Congressman Backs Eightmile River Effort

As published in the Hartford Courant, February 19, 2007:

The 10-year effort to preserve and protect the Eightmile River watershed in Salem, Lyme and East Haddam took another critical step forward recently when Congressman Joe Courtney announced that the bill calling for designation as a wild and scenic river would be the first bill he submits as a freshman congressman.

Those of us who have worked on this project for years are enormously grateful to him for picking up the ball at this critical juncture. If we can achieve wild and scenic designation, we will have left a significant mark for the better on this remarkable resource and on our corner of this planet.

The Eightmile project has been building for a decade, through years of inter-town collaboration and study. With each passing year, we learn more about what an extraordinary river ecosystem we have right here in our own backyards.

Possibly the most remarkable thing about this effort is that it couldn't have succeeded without three towns - East Haddam, Salem and Lyme - coming together to create a joint management plan. When we went to Washington six years ago to testify for the study that resulted in this call for designation, this collaboration across town boundaries impressed committee members as much as any of the environmental superlatives we offered.

Courtney brings new energy and commitment to this inter-town project. We stand ready to help him in any way to bring this wild and scenic designation home to one of the last intact riverine ecosystems in our state.



Susan Merrow

East Haddam

The writer is a member of the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Committee.