Lobby your legislator on behalf of the Charles and our Parks agency

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which manages over 675,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, is out of compliance with federal permit regulations regarding stormwater management.  Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) and Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) are calling for the legislature to increase DCR funding in the 2006 budget to allow the agency to deal with these issues.  The Massachusetts House of Representatives is scheduled to present its 2006 budget next week. CRWA and CLF have warned the legislature that their past funding for the agency has been inadequate, and that this lack of funding is the main contributor to DCR's "abysmal" compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's permit requirements for stormwater management.  Join us in this campaign by urging your state legislator to increase overall funding for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, as well as earmark funds for their stormwater management program.

Frequently asked questions and talking points:

Why is this important?  Why are we asking for more money for stormwater management?
How do funding cuts affect the environment and our communities?  
What can I do?

Why is this important?  Why are we asking for more money for stormw ater management? ^back to the top

The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages many of the parks and roadways in the Charles River Watershed, including the 17-mile long Charles River Reservation.  DCR's controlled lands, parking lots, roads, parkways and boulevards contribute to the large quantities of polluted stormwater (the most significant source of pollution in the Charles River) that run off into the state's rivers and harbors.  This stormwater is a major cause of water quality degradation, affecting fisheries, habitat, aquatic plants, and recreational uses.

How do funding cuts affect the environment and our communities?
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Chronic underfunding by the state, which has led to inadequate staff and project time, is causing DCR to fail to meet the most basic EPA and Clean Water Act requirements on stormwater.  Uncontrolled runoff from DCR properties is one factor causing the Charles River to violate state water quality standards for fishing, swimming and, at times, even for boating.

What can I do?
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Call your legislator as soon as possible.  The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to finalize their budget recommendations by next week.  It only takes a few minutes to call.  They will be happy to hear from you!  

You can also write to your legislator.  You can model your letter off a sample letter found here.  Find your legislator here. 

 For more information about the environmental budget, and the recommended funding increases for each environmental agency, please go the website of Environmental League of Massachusetts.  The Green Budget Fiscal Year 2006 is available on this website and has lots of information about the environmental programs and their budgets.