[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 4 (Saturday, January 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO DESIGNATE THE EIGHTMILE RIVER IN THE STATE OF 
 CONNECTICUT FOR STUDY FOR POTENTIAL ADDITION TO THE NATIONAL WILD AND 
                          SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM

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                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, January 6, 2001

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce my first legislative 
initiative--a bill to study the inclusion of Connecticut's Eightmile 
River as part of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.
  Eastern Connecticut is fortunate to have a wealth of natural beauty, 
such as the Eightmile River. The Eightmile River and the watershed it 
supports is an outstanding ecological system. The river has been 
identified as an exemplary occurrence of one of Connecticut's most 
imperiled natural communities. Its streams are free-flowing, contain 
excellent water quality and a diversity of aquatic habitats and fish 
species, including native and stocked trout. The Eightmile River is 
also an important recreational resource and figures prominently in the 
character of the communities in which it flows.
  Unfortunately, the Eightmile River is not likely to remain in 
outstanding condition without a concerted community effort to protect 
it.
  That's why on my very first day in Congress, I am introducing a bill 
authorizing the National Park Service to study and determine whether 
the Eightmile River is eligible for designation as a National Wild and 
Scenic River--beginning the process of achieving some of the strongest 
river protection possible while also meeting community and landowner 
needs.
  For more than 30 years, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has 
safeguarded some of the nation's most precious rivers. The Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Act pronounced that certain select rivers of the nation 
that possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, 
fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be 
preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they shall be protected 
for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. 
Designated rivers receive protection to preserve their-free-flowing 
condition, to protect the water quality and to fulfill other vital 
national conservation purposes. I believe Connecticut's Eightmile River 
possesses all of these qualities, deserves all of these protections and 
should be looked at by the National Park Service as a important 
addition to the National Wild and Scenic River System.
  I am very proud to submit this legislation at the request of my 
constituents in East Haddam, Salem and Lyme and honored to have the 
strong support of my colleagues from Connecticut.




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