Did you know that the amount of water needed to restore natural flows in the river – an estimated 14.4 million gallons per day – is about equal to the estimated amount used for lawn watering?
Recently at Riverbend, many of our most committed river advocates gathered to learn about current advocacy efforts and strategize how we can mobilize our membership to best take advantage of upcoming opportunities to protect the river. Perhaps never before have there been so many once-in-a-generation opportunities to influence local, state and federal policy arriving all at once. These chances include the 20-year water withdrawal permit renewals, the new EPA stormwater regulations, drought and streamflow legislation, new water quality standards, revitalization of the Ipswich River task Force, municipal resiliency planning and many more. All of these are presently underway or are expected to happen over the next few months.
Following a presentation on these current advocacy happenings, Executive Director Wayne Castonguay led a conversation with committed members about how to influence positive action, both in approaching decision-makers and the best methods and timing for mobilizing our efforts. Please standby for calls to action and to be sure you are included as part of our advocacy team, sign up via email here; we need you!
You can also help our efforts to keep more water in the river and ensure that water is clean by taking action on your own property and in your community. Learn how implement sustainable landscape practices create and more resilient watershed by visiting our #4ourRiver page. You can visit our Riverbend headquarters to see low-impact development (LID) and sustainable landscapes in practice. Get inspired and join the campaign for a chance to win prizes.