ACTION ALERT: Our rivers need your support!

We need your help to gather support for two bills at the Massachusetts State House that will benefit our rivers!

Please call your state representative and state senator by Friday, February 1st at 3 pm to ask them to sign on as a cosponsor for two bills that would benefit rivers in Massachusetts. If you want to confirm who your state representative or state senator is, please click here.

Below is a sample script for your call: “Hi, my name is ______________ and I live in _______________, Massachusetts. I am calling in regards to a cosponsorship request. I am calling to ask that (Senator or Representative) ___________ cosponsor:

1. An Act promoting awareness of sewage pollution in public waters Sponsored by Sen. Jehlen (Senate Docket Number 1265) and Rep. Campbell and Rep. Provost (House Docket Number 1122)

2. An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management Sponsored by Sen. Tarr (Senate Docket Number 1669) and Rep. Dykema (House Docket Number 3180)

Thank you for your consideration.”

For additional talking points about the two bills, see below: 1) An Act promoting awareness of sewage pollution in public waters Sponsored by Sen. Jehlen (Senate Docket Number 1265); Rep. Campbell and Rep. Provost (House Docket Number 1122)

1. In Massachusetts, the public has no way to know when bacteria-laden sewage discharges render our rivers unsafe for recreation.

2. This bill would institute a statewide sewage discharge notification system to alert residents when sewage discharges make rivers unsafe and require the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to collect data on sewage discharges across the state.

2) An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management Sponsored by Sen. Tarr (Senate Docket Number 1669); Rep. Dykema (House Docket Number 3180)

1. In 2016, Massachusetts endured one of it’s worst droughts on record, as rivers and public water supplies across the state were increasingly stressed. Key opportunities for early water conservation efforts were missed because of an authority gap in current drought management.

2. This bill would give the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force statutory authority and provide the Secretary of the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs the authority to require uniform nonessential outdoor watering restrictions in a drought region.

If you need any additional information or have any questions, please contact our Policy Director Gabby Queenan (gabbyqueenan@massriversalliance.org or 617-714-4272).

Thank you in advance for your advocacy!