Take Action to Clear the Charles River of Invasive Species!

URGENT: Sign up to testify by Sunday, Dec. 5th at 5pm at the hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 7th at 1pm in support of better invasive species management.

The Charles River needs your help. All across Massachusetts, our rivers are plagued with the rampant growth of invasive species that are extremely harmful to the delicate ecosystem; they reduce biodiversity, damage water quality, harm vital mature trees, and overtake our forests and rivers. We need you to take action to stop the proliferation of invasive species. A bill that would make invasive species management more effective and provide funding for removal and prevention is scheduled for a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture (ENRA) on Tuesday, December 7 at 1 pm.  Join CRWA in testifying in support of this bill & stand up for the Charles River! Sign up by Sunday, Dec. 5 at 5 pm to make your voice heard!

SIGN UP TO TESTIFY

Ways to help: Sign up to speak at the public hearing! Briefly share your experience with invasive species and why you support the bill. Legislators want to hear from their constituents! The deadline to sign up is Sunday, December 5 at 5 pm. Sign up to speak >> Submit written testimony to the ENRA committee! If you can’t testify at the public hearing, you can submit your comments in writing on or before the hearing date. See sample testimony below. Email written comments >> Ask your legislators to support the bill. Even if your state legislators are not on the ENRA committee, this is a good chance to remind them about the bill, and ask for their support. If your legislator has already cosponsored the bill (check here!), you can thank them. Find your legislators >>

FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS

Sample Written Testimony:  Email to [email protected]. Dear Chair Dykema, Chair Rausch, and Members of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, My name is _________ and I am a resident of _______. I support H.999/S.536 because this legislation would bolster efforts statewide to prevent and eradicate invasive species, making way for healthy, thriving ecosystems. An invasive species infestation on land or in the water can have serious impacts on local economies, recreational opportunities, and ecological stability.  [Share your invasive species story - how have you seen them impact your community?]  The longer they are left unattended, invasive species infestations become more and more expensive to manage. The state does have some resources for identification and best practices, but they are spread across many agencies. For municipalities with few or no staff devoted to invasive species management, it's incredibly time-consuming and frustrating to track down these resources. [Share what obstacles you've seen to funding or executing invasive species management work] I urge the committee to report H.999/S.536 out favorably. Thank you for your consideration.  Sincerely, ____________

Thank you for your vital support! Sincerely, Heather Miller General Counsel & Policy Director

Charles River Watershed Association | www.crwa.org

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