Over three hundred species of plants and animals are rare, threatened or endangered in the Connecticut River watershed . Actions to increase populations of rare species before they become threatened or endangered may save a great deal of effort and money. Recreational Land Use Ethics Most of the land in the watershed is privately owned. Asking permission to enter private land is always a good idea. Recreational use of land and water can negatively affect fish, wildlife, and plants.
Informed users can reduce the impact.
Special Habitats The Conte Refuge has identified 180,000 acres of special habitats in the watershed. One half of the United States wetlands has been destroyed. Wetlands have many benefits to people, fish and wildlife. They control flooding, purify water, recharge groundwater, and provide productive habitat. Tidal wetlands are very productive ecosystems.