CORNWALL — Referred to as a “national treasure” by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), a 41-mile stretch of the Housatonic River may finally get its due in 2022 if it is designated as a Partnership Wild and Scenic River.
The Housatonic River’s bid for the Wild and Scenic designation has weathered several decades, administrations, iterations and a global pandemic. But this time, say those who have built the case for protecting the river and keeping the movement afloat, the Wild and Scenic status is within reach.
“We have the backing of the state and every town,” along the stretch, said William Tingley of Sharon, who is chairman of the Housatonic River Commission (HRC), in an interview in early March. “It’s been one long push and we are now running into the end zone.”
The commission was established in the late 1970s as a regional planning board responsible for monitoring and advising Northwest Corner towns on issues involving the river.
What it means to be ‘Wild and Scenic’
The intent of the National Wild and Scenic River System is to protect outstanding rivers from harmful effects of new federal projects such as dams and hydroelectric facilities. In order for a river to achieve the designation it must be free flowing and have at least one outstanding natural, cultural or recreational resource value, such as fisheries and wildlife, exceptional scenery, cultural resources or water quality.
A river’s designation into the national Wild and Scenic System ensures protection of river resources and comes with federal funding to support conservation efforts.
A Partnership Wild and Scenic River, which is the designation proposed for the Housatonic, is a subset of rivers in which collaboration between local governments, watershed groups, the National Park Service (NPS) and other stakeholder groups allows local communities to protect their own river and river-related resources.
River advocates said the status can also benefit individual towns through management plans and studies required to qualify for consideration and increases the likelihood of support funding and matching grants.
A push from Congressional delegates
In mid-February, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-5) visited Kent, one of the seven towns situated along the 41-mile segment of the river from the Massachusetts border to Boardman Bridge in New Milford.
The state lawmakers sought local input on legislation they drafted affecting the river towns of Canaan (Falls Village), Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury, North Canaan, Sharon and New Milford. Murphy also backed successful efforts to have two segments of the Farmington River designated Wild and Scenic.
Only four rivers in Connecticut have achieved the federal status: the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook, the West Branch of the Farmington River, the Eightmile River Watershed in Haddam and the Pawcatuck River Systems in Stonington.
As of early March, the Housatonic River legislation was “being reviewed internally by the U.S. National Park Service,” said Liz Lacy, community planner and river manager for that organization. Should NPS approve the application, it faces one final hurdle in Washington, D.C.
“It depends on how long it takes Congress to bring it up and decide on it,” said the NPS official, who also assisted the Farmington River group. Could 2022 be the year the Housatonic earns its designation? “It’s definitely a possibility,” she said.
A look back: decades of challenges
In order to appreciate the latest legislative push and the efforts that have brought the Wild and Scenic designation within reach of the Housatonic, one must look back on the challenges, and the vast, collaborative effort among the veteran river advocates.
Tingley recalled a period in the late 1970s when the National Park Service paid its first visit to the Housatonic to consider it for possible inclusion in the Wild and Scenic System. “At that time the Act itself was not particularly user-friendly,” he said. Five years earlier, advocates across the nation successfully built the case for protecting rivers and the Wild and Scenic River Act became law.
The Housatonic’s original proposal focused on a stretch of river from the Massachusetts border to the Shepaug dam, said Lynn Werner, executive director of the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA). “The federal Wild and Scenic Act dealt well with rivers where there were a lot of federal land holdings already, but not so well in New England,” where private property dotted the rivers.
While the NPS found the section of the Housatonic to be worthy of Wild and Scenic designation, the federal program lacked answers for landowners concerned about federal overreach, recalled Werner.
“It was fertile ground for people to be afraid” about losing control of their property to the government. “So the attempt established on our river and Massachusetts kind of went down at the time,” she said.
From 1978, HVA and the river commission worked in tandem to keep the river designation afloat and educate the public on what it means: that it is a tool in the toolbox of protection; and what it doesn’t mean: that the measure would allow federal control over the Housatonic and that it is an anti-energy project.
Then came turbulent times. The 1980s brought years of distractions and delays, including a failed plan by Iroquois Pipeline to cross the Housatonic River in three places and proposed construction of a “Super 7” freeway project impacting Route 7 in New Milford.
But about a decade ago, she said, the quest for Wild and Scenic status was back on the front burner.
‘It can’t take care of itself’
There are two routes to designation, one through Congress and the other through the state. Congressional designation leads to federal funding, but the Housatonic River Commission backed the state application first time around to avoid federal strings attached to the funding.
Werner said river advocates at that were mainly concerned about protecting the Housatonic against major threats. Then, more delays: “The federal administration changed, COVID hit and our section of the river was inundated with people. Access blew up. People were coming here from all over.”
