The Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is the only multi-state watershed-based refuge in the United States' vast system of federal refuges. Established in 1997 and named to honor the late Massachusetts Congressman and outdoorsman Silvio O. Conte, the Refuge's aim is to conserve the aquatic and terrestrial habitat resources of the entire 7.2 million-acre Connecticut River watershed across the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
This unique refuge design was proposed by Congressman Conte who had "...a dream that included a Connecticut River, cleaned, fishable, swimmable, and with salmon restored to abundant numbers.” In 1991, he asked Congress to establish a National Wildlife Refuge to protect the watershed of the river and its wildlife resources. In 1997 the Refuge named in his honor was established to fulfill that dream. The Refuge was designed to include the entire Connecticut River Watershed because legislators realized that in order to protect migratory fish and other aquatic species, there was a need to protect the whole river system and its watershed; the health of any aquatic ecosystem is linked to the health of the entire Watershed upstream.
The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge works in partnership with a wide variety of individuals and organizations to provide environmental education, to encourage and support appropriate habitat conservation and management on public and private lands, and to protect habitat. For additional information on the refuge, click here.
About Silvio O. Conte
Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Silvio O. Conte represented his home state as a Republican Member of Congress for 32 years. He was an avid outdoor sportsman and strongly supported environmental causes. In 1991, he introduced federal legislation ensuring the protection of the Connecticut River Watershed and establishing what is now known as the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
