The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently partnered with The Nature Conservancy to purchase nearly 50 acres of forested land for the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The tract is near the convergence of Pine Brook and the Salmon River in Haddam Neck, Conn. The area will form part of the refuge’s Salmon River Division, which lies within the Connecticut River watershed and is an essential section of the river for fish migration. Along with The Nature Conservancy, the Service has been working with the Middlesex Land Trust and the Haddam Neck Spirit, local conservation groups, to protect areas within the Salmon River watershed. With the new addition, about 374 acres have been protected in the division.
The property, originally acquired from the estate of Ann Marie Pender, protects Pine Brook and Salmon Cove, two important locationsfor fish. Free of artificial barriers and located in an undeveloped area, the lower section of Pine Brook is a critical location for migratory fish and serves as a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection index site for monitoring fish runs. Salmon Cove, located just downstream of Pine Brook, is a pristine freshwater tidal marsh complex and is prime habitat for fish, waterbirds, rare plants and mussels and expanses of submerged aquatic vegetation.
"Thanks to the Nature Conservancy, this acquisition is now an outstanding addition to the public and private conservation mosaic within the Salmon River watershed," said Andrew French, Project Leader at the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. "We are thankful for all of the conservation accomplishments of the partners and the collective outcomes and benefits they have generated within this vibrant and valuable landscape for wildlife, the environment, and outdoor recreation."
The announcement comes on the heels of the recent announcement by Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, who named the 410-mile long Connecticut River the nation’s first National Blueway. The Connecticut River Watershed includes parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
"There are so many positive things happening in the Connecticut River watershed," said Shelley Green, director of freshwater and conservation planning for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut. "The momentum is incredible, and this addition to the Conte Refuge only adds to it. We’re grateful to our partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Conte Refuge for making this happen, and we’re excited about the work we’re going to do together in the future."
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve native plants, animals and their habitats in the 7.2 million acre Connecticut River watershed that stretches across four states. It is the only refuge in the country dedicated to a river’s entire watershed. The refuge works to protect land, form partnerships with citizens to foster conservation efforts, educate the public, and pass on the importance of the watershed to future generations.
