W e l c o m e
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The Housatonic River Commission is a regional planning board responsible for monitoring and advising the towns in Northwest Connecticut on issues that involve the Housatonic River.
The Commission was formed in response to the US National Park Service recognizing this section of the Housatonic as one with outstanding scenic, recreational, and ecological value in the 1970's. Formed by the towns in response to this recognition, the HRC's first meeting was in July of 1979 with representatives from Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, New Milford, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon, each Connecticut town that borders the River from Massachusetts to Boardman Bridge in New Milford. Our mission is to steward, protect and enhance the Wild and Scenic Housatonic River. Our task is to work to maintain an environmentally healthy and scenic river corridor enjoyed by boaters, fishermen, hikers, and campers. We act as an advisory board for everything from applications for construction and river use to the re-licensing of the power plants on the Housatonic. Our non-regulatory responsibilities include providing recommendations to town Planning and Zoning Boards and Conservation Commissions offering a unique watershed-wide perspective on local issues.
A key component of our efforts is the production of a management plan that summarizes the goals of the commission as well as suggestions to improve the quality of water in the Housatonic. Our first management plan was produced soon after our founding and published in 1981. An updated plan completed in 2005 found the River continued to have tremendous value but faced issues revolving around the relicensing of several hydroelectric generating facilities and contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). |
