Contact Senators Blumenthal and Murphy About the Land and Water Conservation Fund

September 22, 2017 – The Appropriations bill now being considered in the U.S. Senate contains a great opportunity to conserve important bird and wildlife habitat in Connecticut.

Please take a couple of minutes to call or write Connecticut’s Senators to let them know how important it is.

The key feature of the bill is $400 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Both Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator Chris Murphy support the fund. Please thank them for their support but please also ask them to communicate their support to the Senate leadership.

Senator Blumenthal
(202) 224-2823 or (860) 258-6940
Or via his website:
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact/ (choose appropriations under the topic and a form will pop up into which you can put your message and contact info).

Senator Murphy:
(202) 224-4041 or (860) 549-8463
Or via his website:
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/contact  (choose appropriations under the topic and a form will pop up into which you can put your message and contact info).

Why is this important to conservation in Connecticut specifically?

The Appropriations bill includes $1 million earmarked for acquisition of up to 545 acres along the Connecticut River, in Haddam Neck. A deal is in place. The land would be included in the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge. It is now part of the defunct Connecticut Yankee power plant in Haddam Neck.

The land includes forests, meadows, and marshes that are critical for nesting birds such as Wood Thrush and Bald Eagle. Anadromous fish such as blueback herring, alewives, and possibly Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon (both federally endangered) use the tidal areas to feed and as a nursery. Migratory waterfowl spend the fall, winter and spring there, feeding and preparing for nesting season.

The 545 acres are also an important piece of the mosaic of habitats encompassed not only by the national wildlife refuge but by other protected and unprotected areas on the river.

By acquiring this land and adding it to the national wildlife refuge, we will help guarantee that it is protected and managed properly forever.