Housatonic River access sites that traditionally served a few intrepid fishermen, she said, were flooded with visitors. “It quickly became clear that a river corridor was a valuable asset that serves the recreational needs of different interests,” said the HVA official.
Overuse without adequate oversight and infrastructure, said river advocates, is a threat to its health. “This river is a public resource and that means that you have to take responsibility for it,” noted Werner. “It can’t take care of itself.”
‘A different tack’ this time
Fast forward to February 2022, and an updated direction and application brought forth by HVA and HRC, with the blessing of its coordinating committee which includes two representatives from each of the seven communities, NPS, DEEP, HVA, FirstLight Power Resources and the Northwest Hills Council of Governments.
“I reached out to our partners across the state, and we switched our approach and proceeded with a partnership design” via the Congressional route, said Werner, who invited lawmakers Murphy and Hayes to speak at the recent Kent forum. “We felt we would have more resources and more direct help from the National Park Service, and that maybe we should explore that option.”
Gov. Ned Lamont has endorsed the river group’s revised approach. “Although initially proposed to the Department of the Interior in 2016 by then Governor Dannel Malloy as a state administered Wild and Scenic River under Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, river circumstances have changed and I believe that congressional designation as a Partnership Wild and Scenic River is the best approach for Housatonic River management and protection.”
Werner said the designation will be an economic driver for local businesses and that decisions affecting the river, and disbursement of federal funding, will be made “100 percent locally by the towns and whoever wants to be at the table.”
Management Plan update
Tingley said the Housatonic River Commission will soon be updating the 2006 Housatonic River Management Plan to reflect current and future management goals for the river.
It was time to “get the ball rolling again,” he said. “Once we had been made aware of how much the river could benefit” from Congressional backing and additional funding “we changed our tack, with support from the state, and we are now on track to be nominated by our federal elected officials. There is zero downside and a huge amount of upside.”
Tingley expressed confidence that with the added layer of protection from the federal status, the Housatonic River will be protected for future generations.
“We’ve come a long way. People aren’t throwing refrigerators and sofas over the banks anymore. I think the river being Wild and Scenic will give people a lot of pride, and it gives the river its proper due.”
Crowds of people seeking relief from the heat — and COVID-19 — ignored regulations prohibiting swimming and picnicking at the Housatonic River in June 2020. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
A mother bear and her cubs move through a backyard in northwest Connecticut, where residents told DEEP that bear litters are now appearing more frequently.
“We really want to hear from you,” said Justin Davis, DEEP’s bureau chief for natural resources, at the meeting. He said that DEEP is preparing a bear management report in early 2026 that evaluates the challenges the state is facing and the strategies going forward dealing with them. He said the report will include feedback from the public generated at the listening sessions. He urged attendees, however, not to turn the meeting into a discussion about whether there should be a hunt or not.
Davis called the return of black bears to Connecticut a “conservation success story,” but one that now comes with challenges. "They're large animals, they're powerful and they can become comfortable being around people--and they're opportunistic, and they love to eat."
DEEP shared data showing that black bears have been reported in nearly every Connecticut town and that conflicts involving trash, bird feeders, livestock and home entries have increased sharply in recent years. The state’s bear population was last estimated at roughly 1,100 to 1,200 animals, a number that DEEP recognizes has grown since the study was conducted in 2012.
Eric Hammering, the office director of Environmental Review & Strategic Initiatives at DEEP, told the attendees that since 2020 there have been 264 reported home entries in 38 municipalities in northwest Connecticut, citing data from the state's State of the Bears report released in March.
A home entry, he said, is defined as an event when a bear actually goes inside a resident's living space.
Attendees at the DEEP meeting in Sharon on Dec. 3By Christian Murray
DEEP officials stressed that bird feeders and unsecured household trash are the two biggest drivers of bear conflicts. They advise residents to remove feeders entirely and keep their garbage inside or in bear-resistant containers. DEEP representatives noted that once a bear discovers food, it is likely to develop habits and return.
Many attendees said they see widespread noncompliance in their neighborhoods — particularly among part-time residents and short-term rental guests who leave trash out for days. Several said they were frustrated that the people causing the problem are often not the ones who attend sessions like this.
As a result, a number of residents called for stronger statewide enforcement, including fines for leaving trash unsecured and penalties for repeated violations. Without consequences, they said, the same households will continue to attract bears and put neighbors at risk. Others described practical steps to reduce bear activity--including the use of secure dumpsters, food composting stations, and the placement of electric fencing around livestock and beehives.
Again and again, residents emphasized that the underlying issue is human behavior. One attendee summarized it succinctly: “There are 3.6 million people in Connecticut and far fewer bears. Human behavior is the problem.”
