Bid being made to designate Missisquoi wild and scenic
BERKSHIRE, Vt. --Vermont's congressional delegation is preparing to introduce legislation that would designate two stretches of the upper Missisquoi River as "wild and scenic."
Advocates have been pushing for ways to protect the watershed in northern Vermont and the congressional bill would authorize the National Park Service to conduct a study of the river to determine how it meets the national criteria of a wild and scenic river.
The program was created in 1968. It recognizes rivers that have remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic or cultural attributes. No Vermont river is enrolled in the Wild and Scenic River program.
The scenic designation would add a layer of protection, said Cynthia Scott, coordinator of the Missisquoi River Basin Association.
Although the designation would not curb development, it would increase the ability of federal agencies to buy and conserve land along the river.
Volunteers suggested the designation and asked Scott's group to work on it.
The Missisquoi runs from Lowell north into Canada and then back into Vermont at Richford. It flows freely until a dam in Enosburg. It flows into Lake Champlain.
It's the upper section, which has no dams to disturb the flow, that's being considered for designation. The Trout River, a tributary that flows through Montgomery, is included in the bid for designation.
About 50 miles of river are being considered.
Communities along the river are supportive, advocates say.
"We've met with select boards and officials from all the towns that would be involved," said Chris O'Shea of Franklin, one of the leaders of the effort to obtain special designation. "The boards provided letters of support, letters needed before Vermont's congressional delegation could request the National Park Service to determine if the river meets the needed criteria."
Bob Paquin, of Sen. Patrick Leahy's office, said the one-page bill asking for a National Park Service review is likely to be introduced soon. Paquin doesn't expect resistance in Washington.
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Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com
