Press Release: Central Mass Environmental and Conservation Organizations Back “YES on 6” Ballot Campaign to Protect Water and Nature

For Immediate Release

October 13, 2026

Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@acfstrategies.com

Central Mass Environmental and Conservation Organizations Back “YES on 6” Ballot Campaign to Protect Water and Nature

Local Conservation Groups, Land Trusts, & Community Organizations Endorse Ballot Question 6 to Create Dedicated Nature for All Fund for Water and Land Conservation in Massachusetts — Without Raising Taxes

Dudley, Mass. — Local conservation groups, land trusts, and community organizations across Central Massachusetts are endorsing the “YES on 6” ballot campaign, which aims to create a dedicated source of funding for land and water conservation in Massachusetts. Question 6, the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative on the November statewide ballot, would create a new Nature for All Fund and dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes.

“In our area, where the supply of open space is limited and demand is high, it is vital that we have the ability to move quickly when land becomes available for protection. Access to ready pools of funds for land protection is the single most important factor to help us protect land in our region,” said Davnet Conway, Executive Director of Sudbury Valley Trustees. “Unless we act rapidly, many of the beautiful natural areas we know and love will disappear, not just in our children’s lifetimes, but in ours. Passing this measure will meaningfully help us act competitively to accelerate the pace of land protection today.”

“Voting Yes on 6 will bring much needed funds into North Central Mass to help us support landowners and towns as they work to balance the protection of critical habitats with development needs,” said Faith Salter, Executive Director of the North County Land Trust. “This part of the state is growing fast. We have the opportunity to preserve the forests and farms that characterize its past in a way that serves the communities of the future.”

“OARS is proud to endorse the Question 6 ballot initiative to protect our watershed's water and nature. We stand committed to ensuring that everyone deserves clean drinking water and access to nature, including rivers free from pollution. We envision a not-distant future where the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers thrive with cool, connected and swimmable water and healthy ecosystems that more than 800,000 residents and the more than two million annual visitors can enjoy for generations,” said Rob Munro, Executive Director of OARS. “A Yes vote on Question 6 would dedicate as much as $100 million each year—without raising taxes—towards making that vision a reality across the entire state of Massachusetts. It's a no-brainer! OARS joins over 100 environmental and community organizations in supporting Question 6 this November. We encourage you to vote YES on Question 6 to protect the rivers and streams we all love.”

“Massachusetts is home to beautiful natural areas and diverse species of birds, fish, and other animals, and our relationship with nature connects us all,” said Emma Ellsworth, Executive Director of Mount Grace Land Trust. “Protecting land in the Quabbin watershed improves the quality of drinking water in Greater Boston, while creating more opportunities for fishing, hunting, and hiking here in the North Quabbin region. Creating more outdoor recreation opportunities in the Berkshires or the South Coast attracts tourists from across the state and beyond, bringing more business to local hotels and restaurants. By supporting Question 6, we can preserve critical wildlife habitat and improve the quality of our drinking water, while creating more opportunities for everyone to enjoy our beautiful outdoors.”

The following Central Mass organizations are supporting Question 6:

Ashby Land Trust

Athol Bird and Nature Club

Dudley Conservation Land Trust

Hardwick Pond Preservation Association

Mount Grace Land Trust

Norcross Wildlife Foundation

North County Land Trust

OARS 3 Rivers

Opacum Land Trust

Regional Environmental Council (REC)

Sudbury Valley Trustees

In supporting Question 6, the local groups join a broad coalition of more than 125 organizations led by the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups such as Mass Audubon, The Trustees, Appalachian Mountain Club, the Conservation Law Foundation, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land. Also supporting Question 6 are sporting and outdoor recreation groups such as Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Surfrider Foundation Massachusetts, and the New England Mountain Bike Association, and farming and gardening advocates including the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, American Farmland Trust, Grow Native Massachusetts, and Native Plant Trust.

Individual endorsers include current and former elected officials like Governor Maura Healey, former Governor Deval Patrick, State Senator Jamie Eldridge, and State Representative Natalie Higgins, and environmental leaders like former U.S. EPA Administrator and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and author, environmentalist, and activist Bill McKibben. A full list of Question 6 endorsements can be found at natureforma.org/endorsements.

This month, the YES on 6 campaign began airing an ad titled “Naturally” on television and digital channels across the state. The ad features Mass Audubon wildlife biologist Lyra Brennan and The Trustees park ranger Matt Zieper addressing how Question 6 would protect clean drinking water; conserve forests, family farms, and natural wildlife habitat; and create more parks, trails, and greenspaces for all to enjoy — without raising taxes.

Background

Question 6, the ‘Protect Water and Nature’ initiative, would dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes. Question 6 would create a dedicated Nature for All Fund with as much as $100 million each year to support the conservation and restoration of water and natural areas in Massachusetts, protect the quality of our drinking water and natural wildlife habitats, and support the creation and improvement of parks, trails, greenspaces, and other outdoor recreation spaces.

The Nature for All Fund would be funded by the state’s existing sales tax on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and fishing equipment — not by creating a new tax. Question 6 allocates just 0.16% of the state’s $63.4 billion annual budget, but it would make a big difference for land and water. Question 6 would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund, with strict annual reporting requirements to track every dollar spent.

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The YES on 6 campaign is led by Nature for Massachusetts, a large and diverse coalition of environmental, conservation, and community organizations that seek to create a dedicated, annual revenue stream to conserve water, land, urban greenspace, outdoor recreation access, and wildlife in Massachusetts. For more information, visit natureforma.org.