Spotlight on Policy: Highlights from the 2025 SuAsCo Legislative Breakfast

April 03, 2025

OARS River Log | By Sarah Kwan, OARS’ Director of Communications and Development | Published April 3, 2025

On March 28, OARS 3 Rivers, in partnership with Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) and the Metrowest Conservation Alliance (MCA), hosted the 2025 SuAsCo Legislative Breakfast at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury.

This in-person gathering brought together local legislators, conservation leaders, and community advocates to discuss how policy can protect the rivers, land, and wildlife we all care about. It was a meaningful morning of connection, learning, and momentum-building around critical environmental bills.

Attendees at the 2025 SuAsCo Legislative Breakfast

The room was full of energy as representatives from local and state government, partner organizations, and town departments came together in support of a healthier, more resilient environment for the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers and the communities they run through.

We were joined by several special guests, including:

Wade Blackman, Office of Congresswoman Katherine Clark
State Senator Jamie Eldridge
State Representative Kate Hogan
State Representative Simon Cataldo
State Representative Danillo Sena
State Representative Carmine Gentile

We were also joined by representatives from:

Middlesex Conservation District
SuAsCo Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council
Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and Lincoln Conservation Department
Friends of Woodlands and Waters
Boxborough Conservation Trust
Wayland Conservation Department
Green Acton
Friends of the Assabet River, Oxbow, and Great Meadows NWR
Marlborough Conservation Office
Maynard Sustainability Committee and Maynard Tree Corps

Speakers included several passionate leaders, each bringing their own focus to the table:

Representative Kate Hogan discussed the critical issue of PFAS contamination and the need for legislative action to clean up and prevent further harm to our drinking water and ecosystems.
Senator Jamie Eldridge and Robb Johnson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, both spoke in strong support of the Nature for All Bill, which would invest in accessible green spaces and conservation across Massachusetts.
Davnet Conway, Executive Director of SVT, provided a clear and helpful overview of all the bills under consideration.
Matt Brown, Executive Director of OARS, spoke about the organization’s wide-reaching work across science, restoration, education, and advocacy—and focused his remarks on the urgent need for the Drought Bill, which would empower the state to require sensible water conservation during declared droughts.
In an impromptu but powerful addition to the program, Wade Blackman encouraged attendees to make their voices heard here and in Washington and reach out to Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s office about the issues they care most about—including the funding and legislative support our communities need now more than ever.

What’s at Stake? A Whole Lot.

We discussed 18 pieces of legislation that would impact everything from climate resilience to farmland access.

These included:

The Nature for All Bill, to fund public lands, parks, and corridors that benefit people and wildlife
The Drought Bill, to give the state the authority to implement regional water conservation during drought emergencies
The Conservation Land Tax Credit Expansion, which would help landowners preserve ecologically valuable land
The Environmental Bond Bill, to fund capital projects for environmental protection
The Urban Farmland Bill, supporting farms and gardens in environmental justice communities
PFAS Remediation, Wetlands Restoration, Invasive Species Management, Plastic Bag Reduction, and more

You can find the full list of bills here:

2025 SuAsCo Legislative Breakfast Bills Overview (PDF)

This year’s breakfast showed just how powerful collaboration can be. Thank you to everyone who joined us—your presence helps strengthen our shared work and move important policies forward.

Together, we can protect the rivers and lands that connect our communities.

Stay tuned for updates on how these bills move forward, and follow OARS on social media for highlights. You can also view photos from the event in our Legislative Breakfast Flickr album.

View the full event presentation

River Log

~30%

of the SuAsCo rivers watershed is wetlands, crucial for wildlife habitat and water quality

~30%

of water samples in the SuAsCo rivers watershed contain PFAS, leading to increased monitoring and remediation by local authorities and environmental groups

~70%

of dams in the SuAsCo watershed are over a century old, requiring extensive upkeep and presenting obstacles to river restoration and fish passage

>40%

of the land within the watershed is publicly accessible, offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, and birdwatching to the community

~15%

of the land in the SuAsCo rivers watershed is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. This contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution issues

>40%

of the land within the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watershed is publicly accessible, providing endless opportunities for paddling, hiking, and wildlife exploration.