generators would have… Read more »
Yesterday the Senate and House signed off on a budget for FY20 that included increases for our three top river-related budget priorities! This is our second year in a row seeing significant increases for our top funding priorities. A HUGE thank you to you, our members, that lobbied for these priorities on Lobby for the… Read more »
The state legislature has taken its first step to move forward a bill that would require public notice in the event of sewage discharges into waterways. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), Representative Linda Dean Campbell (D-Methuen), and Representative Denise Provost (D-Somerville), received a favorable vote on Wednesday from the Joint Committee on… Read more »
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has proposed new regulations for hydropower dams that would harm our rivers. DOER is proposing that generators would have to undergo just one review to receive a lifetime certification as a river-friendly facility. This certification would entitle them to a lifetime of benefits from the state as providers of environmentally sustainable energy. … Read more »
Recently, the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee released their proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020. Mass Rivers prioritizes and advocates for funding for three state environmental agencies that are tasked with improving and protecting rivers in the Commonwealth. These agencies include the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Fish and Game’s Division of… Read more »
This past Thursday, Mass Rivers hosted our second Lobby for the Rivers Day. This day of advocacy on Beacon Hill provides an opportunity for our member organizations, individual members and residents to engage with their elected officials and raise their voice for rivers across the state. The event was sponsored by Representative Carolyn Dykema and… Read more »
In 2018, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Wild and Scenic River System. In the wake of the impressive anniversary successes, however, one might ask, “So, now what?” Luckily, the rivers community asked that question some time ago. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance was an enthusiastic contributor to the 50th anniversary, celebrating… Read more »
