Wood-Pawcatuck
Watershed Will Join National Wild and Scenic River System
U.S.
Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI), Joe Courtney (D-CT), and David Cicilline
(D-RI) announced that their legislation to protect portions of the
Wood-Pawcatuck watershed was signed into law by Donald Trump as part of a
bipartisan public lands package.
The
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic River Act designates
several waterways within the 300-square mile Wood-Pawcatuck watershed as part
of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, establishing the first river
system in Rhode Island with a “Wild and Scenic” designation.
This
designation formally recognizes the natural, cultural and recreational
characteristics of these waterways and grants eligibility for additional
federal preservation funding for conservation and stewardship.
“This
is a significant victory for Rhode Island that would not have been possible
without the dedication of our local advocates who worked tirelessly to make
this designation a reality,” said
Congressman Langevin.
“Today, the 'President' signed into law legislation
that codifies the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed as an entity of the National Park
Service’s Wild and Scenic Program,” said
Congressman Courtney.
“This designation will bring much-needed funding
for research and conservation to our own natural treasure in Connecticut and
Rhode Island. I’m proud to have helped getting this bill over the finish line
with my colleagues, and I know there are numerous stakeholders on the ground
ready to get to work to preserve the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed for generations
to come.”
“At
a time when environmental protections seem to be under attack by this White
House, this is an important moment for our state,” said Congressman Cicilline.
“Now
that the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic River Act has been signed
into law, this watershed is the first Rhode Island river system to be accepted
into the National Wild Scenic River System. This means more federal money for
stronger environmental protections that will help shield our state’s rivers and
tributaries from the President’s harmful environmental policies. I’m proud of
the work our delegation has done to achieve this designation, but I know
there’s a lot of work left to be done to protect Rhode Island’s waterways.”
The
process to designate the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed first began when Congressmen
Langevin and Courtney introduced
the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act in 2010.
That
bill commissioned a study to determine whether the rivers met the criteria for
designation as “Wild and Scenic.”
The
bill was signed into law in 2014, and the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association (WPWA)
subsequently formed a committee of local and state government officials,
non-profit organizations, and other key stakeholders to create a stewardship
plan that reflected the unique qualities of the watershed.
Following extensive
outreach and public education efforts, all twelve municipalities within the
Wood-Pawcatuck watershed adopted the stewardship plan supporting inclusion in
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
U.S.
Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal
(D-CT), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) sponsored the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild
and Scenic River Act in the United State Senate.
