Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act

Floor Speech

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act.
The measure would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to authorize a study for potential addition to the national wild and scenic rivers system. The catalog of lands and rivers that carry this designation would surely benefit from the inclusion of this watershed, an area identified as containing the last large forested track south of Boston. While a 300 square mile area of land may not sound like a large area to some of my colleagues, open space in New England has come under increased pressure from development. Conducting a study with the potential of inducting into or including this watershed in the wild and scenic river system would significantly ease these development pressures.

In fact, the National Park Service has already conducted studies on this watershed. These past studies have identified the Wood and Pawcatuck Rivers as ``unique and irreplaceable resources.'' But even today the level of flora, fauna, reptiles, fish, and mammals found within the Wood-Pawcatuck boundaries is staggering for this region of the country. It includes the New England Cottontail an animal listed under the Endangered Species Act. The range of the cottontail historically included most of New England and parts of New York, yet today the watershed is one of only five locations this species can be found.

The watershed is one of the few remaining relatively pristine natural areas along the northeast corridor between New York and Boston. In fact, forest and wetlands comprise 60 percent of this land, which helps maintain its high water quality. This landscape provides vast recreational opportunities: 57 miles of rivers, mostly flat-water paddling on the rivers; numerous streams in pristine forest for fishing native brook trout and stocked brown and rainbow trout; and five state management areas for hiking, biking, hunting, birding and natures studies.

My district is already home to another watershed that carries the wild and scenic designation, the Eightmile River. I have seen firsthand the importance associated with this status. A partnership between the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee and the National Park Service has developed and carried out strategies for ensuring the watershed ecosystem is protected and enhanced for generations to come. The involvement at the federal, state, and local levels has been invaluable to this resource. Expanding these same opportunities to Wood-Pawcatuck is critical.

I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, for his leadership in introducing this bill and ushering it successfully through this chamber again this year. Lastly, I would like to recognize the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association who has promoted and protected the integrity of the lands and waters of the watershed since 1983. Their dedication to this invaluable natural treasure must be applauded.

I urge passage of this legislation and thank my colleagues for their support.

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