Wild and Scenic River Designation

WPWA has formed a partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Save the Bay, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to embark on the long process to attain designation for several rivers in the watershed as Wild and Scenic!

The first step was to have Congressmen, James Langevin (RI) and Joseph Courtney (CT), introduce a bill into Congress requiring a study of the rivers be done. This bill was introduced to the Congressional Natural Resources Committee on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. If passed, the National Park Service will be directed to initiate a three year study which will look for outstanding resource values of the rivers. If the rivers qualify, then another bill will be introduced to formally designate the rivers as Wild and Scenic. The rivers nominated by WPWA, TNC, STB and RIDEM are the:

Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Pawcatuck and Wood Rivers.

The Wood River

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Wild and Scenic Presentation

Wild and Scenic Rivers designation process for the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed

Map of the river segments in the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed being proposed for consideration as Wild & Scenic Rivers

List of the river segments being proposed for consideration as Wild & Scenic Rivers with descriptions of the "Outstandingly Remarkable Values" for each segment

National Park Service Wild and Scenic Rivers eligibility descriptions and potential classifications

Press Release Announcing Federal Legislation Proposal

FAQ's concerning Wild and Scenic Designation for towns