[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 94 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S5503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANDERS (for himself and Mr. Leahy):
  S. 1252. A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate 
segments of the Missisquoi River and the Trout River in the State of 
Vermont, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased today to join my Vermont 
colleague Senator Sanders to introduce the Upper Missisquoi and Trout 
Rivers Wild and Scenic River Designation Act.
  The Upper Missisquoi River gathers itself from snowmelt and from 
pristine springs and cedar bogs in the forests of Vermont's Northeast 
Kingdom. As it flows from the town of Lowell to the town of Westfield, 
this lovely mountain brook grows large enough to float a small canoe 
during its winding journey through Vermont's forests and meadows. A 
paddler on this section is treated to a stream that runs crystal clear 
and abounds with trout and other fish as it winds through pine forest 
and silver maple flood plains, to meadows dotted with grazing Holstein 
cows.
  The beauty and wildness of the river is undiminished as it swells on 
its journey north through the towns of Westfield, North Troy, and Troy, 
and crosses into the Canadian Province of Quebec. Not far downstream 
the river reenters the United States and winds its way across more 
miles of pastoral countryside in Northern Vermont through Richford, 
Berkshire, and Enosburg. Along the way it gathers the ice-cold, 
pristine flow of the Trout River in the town of Montgomery.
  The scenery along the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in these 
towns is spectacularly beautiful, the water quality is superb, public 
access is unlimited, and Vermonters along the shores are eager to share 
these treasures with visitors from near and far. The Upper Missisquoi 
and Trout Rivers epitomize Wild and Scenic Recreational Rivers of 
national significance, and I am proud to join Senator Sanders in 
introducing this legislation.
  A Federal Wild and Scenic Recreational River designation should only 
be considered after the resource has been closely studied and if this 
designation is actively sought by people living in the area. We can 
report to the Senate that both of these tests are met for the Upper 
Missisquoi and Trout Rivers.
  Seven years ago a group of people living along the rivers asked 
Vermont's delegation to the Congress to request a Wild and Scenic River 
Study, and for more than 5 years these Vermonters--with tremendous 
support from their neighbors, the neighboring towns, and the National 
Park Service--have assessed the river, turn by turn, mile by mile, and 
they have worked hard to plan for its protection and recreational use. 
The study committee kept their neighbors along the rivers and local 
elected leaders fully engaged at every step. Their hard work paid off 
this past March when the citizens of each of the affected, towns, at 
Vermont town meetings--those revered democratic institutions of self-
government in our State--voted in favor of seeking the Wild and Scenic 
River designation.
  This has been one of the most locally driven and strongly supported 
resource conservation initiatives to come before the Congress, and I 
commend the study committee and all of Vermonters in these towns for 
their hard work and cooperation.
  A National Wild and Scenic River designation will help these two 
rivers reach their full potential as major engines of the Northeast 
Kingdom's tourism economy and at the same time help to ensure that the 
ecosystem is protected and enhanced for future generations.
  The Upper Missisquoi River and the Trout River meet each of the 
criteria for a National Wild and Scenic River designation. The 
management of the rivers has been carefully planned, and the 
designation is actively sought by Vermonters living in communities 
along the rivers. I am proud to join Senator Sanders and Peter Welch, 
Vermont's Representative in the other body, in introducing this bill 
and taking this commendable effort to the next level.
                                 ______