HOPKINTON – The U.S. Senate this week voted 92-8 in favor of a bipartisan public-lands package, which includes language from Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., to designate segments within the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
The designation would offer access to additional federal preservation funding from the U.S. National Park Service for local efforts to protect and promote seven rivers within the 300-square-mile watershed within southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut.
According to Reed’s office, the legislation will reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund to create 1.3 million new acres of wilderness area and adopt more than 100 public lands and water initiatives. The legislation includes the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic River Act, which Reed introduced last month to preserve rivers in Rhode Island and Connecticut and is co-sponsored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Christopher Murphy, D-Conn.
Parts of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Green Fall-Ashway, Queen-Usquepaugh, Pawcatuck, Shunock and Wood rivers are included in the legislation for designation. Reed’s office states a river’s “wild” classification signifies there is “little development” within the surrounding areas, and “scenic” means it is largely “undeveloped” but accessible by roads.
In a statement, Reed called the legislation a “significant win” for Rhode Island and for public waters across the U.S. Keeping these rivers clean is both a “team effort” and “essential” for the environment and economy, he said.
“This designation will help ensure new sources of funding flow to Rhode Island for river restoration, environmental education and other community-based conservation projects,” Reed said.
“The time has finally come to not only federally protect these resources but also nationally recognize and celebrate the passionate protection efforts that have already been made by the watershed’s residents,” said Chris Fox, executive director of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, in a statement.
The U.S. House of Representatives still needs to approve the legislation before it can be sent to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
James Bessette is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Research@PBN.com.