The Watershed Action Alliance (WAA) of Southeastern Massachusetts, of which the North and South Rivers Watershed Association is a founding member, hosted a legislative breakfast on April 12th, 2018 at the Massachusetts State House. WAA consists of 13 member watershed and pond associations from Southeastern Massachusetts, representing over 20,000 members. Watershed association staff made presentations to Southeastern Massachusetts legislators and their aides concerning the diminished quantity of water available for both people and the environment, the threat of stormwater pollution to water quality and the benefits of dam removal and river restoration efforts in our region.
Senator Vinny DeMacedo, the sponsor for the breakfast, spoke and was followed by Senators Patrick O’Connor and Marc Pacheco – all representing the Southeastern Massachusetts region. Each took the opportunity to convey legislative initiatives they support that protect our water resources, how important clean and plentiful water is to our economy and how they see watershed associations as an invaluable resource to them and their staff when it comes to understanding local water issues. After the presentations from member associations and the Senators, members of the watershed associations visited their local state senators’ and representatives’ offices to provide fact sheets about critical water issues and a summary of our legislative priorities.
Our legislative breakfast was well timed and took place in the middle of this year’s state budget session. In fact, the just-released House budget has increased funding for many of our environmental agencies for the first time in a decade. The breakfast provided an opportunity for watershed associations to educate legislators on regional water issues, make their voices heard regarding our priorities for ensuring our water is protected and ask that funding is available to ensure its protection. Thank you to Senator Vinny DeMacedo for hosting and for Senators Patrick O’Connor and Mark Pacheco for taking the time to speak and for our members who trekked in to Boston to show their support for protecting water!
See photos from the Legislative Breakfast on our Facebook page.