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Legislative Sponsors:
Representatives:
Frank Smizik • Geraldo Alicea • William Brownsberger
Jennifer Callahan • Thomas Calter • Katherine Clark
Cheryl Coakley-Rivera • Steven D'Amico
Stephen DiNatale • Paul Donato • Jonathan Hecht
Kevin Honan • Louis Kafka • Jay Kaufman
Kay Khan, • Peter Kocot • Stephen Kulik
Barbara L'Italien • Kevin Murphy • James Murphy
Matthew Patrick • Sarah Peake • Richard Ross
Michael Rush • Tom Sannicandro • Robert Spellane
Joyce Spiliotis • David Sullivan • Martin WalshSenators:
James Eldridge • Stephen Brewer • Kenneth Donnelly
Patricia Jehlen • Brian Joyce • Richard Moore
Susan Tucker • Bruce TarrSupporting Organizations
Berkshire Environmental Action Team
Charles River Watershed Association
Clean Water Action
Conservation Law Foundation
Eel River Watershed Association
Environment Massachusetts
Environmental League of Massachusetts
Essex County Greenbelt
Ipswich River Watershed Association
Mass Audubon
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
Merrimack River Watershed Association
Nashua River Watershed Association
Organization for the Assabet River
The Nature Conservancy
Neponset River Watershed Association
Parker River Clean Water Association
Save the Bay
Trout Unlimited
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New Legislation to Protect Rivers:
An Act Relative to Sustainable Water Resources
Bill H 834 has been introduced in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This bill would promote sustainable water resource management.
Click here to see the legislation:
Abundant water resources
The Commonwealth receives an average of almost four feet of rain a year and has relatively abundant groundwater supplies. These advantages should provide us with ample water for drinking and industrial processing, while at the same time maintaining healthy rivers, lakes and other waters that support our natural aquatic biodiversity.
160 flow impaired rivers and streams
Unfortunately, that is not the case today. Massachusetts has 160 “flow impaired” rivers and streams, where harm to fish and other freshwater species has been documented. Numerous municipalities have difficulty meeting summer demand while some regional planning organizations warn of water shortages that could curb development.
Failure to act will leave us vulnerable
At our present growth and water demand and conservation rates, nearly half of the local water supply systems in Eastern Massachusetts will exceed their existing Water Management Act permit limits. Failure to act will also leave us more vulnerable to the extreme weather events that will occur with greater frequency and intensity due to climate change. Our situation will only worsen unless we improve the management of our water resources.
The bill will promote:
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Adequate water in our rivers and streams:
The bill requires the adoption of streamflow standards to ensure adequate water flow and water levels for community water suppliers and fish and other species as developed by the Department of Fish and Game; -
Water Conservation:
The bill authorizes water suppliers to implement "waterbanking" under which they could charge a small fee to residents and businesses for any new water withdrawal or sewer capacity to offset and remedy ecological impacts. Remedies could include land acquisition for wellhead protection, local recharge of storm/waste water, reuse of water, retrofitting existing development with low impact development methods or water saving devices. -
Dam Removal and River Restoration:
The bill augments the options offered to dam owners by the Office of Dam Safety within the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to include dam removal. DCR’s existing authority currently only extends to repair of failing dams.
