LEARNING & EXPLORING

What Wild & Scenic Means to You

Overview | Benefits of Wild & Scenic Designation

The Benefits of a Wild & Scenic River Designation

With the funding and staff support that will likely come with a designation the communities of the Eightmile River Watershed could have access to resources that help all the partners achieve the protection of the watershed’s outstanding resource values. Such support can bring a host of positive benefits to all, including:

Preservation of a clean water supply for local residents - The many tools recommended to protect water quality and watershed hydrology in the watershed will have a direct benefit on drinking water supply for residents.
Protection of the rural character that defines the local communities – Opportunities to implement tools that conserve stream banks, voluntarily protect large wildlife habitats and important open space areas, and ensure that river and stream quality remain high will all help keep the rural qualities of local communities intact.
Robust and diverse plant and animal populations that reflect a healthy ecosystem – A key component of the character and quality of the Eightmile River Watershed is the unique plant and animal life that exists. With significant populations of animal and plant species unique to both Connecticut and the region, the watershed can continue to be an important regional repository of near coastal New England biodiversity.
Possible funding support to help towns achieve their open space conservation goals – Designation may leverage opportunities for funding that can help the local towns and state achieve their open space conservation goals, saving towns’ money.
Current, sound scientific information and technical support to help in the decision making process for local land use commissions and their staffs – This can save the commissions and their applicant time and money, providing the information to make sound defensible decisions based on strong science and technical expertise.
Small grants to help local schools, towns, scouts, civic groups, land trusts, private landowners and others on projects which support the purposes and goals of the plan – Often a portion of Wild & Scenic funding is offered as small grants by the local coordinating committee to support local activities that enhance the outstanding resource values and help build the partnership capacity of the grant recipient.
Outreach and education opportunities that enhance an understanding of the watershed and its characteristics that provide a sense of place for local citizens of all ages. – Publications, programs, workshops and trainings that promote the resource values and best management practices may be offered to all different audiences from school age children, to land use commissions to local landowners.
Financial resources to help towns with certain activities they may have had to otherwise fund on their own. – For example a town may have a badly eroding stream bank that is threatening a town road. Funding may be available to help the town restore the stream bank and secure the road.
Promotes the natural functions of the river and its adjacent floodplains for flood control – Attenuating flood waters prevents property damage and protects public health. Funding resources through a designation may support opportunities to protect natural stream flow and floodplain functions.
Prevents federally funded or permitted projects determined to be adverse to the watershed’s outstanding resource values. – Designation creates a specific mandate that no federally permitted or funded “water resource development project” shall be allowed that would have a “direct and adverse” impact upon the outstanding resource values that made the river eligible for designation.