Act Now to Advocate for Connecticut's Waters

I recently wrote of a coming opportunity to help support Statewide legislation aimed at generating funds to blunt the advance of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and remediate resulting damage. That time has arrived. As one of perhaps 3,000 bills initially under consideration by the CT Legislature this season, Proposed Bill #6637 -- designed to address this AIS threat – has prevailed to date and is now scheduled for a Public Hearing set for this Friday, 3/1, to be held in Room 2B of the Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford 06106. While some may decide to travel to Hartford and present oral testimony before the Environment Committee, others may elect to submit written testimony via email. Either way, resident support and input are important as this Bill proceeds forward. Specific instructions for the Hearing and such testimony may be accessed at (see pgs 20-21):

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2019/bul/pdf/2019BUL00225-R00-BUL.pdf

Given the pace of deliberations on all bills before the Legislature, the draft text of this Bill has yet to be fully fleshed out and will continue to evolve based on oral and written inputs from legislators and interested parties. This presents a unique opportunity for those concerned about the current lack of available funds at the Federal, State, and local levels, to advocate for Bill funding provisions deemed appropriate. Fortunately, a small team of experienced lake and environmental proponents -- working with the CT Federation of Lakes – has refined draft language to replace that now posted online.

The following highlights the latest such proposed Bill contents for your consideration, support and comment. Instate owners of CT vessels used in inland and coastal waters requiring registration (e.g., motorboats, sailboats 19.5’ in length+) will be required to purchase a $5 AIS Stamp as a part of the annual boat registration process; out-of-state boaters of motorized watercraft used on inland waters will pay $25 annually for a similar Stamp. Revenues so raised will be deposited into the ‘CT Lakes and Ponds Preservation’ account, a separate, non-lapsing account of the General Fund, to be used for lake restoration, AIS/cyanobacteria prevention programs, education and outreach, grant administration, and similar. Grants may be made for up to 75% of the cost of research associated with AIS abatement, and up to 50% of a project to prevent AIS entry or restore an inland water body through control/management of AIS.

Please do not let this opportunity pass by to support the establishment of a user-based, sustainable funding source to counter damaging, irreversible AIS incursions. Candlewood Lake’s, Squantz Pond’s, and Ball Pond’s futures – as well as those of other waters around the State -- could well hang in the balance.