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Presenters ask Charlemont Selectboard to endorse Wild and Scenic designation for Deerfield River
Summary
Presenters from the Wild and Scenic effort told the Charlemont Selectboard that just three town bridges fall inside the proposed designation area, that the review is incorporated into Army Corps permitting and would not block emergency work, and that designation could unlock small annual grants for local projects.
Christopher CurUs, joined by Andrew PeUte Mange of the National Park Service and Melanie Glynn of the Westfield River Wild & Scenic Committee, asked the Charlemont Selectboard on Feb. 9 to endorse a proposed Wild and Scenic designation for portions of the Deerfield River ahead of a planned submission to Congress. The presenters said they have met with ten other communities so far and are seeking unanimous municipal support.
The presenters told the board that of 27 bridges provided by the town, 10 are currently in design or construction and only three — Route 8A over the Deerfield River, Chickley Road, and Zoar Road over Pelham Brook — fall within the proposed designation area. They said those projects are reconstructions of existing crossings and that impacts to the river are expected to be minimal.
On permitting, the presenters said Section 7 review associated with Wild and Scenic designation is incorporated into existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permitting and focuses on maintaining river flow, protecting habitat and preserving natural and historic settings. They said emergency repairs would not be delayed and that FEMA-funded work would not be barred by Section 7 review. The presenters described typical mitigation conditions — such as native revegetation and avoidance of invasive species — and said current state stream-crossing standards already require larger openings to improve biological and hydraulic function.
Board member Wilder Sparks pressed whether the Wild and Scenic requirements are more stringent than state standards and whether designation would increase project costs. Presenters answered that in some cases the program encourages natural or bioengineered stabilization methods instead of hard armoring, and that modest additional costs (for enhanced native plantings or natural materials) are possible but often offset by grant funding. They cited examples from Windsor and Savoy and committed to provide follow-up examples and any average added cost estimates.
Presenters also said the Wild and Scenic program receives roughly $210,000 annually to distribute among ten designated communities and that towns may apply for management and infrastructure grants, including early engineering and permitting assistance. Each town appoints a representative to the Wild and Scenic Committee; organizations may provide input but do not vote.
Christopher CurUs asked the Selectboard for the town's endorsement before submission to Congress; the presenters agreed to provide follow-up information on cost examples and to submit additional materials in the coming weeks. The Selectboard took no formal vote on endorsement at the Feb. 9 meeting.
