HCR33 — Version 100

2000 SESSION

00-2801

08/09

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 33

ANALYSIS

This house concurrent resolution urges the congressional delegations of New Hampshire and Vermont to seek continuation of cooperative partnerships and support from the New England Federal Partners for Natural Resources to the Connecticut River Joint Commissions for purposes of carrying out the recommendations of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan.

00-2801

08/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand

Whereas, the New Hampshire state legislature established the Connecticut River Valley Resource Commission in 1987; and

Whereas, the Vermont state legislature established the Connecticut River Watershed Advisory Commission in 1988; and

Whereas, the 2 commissions started to meet jointly, and in 1990 established a nonprofit organization, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, to carry out their cooperative educational and advisory activities; and

Whereas, the Connecticut River, from the outlet of Fourth Connecticut Lake to the Massachusetts border was adopted by the New Hampshire legislature into the New Hampshire rivers management and protection program in 1992; and

Whereas, the Vermont legislature authorized Vermont citizens from municipalities bordering the Connecticut River to serve on local river management advisory groups established pursuant to New Hampshire law; and

Whereas, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions established 5 advisory bi-state local river subcommittees comprised of representatives nominated by the governing body of their municipalities; and

Whereas, the local river subcommittees worked for 4 years to reach consensus and develop a plan, and the Connecticut River Joint Commissions published the 6-volume Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan in 1997; and

Whereas, this citizen-based plan provides advisory recommendations for agencies, communities, and the public on how to be good neighbors to a great river; and

Whereas, the New England Federal Partners for Natural Resources, a consortium of 9 federal agencies, have established action teams to aid the Connecticut River Joint Commissions in implementing the plan's recommendations; and

Whereas, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions have brought about a cooperative dialogue and partnership among diverse users of the river, local communities, organizations, state agencies, and federal agencies for improved protection of natural resources, promotion of heritage tourism and the Connecticut River Scenic Byway, opportunities for river recreation, marketing of agricultural products, and understanding and safeguarding water quality; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the house of representatives and senate of the state of New Hampshire, and the house of representatives and senate of the state of Vermont, ask the congressional delegations of New Hampshire and Vermont to seek continuation of cooperative partnerships and support from the New England Federal Partners for Natural Resources to the Connecticut River Joint Commissions for purposes of carrying out the recommendations of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan; and

That copies of this resolution be forwarded by the house clerk to the governor of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire congressional delegation, the governor of Vermont, and the Vermont congressional delegation.

(Approved: April 20, 2000)