The Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act
The Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act (CRWPA) creates a dedicated funding stream for conservation, restoration, education, and recreation in the Watershed.
Modeled on successful partnerships enabled by federal legislation via the Chesapeake WILD Act (2020) and the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (2015), the CRWPA will enhance coordination among federal agencies and state, regional, tribal, and local public and private partners.
Why this matters
The Connecticut River is ecologically, culturally, historically, and financially significant to the millions of Americans who live, work, and recreate within its bounds. The 7.2-million-acre Watershed is essential in contributing to the resilience of its resident natural and human communities, including the millions of Americans who live, work and recreate within its bounds.
Stretching across five States, the Connecticut River Watershed provides drinking water for 2.3 million people, and an additional 2.5 million people get their drinking water from reservoirs filled by it. Moreover, the watershed provides 195,000 jobs in outdoor recreation - a $17 billion industry for the five Watershed states.
Read the Full Text of the Bill Here
Supporters of the Connecticut River Watershed Protection Act
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-2) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) will be introducing the Act to the House and Senate respectively. It is already supported by a broad coalition of public and private organizations throughout New England and the country:
Kestrel Land Trust
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts
Massachusetts Audubon
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
Massachusetts Trout Unlimited Council
Mount Grace (MA) Land Conservation Trust
National Audubon Society
New England Forestry Foundation
New Hampshire Audubon
North Central Conservation District
Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Park Watershed
Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society
Salmon River Watershed Partnership
Save the Sound
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
Springfield Museums
The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut
The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts
The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire
The Nature Conservancy in Vermont
The Trustees of Reservations
Trust for Public Land
Upper Valley Trails Alliance (VT and NH)
Vermont Natural Resources Council
Vermont Trout Unlimited Council
Westfield River Watershed Association
Windham Regional Commission
American Rivers
Ammonoosuc (NH) Conservation Trust
Appalachian Mountain Club
Association of Mass Bird Clubs
Atowi Project
Audubon Vermont
Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions, Inc.
Connecticut Audubon Society
Connecticut Council on Soil and Water Conservation
Connecticut Forest & Park Association
Connecticut Land Conservation Council
Connecticut Landmarks
Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District
Connecticut River Conservancy
Conservation Law Foundation
Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail
Deerfield River Watershed Association
Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee
Elnu Abenaki Tribe
Estuary Magazine
Feminist Bird Club
Fort River Watershed Association
Franklin Land Trust
Friends of Nulhegan
Friends of Pondicherry
Friends of Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
Greening Greenfield
Highstead Foundation
Hilltown Land Trust
Housatonic Valley Association