On July 14th, IRWA staff and interns made a trip to Boston and met with staff from the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) and had a meeting with one of our legislators on Beacon Hill.
Our first stop was CRWA, where we listened to a few staff members talk about their mission, gave us an overview of the Charles River, and talked about their individual roles. It was very interesting to learn how they are protecting a river that flows in one of the most developed areas of Massachusetts. We discussed the importance of building relationships with other watershed organizations. We can both help each other protect our rivers and communities!
After our visit, we headed to Beacon Hill to meet with one of our legislators. As a Newburyport native, I had the opportunity to meet with the staff of Representative Dawne Shand, who serves the Massachusetts’ First Essex district. During our conversation, we discussed several environmental issues that affect Newburyport. These topics include flood resilience, unsafe fecal bacteria levels in the Merrimack River, and growing algae blooms in the Artichoke and Indian Hill reservoirs. We both agreed that continued environmental legislation and funding will support more resilient rivers and reservoirs across the state.
We also discussed the Mass Ready Act, proposed legislation that would invest in climate resilience across Massachusetts. The bill would support efforts to protect the Ipswich River by enforcing water conservation policy during droughts and providing additional funding for environmental projects. I appreciate Representative Shand’s continued support for environmental initiatives and her leadership on these important issues!
The trip was a great opportunity to learn from another watershed organization and to meet with my own lawmaker’s office. I had an amazing time and am looking forward to hearing more updates from Beacon Hill!