The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) received a financial boost with a $20,000 grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (the Trust). This funding will enable MyRWA to continue the TMDL Program.
According to Trust Program Director, Kim Tilas, the Trust will provide roughly $500,000.00 in grants to 15 organizations this year, thanks to motorists who choose to purchase one of the Trust's specialty license plates. "Trust plates, including our signature Whale Plate, are the only specialty plates that exclusively fund environmental initiatives," said Tilas."When you purchase a specialty plate for $100.00 from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the $40 specialty plate fee goes directly to the Trust to fund water-focused environmental programs."
“Funding from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust will allow us to complete our ambitious scientific study to measure stormwater phosphorus loads and develop a definitive estimate of reductions required for healthy waters", says Patrick Herron. "This is critical science for understanding how the Mystic River watershed functions and development of strategies for keeping it healthy for people and fish!”
Supporting the environmental programs funded by the Trust in your community is easy: choose one of three environmental plates, the Right Whale & Roseate Terns, The Leaping Brook Trout, or the Blackstone Valley Mill when you purchase or lease a new car or renew your registration with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
The standard registration fee for a Massachusetts plate is $60.00. The special plate fee is an additional $40.00 (taxdeductible every two years) for a total cost of $100. Every time you renew your registration, the $40.00 goes to the Trust.
Visit your local Registry of Motor Vehicles to order a plate online at www.massrmv.com or www.whaleplate.org. You can also visit us at www.mass.gov/eea/met to learn more about the Trust, the programs it supports, and the specialty license plate offerings.
