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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 7/17/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
Water Bill Hearing
Although water is a precious natural resource, Massachusetts water management practices are in many ways insufficient. The need to update our policies is becoming ever more pressing as we consider climate change and its anticipated effects, which include water shortages. Rivers and streams across the Commonwealth already suffer from a variety of problems stemming from lack of water. Some of the biggest issues include excessive withdrawals, ineffective dam management - especially when dams are no longer used, needlessly breaking up the continuity of rivers - and poorly planned watershed development. An Act Relative to Sustainable Water Resources (HB 834) filed by Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline) and championed in the Senate by Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) will be heard next Wednesday by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The Act provides three important mitigation tools: streamflow standards, setting appropriate flow regimes for rivers and streams, and protecting drinking supplies and wildlife by addressing water withdrawals; water banking, addressing both water withdrawals and infrastructure needs by providing a revenue stream for towns to repair old infrastructure; and revisions to dam management statute, addressing safety issues and habitat through improved river connectivity when obsolete dams are removed. Mass Audubon will be submitting testimony, and we encourage others to do the same. The hearing is open to the public. Hearing details:
Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
11:00 a.m.
State House, Room 437
Boston Testimony - Arrive early to go through security. When you arrive at the hearing room, ask for the sign-up list if you wish to speak. Staff will either have a sign-up sheet right outside of the hearing room or up in front.
- Keep it at 3 minutes per person, tops.
- There is no final date for submitting written testimony, but it is typically delivered within a week or two of the hearing. Please send us copies.
Testimony should reference the bill being heard (HB 834) and be addressed to: The Honorable Anthony W. Petrucelli
Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Room 413-B
State House
Boston, MA 02133 The Honorable William M. Straus
House Chair, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Room 473F
State House
Boston, MA 02133 For more information, see our Sustainable Water Resources fact sheet and contact Mass Audubon Legislative Director, Jennifer Ryan, jryan@massaudubon.org.
Upcoming Conferences
Mark your calendars for these upcoming fall events! Greening the City: Fostering Inspired and Innovative Leadership for Just and Sustainable Urban Communities A conference sponsored by Lesley University's graduate Division of Environmental Studies and Mass Audubon, November 6-9, 2009. Join more than 150 urban environmental leaders from throughout New England at the main campus of Lesley University in Cambridge, MA to explore key strategies for fostering inspired and innovative urban environmental leadership. "Greening the City" is geared toward environmental practitioners and thinkers from nonprofits, higher education institutions, local community groups, government agencies, and businesses. It will feature prominent environmental thinkers and practitioners from academia and government agencies, as well as from for profit and nonprofit organizations. There will be keynote talks, workshops, and an exhibit area, and other interactive ways to engage with the challenges and solutions arising from our increasingly urban world. Keynotes will include well known environmentalists like Julian Agyeman, environmental social scientist, activist and academic from Tufts University. Other keynotes will be announced shortly. The conference is meant to engage in-depth and meaningful dialogue among participants while addressing the difficulties and opportunities faced in cultivating just and sustainable urban communities. Registration required. A Water Resources Conference: Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust Hogan Conference Center
Holy Cross College
Worcester, MA
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Established as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, the Trust has infused over $17 million into projects for water quality, aquatic species, environmental education and more. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Trustees are hosting a one-day conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The conference is intended to bring together practitioners engaged in the work of protecting and restoring water quality and the continuity of aquatic systems. Session topics will include: - Water Quality and Quantity
- Restoration and Revitalization of Waterfronts
- Sustainable Water Infrastructure
- Where Public and Private Funders Should Invest
Who Should Attend: - Municipal and state officials
- Business stakeholders
- Watershed organizations and other advocacy and nonprofit groups
For more information contact Susan Lanza at 617-626-1068 or email Susan.Lanza@state.ma.us
Calendar
Economic Decisions
Governor Patrick will hold a second round of community meetings focused on difficult choices facing the state in these challenging economic times. These meetings will take place in communities throughout the state, and will allow the public to provide input and ask questions. See the schedule to find an upcoming meeting near you. The Patrick administration has also recently launched an online forum where members of the public can participate in similar discussions: http://forum.state.ma.us/. Ocean Management for the Bay State Last year, the Massachusetts Ocean Management Act was signed into law by Governor Patrick as a first-in-the-nation effort to manage state ocean waters. Mass Audubon was appointed by the Governor to the 17-member Ocean Advisory Commission to represent the Commonwealth's environmental interests and work with the administration to write the ocean plan.
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
Legislative Tool Kit
Stay In Touch
Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents! Contact your legislators and share with them the environmental issues that are important to you.
Find out who represents you in the Senate and House.
Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
Discover effective ways to convey your environmental interests to your Senator or Representative.
View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
How the Law is Made
Learn about the steps a bill takes before becoming law. You can also use our graphic charts to guide you through the life of a bill, from when it is first filed, to when it is signed into law.
 Mass Audubon Advocacy
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-8448 (phone)
617-523-4183 (fax)
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