We,
the undersigned chief elected officials, on behalf of our municipalities,
recognize that:
1. The
Saugatuck River and its tributaries, including the Aspetuck and the West
Branch, are respected and valued by the people who live around them. Federal,
state, local and private agencies and citizens share a common interest in
working to preserve the quality of the streams, their surrounding habitats, and the watershed basins that encompass them.
2. The
watershed contains a rich diversity of aquatic and terrestrial habitats that
support a wide array of plant and animal species, including some which are
regionally rare. The area incorporates a 15,000-acre block of protected
forest land surrounding the Saugatuck and Aspetuck Reservoirs, the largest such
forest in southwestern Connecticut.
3. Land
and water management practices throughout the eleven watershed communities
affect the health of the entire watershed system. Therefore, uniform watershed
management policies are necessary and mutually beneficial.
4. The
ecological health of the watershed is vital to the economic livelihood and
social well-being of those who live and work in our communities; it enhances
property values, recreation and educational opportunities, and is integral to
sustaining quality of life.
Furthermore, we understand
that:
1. Land
and water management are the key determinants of the watershed’s health.
2. A
healthy watershed ecosystem is consistent with each municipality’s goals of
promoting a healthy community, preserving town character, fostering ecological
integrity, and nurturing sustainable economic growth.
Therefore, the towns of Bethel, Danbury, Easton,
Fairfield, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston,
Westport, and Wilton enter into this voluntary compact that
acknowledges their commitment to work cooperatively to balance
conservation and growth by:
1. Protecting
and enhancing the water resources of the watershed, including the quality of
the water, the integrity of normal stream and groundwater flows, and the flora
and fauna of these aquatic ecosystems.
2. Supporting
efforts to link and maintain habitats and rural landscapes throughout the
watershed.
3. Working
to ensure the long-term environmental health and vitality of the watershed and
thereby enhancing the social and economic vitality of the watershed
communities.
Signed by the Chief Elected
Officials of the Saugatuck River Watershed’s towns;