Lynn Levine, a Litchfield resident who enjoys seeing bears, said common sense steps are the answer. She said that when she first moved to the area, she mistakenly left her garage down open with a 15-pound bag of shelled peanuts inside. "A bear dragged the bag around the side of the garage, sat down and had a teddy bear picnic." She said she learned not to leave the garage door open, especially with food inside.
Not all the stories were lighthearted. An 82-year-old Sharon woman recounted repeated break-ins that left her shaken and facing thousands of dollars in repairs, including a bear walking into her kitchen while she was washing dishes. A veterinarian described livestock attacks, including an alpaca that was mauled and dragged. A farmer said bears caused about $160,000 in crop losses in one year and that cornfields across the region face similar damage.
Several speakers added that DEEP’s limited staffing means local police often end up responding when bears are struck by cars or behaving aggressively.
From the State of the Bears Report released March 2025CT DEEP
Cornwall First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, who attended the session, said afterward that he was troubled by how outdated the state’s population data is.
“My biggest personal take-away was surprise — that DEEP doesn’t have a handle on how many bears are here,” he said. “They said they haven’t surveyed them since 2012. How do you make a plan or policy without doing a survey?”
Ridgway said Cornwall has received about 40 bear-related reports this year, including home and vehicle entries and injuries to pets. “People are frightened by intrusions onto their property,” he said. “These are not happy stories.”
He noted that in 2012 -- when the state said it last did its population count -- “a bear was a novelty,” but sightings today are very common. “Today, most people see a bear every week. It’s no longer a novelty — it’s a real issue.”
Ridgway said he supports developing a statewide management plan and wants Connecticut to examine approaches used in other states, including reducing their numbers.
While most attendees at the Dec. 3 session indicated they opposed a hunt, Ridgway said that is not a true reflection of how his constituents in Cornwall view the issue. “If we had a vote, it would be close as to whether there should be a hunting season.”
Only one attendee — a longtime hunter from West Cornwall — advocated for a controlled bear hunt. He argued that the population is “exploding” and that education and bear-proof containers are “a band-aid.” In keeping with DEEP’s rules, other residents did not respond, and the session took place without conflict.
Much of the remaining discussion centered on unsecured trash, short-term rentals, and outdated dumpsters at state parks that residents say train bears to expect human food. Some questioned why the listening session was not better publicized, and Ridgway echoed that concern, saying it should have also been held at the high school to allow more residents to attend.
DEEP collected comment cards at the end of the session. Staff said all feedback will be reviewed as the agency drafts its statewide bear management report.
Weatogue Stables has an opening: for a part time or full time team member. Experienced and reliable please! Must be available weekends. Housing a possibility for the right candidate. Contact Bobbi at 860-307-8531.
Deluxe Professional Housecleaning: Experience the peace of a flawlessly maintained home. For premium, detail-oriented cleaning, call Dilma Kaufman at 860-491-4622. Excellent references. Discreet, meticulous, trustworthy, and reliable. 20 years of experience cleaning high-end homes.
Hector Pacay Service: House Remodeling, Landscaping, Lawn mowing, Garden mulch, Painting, Gutters, Pruning, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Tree work, Brush removal, Fence, Patio, Carpenter/decks, Masonry. Spring and Fall Cleanup. Commercial & Residential. Fully insured. 845-636-3212.
The Villas Cleaning Team: Owner-Operated. Reliable, detailed cleaning by a trusted husband-and-wife team. Homes & Offices. Airbnb. Small Post-Construction. Commercial. Windows. Laundry. Consistent cleaners every time. Competitive rates. Flexible scheduling. Call/Text: 903-918-2390. Dave Villa for a free estimate.
Estate/Tag Sale: 168 Johnson Road, Falls Village CT. Friday Saturday Sunday, December 5th-7th. Total house contents, furniture, antique and vintage collectables, costume jewelry, shed stuff, basement stuff, stairs chairlift, some art. Fri, Sat 9-4 and Sunday 9-noon. A Tommy sale, come and get it!!
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: Equal Housing Opportunity. All real estate advertised in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1966 revised March 12, 1989 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color religion, sex, handicap or familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All residential property advertised in the State of Connecticut General Statutes 46a-64c which prohibit the making, printing or publishing or causing to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, physical or mental disability or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
Sharon, CT
TAG SALE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 135 Sharon Mountain Road, Sharon, CT 06069. Clearing things out before the holidays! Stop by for a great mix of items, including: Kitchenware, Small pieces of art, A few pieces of furniture, Clothing, Books, And more assorted household items. Easy to find, everything priced to sell. Hope to see you there!
