Rep. Dykema Gets River Hero Award, Eldridge Recognized

Photo: Massachusetts Rivers Alliance Executive Director Julia Blatt presents Representative Carolyn Dykema with River Hero Award. Credit: Mark P. Smith

Submitted by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance

The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance recognized Representative Carolyn Dykema with a River Hero award for her outstanding contributions to the restoration and protection of the Commonwealth’s rivers. Dykema, a co-chair of the legislature’s 2010-2011Water Infrastructure Finance Commission, has emerged as one of the State House’s leading authorities on water infrastructure and finance, and helped push this year’s Water Infrastructure bill into law.

“Representative Dykema has been working for the past several years on a big, challenging problem: how do we solve the $20 billion gap between water infrastructure needs and available funding?” said Julia Blatt, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance’s Executive Director. “Her concern for both environmental protection and municipal finance has earned her the respect of both the environmental and municipal advocates. We look forward to working with her for many years to come.”

Representative Dykema was recognized along with his State House colleagues, Representative Dave Rogers and Senator Jamie Eldridge. Longtime Ipswich River advocate and Alliance founder Kerry Mackin, was also honored.

The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance is a nonprofit organization that protects and restores the Commonwealth’s rivers of and provides a unified voice for river protection in the state. Founded in 2007, the Alliance mobilizes and coordinates its members on issues including water pollution, stream flow, and wildlife habitat. The Alliance’s 57 member organizations include watershed associations across the state and other environmental groups that protect rivers. The Alliance also includes a growing group of individuals and families.