EEA SPONSORING PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION

TO DISCUSS RECOMMENDATIONS

ON REDUCING RISK OF ZEBRA MUSSEL INFESTATION

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is sponsoring a public forum in April to discuss recommendations for reducing the risk of zebra mussel infestations in bodies of water at risk for infestation.

The Zebra Mussel Task Force (ZMTF) was created by EEA following the discovery of zebra mussels in Laurel Lake, Laurel Brook and the Housatonic River in western Massachusetts. The ten member ZMTF included representatives of the Department of Conservation and Recreation Lakes and Ponds Program, Department of Fish and Game Office of Fishing and Boating Access, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Office of Law Enforcement, sportsmen's, fishing, lakes and ponds associations, and a freshwater wetlands scientist.

 A public information session will be held April 7, 2010, at which the recommendations will be presented and the public will have an opportunity to ask questions about implementation and next steps. 

The Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution and Public Collaboration (MODR) at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, was engaged to interview stakeholders in preparation of meetings and to help facilitate the discussions and the public information session.

The upcoming public forum will be at the following date, time, and location:

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

CROSBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

517 West Street

Pittsfield, MA 01201

The recommendations will be posted soon on the EEA website, http://www.mass.gov/eea.  The public is encouraged to review the recommendations and provide implementation feedback by email to ZMTF@umb.edu. Unfortunately email suggestions and questions to this address will not receive a direct response.