2022 "STATE OF OUR WATERS" LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST 

On March 23, 2022 more than 70 legislators, legislative staff and advocates joined members of the Watershed Action Alliance for meaningful discussions about critical water-related challenges, successful projects, and funding priorities. The event included presentations by sponsoring Legislators and representatives from many of WAA's member organizations. The program also included an advocacy training workshop by Katharine Lange of the MA Rivers Alliance, which was shared with environmental policy students at the University of Massachusetts. Following the hour program, WAA members visited with their legislators’ offices (virtually) for more in-depth discussion about WAA's legislative priorities, which was guided in part by the printable Fact Sheets below.

TOPICS (click for printable Fact Sheets)

- WAA's Top 5 Legislative Priorities
- Water Quality, particularly as related to stormwater and wastewater;
- Water Quantity, especially balanced and equitable use and withdrawal; and
- Connectivity of waters to their sources, which benefits the fishing economy, human health and safety, and aquatic wildlife.

WATCH full recordings of the
MAIN PROGRAM and
ADVOCACY TRAINING WORKSHOP

SCHEDULE 

-      10:00-10:05 a.m.  Invocation, Melissa Ferretti, Chairlady/President, Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe

-      10:05-10:10 a.m.  Introduction, Dr. Sara Grady, Mass Bays Partnership and NSRWA

-      10:10-10:20 a.m.  State Senator Paul Feeney

-      10:20-10:45 a.m.  Watershed Association Speed Presentations

• Neponset River Watershed Association: Kerry Snyder, Advocacy Director
• North and South Watershed Association: Samantha Woods, Executive Director
• Jones River Watershed Association: Pine DuBois, Executive Director
• Herring Ponds Watershed Association: Don Williams, President
• Herring Ponds Wampanoag Tribe: Melissa Harding Ferretti, Chair/President
• Barnstable Clean Water Coalition: Heather Rockwell, Director of Operations
• Save the Bay - Narragansett Bay: Topher Hamblett, Director of Advocacy and Policy

-      10:45-10:55 a.m.  State Senator Julian Cyr

-      10:55-11:00 a.m.  Closing of the Main Program, Dr. Sara Grady, Mass Bays Partnership and NSRWA

-      11:00 - 11:45 a.m. Advocacy Training Workshop: "Tips for Talking with Your Legislators". Katharine Lange, Policy Specialist with the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, will provide a refresher of the legislative process and your role as an advocate.  

Program followed by individual Legislator visits (virtual; scheduled individually by WAA members)

The 2022 "State of Our Waters" Legislative Breakfast was sponsored by The Island Foundation, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe, Herring Ponds Watershed Association, Jones River Watershed Association, Narragansett Bay -- Save the Bay, Neponset River Watershed Association, North and South Rivers Watershed Association, Taunton River Watershed Association, and the Weir River Watershed Association.