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The 110th Congress did not adopt new budgets for the FY09 fiscal year that started on October 1st, and instead used a “continuing resolution” to keep agencies and programs operating at FY08 spending levels. It is expected that the new Congress will pass budgets for FY09 by February and then commence work on the FY10 budgets. The following are the federal initiatives that the Connecticut Chapter will be pursuing. Check our website for information on policy initiatives our national office is working on, including climate change, forest protection and management, international conservation, and others.
Long Island Sound and Marine Habitats
The Conservancy’s Connecticut and Long Island Chapters are sponsoring efforts, in conjunction with the Rhode Island Chapter and Eastern New York Chapter, to work with partners to seek federal funding for critical initiatives that will help maintain and restore the role of Long Island Sound as a nationally significant estuary and marine habitat.
Seagrass meadows are critical underwater habitat, which have suffered significant losses. We are requesting a $1.2 million Federal appropriation to the National Marine Fisheries Service to support a large-scale Seagrass Research and Restoration initiative. This project would help identify causes of seagrass decline and solutions to restore and properly manage seagrass into the future.
We will advocate for $25 million annually for the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act, a new federal program to fund acquisition and stewardship at critical sites along the coast.
We are requesting $250,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers for the development of a comprehensive Shellfish Habitat Restoration Master Plan for design and implementation of restoration projects to increase aquatic habitats within Long Island Sound and adjacent waters – including the construction and restoration of oyster beds and related shellfish habitat.
Hydrological Studies of Connecticut and Thames River Watersheds
The ecosystems of rivers depend on a naturally variable flow of water. High flows in spring and fall help fish move to spawning areas and help young fish move downstream. Low flows in the summer are critical for rooting of certain aquatic plants. For much of the Connecticut and Thames Rivers and their tributaries, these seasonal flows have been altered by dams built for electricity generation and flood control. Other areas are impacted by water withdrawals used for public water supplies and industrial purposes.
The Conservancy is working with the US Army Corps of Engineers on, and seeking federal funding for, hydrological studies of these rivers to help determine how management of these dams and water systems can be modified for environmental benefits while maintaining beneficial human uses such as water supply, flood control and hydropower generation.
Over the past few years, Congress has authorized $700,000 towards a total federal cost of $1.5 million for the Connecticut River Hydrological Study. For FY10, we will be seeking an additional $450,000 to continue that project, and an initial $100,000 to begin the Thames River Study.
Land Acquisition Funding for th Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is utilizing Land and Water Conservation Fund funds received under the FY09 Continuing Resolution to move forward with acquiring the 289-acre Johnson tract in Haddam as part of the Silvio Conte Connecticut River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
The Johnson Property has extensive frontage along Pine Brook, a high-quality, cold-water fish habitat, and the Salmon River, the site of extensive efforts to restore migratory fish runs. In 2005, the Town of Haddam and The Nature Conservancy incurred $2 million in debt to acquire the property to prevent its imminent development. The Conservancy’s four Connecticut River Chapters will continue to advocate with partners for funding in FY10 to pursue priority parcels throughout the watershed.
The Connecticut River watershed was designated by Congress in 1991 as the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Last year, Congress designated the Eightmile River System in Salem, East Haddam and Lyme as a federal Wild and Scenic River, only the second watershed-based designation in the country. The Connecticut Chapter will be working with Congressman Joe Courtney and other Northeastern Wild and Scenic Rivers to secure funding through the National Park Service to help local communities implement protection measures for these special streams.
The National Wild and Scenic River System was established by Congress in 1968 to protect certain outstanding rivers from the harmful effects of new federal projects such as dams and hydroelectric facilities. Since then, over 160 rivers or river segments totaling over 11,000 miles have been protected nationwide. To be considered a "Wild & Scenic" river, it must be free-flowing and have at least one outstanding natural, cultural, or recreational value.
Nature picture credits: © Jerry Monkman (Aerial view of the Salmon River in East Haddam, Connecticut. The Connecticut River is in the distance. Pine Brook enters from the right.).
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