LEARNING & EXPLORING

Wild & Scenic Program Overview

The Eightmile Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee is the steward of the Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan.

In order to ensure ongoing involvement from a broad range of stakeholders to achieve successful implementation of the management plan, the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee (ERWSCC) has been established.

The purpose of the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee, which has an advisory role only, includes:

• Coordinating the implementation of the watershed management plan.
• Bringing the stakeholders in watershed management together on a regular and ongoing basis to facilitate continued cooperation and coordination.
• Providing a forum for all watershed interests to discuss and resolve issues.

ERWSCC is advisory only and does not have regulatory or land acquisition authority. The Committee may provide advice to existing entities that have management or regulatory authority affecting the river, but it does not have the power to dictate the actions or decisions of any of those entities. The intent of ERWSCC is to complement and support the roles and activities of existing interests, rather than compete with them.

Responsibilities

ERWSCC assumes the following responsibilities:

1. Implement the Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan

ERWSCC is the the lead organization in ensuring the implementation of the plan occurs and the outstanding resource value goals are achieved.

2. Monitoring of the outstanding resource values with respect to the degree they are protected, degraded or enhanced during implementation of the plan.

3. Address River-Related Issues

ERWSCC pursues cooperative resolution of issues affecting the outstanding resource values of the Eightmile River Watershed. While the Committee does not have the authority to resolve any issue directly, it does provide a forum for the discussion of issues, raising awareness about issues of particular importance, and stimulating needed action.

ERWSCC is available to evaluate specific proposals that could affect the watershed and provide comments as it deems necessary to the appropriate agencies or organizations. The review of a particular proposal could be initiated at the request of the public or of local, state, or federal officials, or at the Committee’s own discretion. It is acknowledged that members of ERWSCC may recuse themselves from participating in such activities as they deem necessary to avoid conflict of interest issues. Examples of proposals that ERWSCC could choose to review and comment on include but are not limited to:

• zoning changes for lands along the river or its tributaries that affect the watershed as a whole
• development projects or other land use activities affecting outstanding resource values
• applications for state permits (e.g., point source discharges; water withdrawals)
• changes to state programs or policies (e.g., statewide water quality standards; land management practices on the state forests)
• applications for federal permits (e.g., Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permits; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission certification for pipeline crossings)

Town boards and commissions are encouraged to communicate and cooperate with ERWSCC on matters related to the watershed but it is the Committee's final responsibility to keep itself informed of proposals under local jurisdiction that it may wish to review and provide comments on. Individual Committee members, particularly the town representatives, play an important role in keeping the group abreast of local issues.

The State of Connecticut will be requested to notify ERWSCCC of certain state or federal permit applications associated with wastewater and stormwater discharges to both surface and groundwater, water diversions, water quality certifications, dam construction, flood management and stream channel encroachment, inland wetlands and other potential actions pertinent to protecting the watershed's outstanding resource values, and give the Committee the opportunity to comment.

4. Review and update the Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan

It is expected and anticipated that changes to the Watershed Management Plan will be needed over time. Advances in resource management strategies or technology, as well as changes to regulations, laws, policies or programs may require the plan to be revised.

ERWSCC is responsible for reviewing the plan on a regular basis to determine if updates are necessary. It is recommended that a thorough review occur every five years. Changes to this plan can only be made if they are voted on and approved by ERWSCC and may require posting in the Federal Register for public comment. The public should be given ample opportunity to participate in future revisions to the plan.

5. Prepare periodic status reports

ERWSCC will prepare brief annual reports on the status of protection of the watershed and implementation of this management plan.

These reports will serve two primary purposes:

• to inform the general public, local officials, the Governor, the General Assembly, and, if the watershed is designated as a component of the wild and scenic river system, Congress and the Secretary of the Interior about the conditions of the river and watershed; and
• to publicize any pressing needs or issues requiring attention or assistance from the local, state and/or federal governments.