Photo Credit: Lazlo Gyorsok

Despite achieving designation in December 2022, the story of National Wild and Scenic designation for the Housatonic River in Connecticut began in 1979 when the National Park Service (NPS) conducted a survey of potential rivers across the Northeast to be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. At this time, most Wild and Scenic Rivers were larger rivers within federal lands under federal management, which did not apply to Housatonic, making the case for designation difficult. With the development of the Partnership Wild and Scenic model years later, this system fit the Housatonic more consistently. However, the Housatonic River was identified in the study report as having many Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) including scenic, historical, archaeological, water quality, vegetation and wildlife, and recreation. Of note was the remarkably charming rural character, historical heritage, and natural beauty considering the Housatonic River Valley’s proximity to the northeastern megalopolis. The 1979 study found that the 41-mile segment of the Housatonic River from the Massachusetts-Connecticut border to Boardman Bridge in New Milford met the eligibility criteria and therefore qualified the river for designation as a Wild and Scenic River with specific determination as a scenic and recreational river. Due in large part to this study effort, the Housatonic River Commission (HRC) was formed in 1979 to work to maintain an environmentally healthy and scenic river corridor.

In 2016, local efforts were made to pursue the designation.  Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy wrote a letter to then Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell petitioning for national designation as a State-Administered component of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System (under Section 2aii of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act).  This section of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act allows the Secretary of the Interior to designate a river if a state governor requests designation as long as the river meets certain criteria congruent with nationally designated rivers. The NPS was tasked with developing an evaluation of the nomination, as required by the Act. The Evaluation found that the Housatonic continued to support necessary Wild and Scenic River values and,  in many instances, those values have been enhanced and further protected since 1979.

Designation as a State-Administered River pursuant to Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act did not pan out as river circumstances changed. In 2021, local efforts switched gears to pursue Congressional Designation and to be included into the National System as a Partnership Wild and Scenic River. In a letter written to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont in September 2021, Governor Lamont writes:
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"The Housatonic River’s popularity has dramatically increased since 2016, and community leaders are working with state and federal officials to provide safe, equitable and environmentally sound river access. Designation as a Partnership Wild and Scenic River will qualify the Housatonic River for resources to assist in this endeavor. I believe that inclusion of this 41-miles of Housatonic River in the National Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers System will protect this natural treasure for generations to come."

The Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act of 2022 was introduced in the Senate by Senator Chris Murphy in September of 2022. The Housatonic River was officially designated as a National Wild and Scenic River with the passing and signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2617) in December of 2022, roughly 43 years after first being studied by the National Park Service.

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