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Connecticut River
The entire 410-mile length of the Connecticut, New England's mightiest river, has
the honor of being an American Heritage River. It stands at the heart of this
region's human settlement and commerce; at the core of its history and culture;
and represents the essence of its environmental
quality and economic vitality. Beginning at the U.S.-Canadian border, it forms the
state line for Vermont and New Hampshire and traverses the midsections of
Massachusetts and Connecticut, ending at Long Island Sound.
Connecticut River Action Plan
The Connecticut River Action Plan is a compilation of many plans, representing
the collective vision, concerns and priorities of communities and institutions
throughout the four-state Connecticut River Valley. More than the sum of its
parts, the Plan exemplifies an inclusive public
education and outreach process that is based in the New England tradition of
home rule and property rights. It includes a diverse range of projects in
varying stages of implementation and accomplishment. Each has its own time line,
support system, and lead coordinating institution(s).
There are 29 projects sponsored by 53 local organizations and agencies in all
reaches of the river in 6 areas of interest:
- Urban Riverfront Revitalization.
- Tourism, Recreation and Access.
- Agricultural Preservation and Natural
Resource Protection.
- Connecticut River
Education.
- Habitat Restoration, Riverbank Stabilization, and Water Quality
Protection.
- Reinventing Government.
River Navigator and Community Partners
River Navigator Dan Burke has extensive experience in community relations and
a strong background in federal programs as a six-year veteran of EPA. He was
chosen by the Community Partners largely because of his successful work with
citizens and local officials in EPA's clean-up program on the General Electric
site in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he was in charge of site investigations for PCB
contamination and worked directly with citizens and town officials.
The Community Partners for the Connecticut River Valley include: 53 project
cosponsors, a Core Group of over 140 involved in some capacity in carrying
out the Connecticut River Action Plan, and the 1,600-plus communities,
nonprofits, regional agencies, and businesses that make up the Connecticut
River Network of Community Partners.
The Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) serves as the Connecticut
River Convener, leading the Connecticut's American Heritage River designation. It has worked
since its founding in 1952 to attain a protected and vital river ecosystem
where human activity is in balance with the preservation and enhancement of
the region's natural, scenic, and community resources.
New England Federal Partners for Natural
Resources
The New England Federal Partners work cooperatively and effectively on an
interagency basis to protect and restore New England's natural resources.
The 15 agencies include: Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, Federal Highway Administration, Housing and Urban Development, Department
of the Interior (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
U.S. Geological Survey), Department of Commerce (Economic Development Administration,
National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Small Business Administration),
U.S. Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Forest Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development).
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