SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Lower Connecticut
River Partnership Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) The Connecticut River watershed in the
States of Connecticut and Massachusetts is a scenic
region of cities and historic villages located in an
internationally and nationally significant landscape
of working farms, verdant forests, mountains, and
broad fertile floodplains of New England’s longest
river, the Connecticut River.
(2) The Connecticut River and its tributaries
provide outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, recre-
ation, and hydropower generation for the New Eng-
land region.
(3) The Connecticut River watershed has been
recognized by Congress as part of the Silvio O.
Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, estab-
lished by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and
Wildlife Refuge Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; Public
Law 102–212).
(4) The demonstrated interest in stewardship of
the River by the citizens living in the watershed led
to the Presidential designation of the River as one
of 14 American Heritage Rivers on July 30, 1998.
(5) Where management of the River involves
partnership with local communities and organiza-
tions, support for the partnership should be provided
by the Secretary.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to author-
ize the Secretary to provide to the States of Connecticut
and Massachusetts technical and financial assistance for
management of the River and the River watershed.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this Act, the following definitions
apply:
(1) RIVER.—The term ‘‘River’’ means the Con-
necticut River.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means—
(A) the State of Connecticut; or
(B) the State of Massachusetts.
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE FOR STATES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide to the
States technical and financial assistance in managing the
River and the River watershed in cooperation and collabo-
ration with conservation organizations and regional plan-
ning agencies in the watershed, including assistance for
the following:
(1) Developing policies for water quality, flow
management, and recreational boating for the River.
(2) Developing protection plans for water qual-
ity in the tributaries that flow into the River.
(3) Developing a coordinated, collaborative ap-
proach on the part of the States for monitoring the
quality of the River for human use and ecological
health.
(4) Restoring and protecting priority riverbanks
to improve water quality and aquatic and riparian
habitat.
(5) Encouraging and assisting communities,
farmers, conservation organizations, and riverfront
landowners in—
(A) establishing and protecting riparian
buffers; and
(B) preventing nonpoint source pollution.
(6) Encouraging and assisting communities
in—
(A) protecting shoreland, wetland, and
flood plains; and
(B) managing and treating stormwater
runoff.
(7) In cooperation with dam owners—
(A) evaluating the decommissioning of un-
economic dams in the watershed; and
(B) restoring natural riverine habitat.
(8) Protecting and restoring the habitat of na-
tive trout, anadromous fisheries, and other out-
standing fish and wildlife resources.
(9) Encouraging new and improved markets for
local agricultural products.
(10) Encouraging the protection of farmland
and economically sustainable agriculture.
(11) Developing and promoting locally planned,
approved, and managed networks of heritage trails
and water trails.
(12) Coordinating and fostering opportunities
for heritage tourism and agritourism.
(13) 
Demonstrating 
economic 
development
based on heritage tourism.
(14) Supporting local stewardship.
(15) Strengthening nonregulatory protection of
heritage resources.
(16) Encouraging public access to the River
from towns and cities in the Valley.
(17) Establishing indicators of sustainability.
(18) Monitoring the impact of increased tour-
ism and recreational use on natural and historic re-
sources.
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 10
percent of the funds made available to any State under
this Act may be used for administrative costs.
(c) COORDINATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—The
Secretary shall encourage States receiving assistance
under this Act to work in coordination with units of local
government and nonprofit organizations when carrying
out activities listed in subsection (a).
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