Home
Study of Use and Economic Importance
Who is the FRCC?
Current Projects
About the Wild & Scenic Designation
The Wild & Scenic Farmington River
Upper Farmington River Management Plan
Local Overlay Districts
Recommended Reading
Calendar of Events
Grants Program
Related Links

The Wild & Scenic Farmington River

Background on the National Wild & Scenic Designation

Congress established the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1968 to protect certain outstanding rivers from the harmful effects of new federal projects, such as dams, hydroelectric facilities, bank armoring and bridges. To be considered "wild and scenic," a river (or river segment) must be free-flowing and have at least one outstanding natural, cultural, or recreational feature. As of May, 1999, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System included 156 river segments covering nearly 11,000 miles. Of all those rivers, only six are located in New England: the Allagash in Maine; the Wildcat and Lamprey in New Hampshire; the Westfield in Massachusetts; the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers in eastern Massachusetts, and now, the Farmington.

Why the Farmington River?

Local interest in special protections for the Farmington River began in the early 1980's when the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), the utility supplying water to about 400,000 people of the greater Hartford area, proposed a diversion from existing water supply and multiple-use reservoirs on the West Branch to augment their supply. Local residents and town officials and the Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA) expressed concern that the proposed withdrawal would impair the natural resources, and recreational and scenic values of the river. Although the proposal was rejected in a 1981 referendum of MDC member towns, concern about the project lingered in the Farmington Valley. At the same time, many residents were becoming alarmed at the increasing rate of development along the river's banks and the threat that shoreline development would pose to the natural integrity of the river.

In an attempt to address these concerns, the FRWA and towns along the river requested assistance from the National Park Service in 1982 to evaluate the significance of the river's resources and recommend strategies for conserving and managing the river. This initial study, finalized in 1984, concluded that the Farmington River possessed a variety of significant resources, and that both local residents and government officials were dedicated to conserving river qualities. Furthermore, it was recognized that land use and ownership along the Farmington River are significantly different than those currently under federal management elsewhere. As a result, the report's principal recommendation was to develop a plan that would "establish a regional cooperative partnership between all levels of government and private groups and individuals to develop explicit and integrated policies for the future use and management of the Farmington River corridor."

Federal legislation was enacted to study the river

Building on the findings in the 1984 report and with growing interest in adding federal protection to town and state efforts, Connecticut Congresswoman Nancy Johnson introduced legislation in 1984 to have the West Branch of the Farmington River studied for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System. In addition to considering the river's qualification for inclusion in the National System, this legislation was intended to stimulate a cooperative planning process among river interests to conserve the river's critical resources.

When Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and former Senator Lowell Weicker, Jr., proposed this legislation, they clearly proclaimed that federal land acquisition and management would not be considered as a river conservation technique. Local efforts were recognized in the Farmington Wild and Scenic Study River Final Report dated May 1995 as the foundation for river protection: "It would be inappropriate and largely ineffective for federal government to provide permanent protection from adverse federally assisted water resource projects offered through Wild and Scenic River designation without assurances from the other river interests that they are committed to doing their part to protect the river through their own authorities and abilities." To get this type of commitment, all stakeholders, including private landowners, town governments, state agencies and private organizations had to show their interest, support and commitment to river protection.

A number of actions were taken that demonstrated the support of stakeholders for designation.

  • Town meetings were held with votes of support for designation taken.
  • Town adoption of River Overlay Protection Districts.
  • Responses to questionnaires reflecting landowner and resident support for river conservation were compiled (the greatest perceived threats to the river were from water pollution, growing population and commercial development; the activities to be encouraged were water quality and flow protection, and wildlife habitat, forest lands and scenic quality conservation).
  • Workshops were held to promote voluntary land conservation through conservation easements and other means.
  • An instream flow and watershed yield study, managed by the State of Connecticut and co-funded by the MDC and National Park Service, was undertaken. This study was instrumental in demonstrating that sufficient water existed in the West Branch Farmington River watershed to support instream needs for the outstanding natural resources, and recreational and scenic values of the river, while providing up to 20 million gallons of water per day for public consumption.
  • The Connecticut State Legislature passed public act 25-175 proclaiming its support for designation.
  • The MDC, FRWA and State of Connecticut provided substantial staff time to the development of the Study Report and Management Plan.
  • Many local, regional and national private organizations supported designation. Specifically, the local organizations including the FRWA, Farmington River Anglers Association, and the Farmington River Club, advocated tirelessly for designation.

Designation Occurs

Public Law 103-313 was signed by President Clinton on August 26, 1994, designating a 14 mile portion of the Farmington River in Connecticut as a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System. Through this legislation, the outstanding natural resources, and recreational and scenic values of the Farmington River will be protected. Protection will be assured through town, state and federal agencies, and private organizations and citizens as established in the Upper Farmington River Management Plan. There is to be no federal land acquisition.

A segment in Massachusetts was included in the original study and was found eligible for inclusion. Local authorities chose not to pursue designation at that time. That segment remains eligible for inclusion in the National System, however. Should local sentiment change, it too can be included with the Connecticut segment in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.