The Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee

For Immediate Release
May 8, 2008

CONTACT: Anthony Irving, Committee Chairman – 860-434-2390 or
Damon Hearne, Project Manager - 860-345-8700, dhearne@eightmileriver.org

Eightmile River Receives Wild & Scenic Status

President Bush signs watershed protection language into law. A better future for the pristine watershed is assured.

The efforts of a 12-year, locally led effort to protect the Eightmile River in East Haddam, Lyme and Salem came to fruition today when President Bush signed a bill into law that designates the Eightmile as a Wild & Scenic River. This designation is the final step in an exhaustive Wild & Scenic process that focused on identification and study of the river’s outstanding resource values and community protection efforts.

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The House of Representatives passed the bill containing Eightmile River Wild & Scenic designation for the second time on April 29th, 2008. This is the last hurdle before the President’s signature makes the designation official. The President is expected to sign the act into law within the week.

An official Press Release will go out as soon as the bill is signed. Check back for information on a press conference with Rep. Courtney and plans to celebrate this event that has been 12 years in the making.

The last major hurdle for Wild & Scenic designation for the Eightmile River was crossed on April 10th when the US Senate passed a large package of natural resource bills. Senate bill 2739 was passed 91-4 and included the same language previously passed by the House under a different bill number. The natural resource bill package including the Eightmile designation is expected to be passed by the house and then signed into law by the President.

“This is a good day for the Eightmile,” noted Eightmile Wild & Scenic Committee Chair Anthony Irving. “While we are sill holding our breath for the final signature from the President, we feel that this is our ‘watershed moment’. The efforts of our local volunteer organization and the support from the towns and citizens of the Eightmile has really paid off,” Irving continued.

More information can be found on the American Rivers website. American Rivers, along with The Nature Conservancy, has been key to advocacy efforts on the Eightmile’s behalf in Washington DC.

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