Additional funding for Conte Refuge would benefit local communities, bolster economic opportunities in the region

Washington (November 22, 2024) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today wrote to the U.S. Department of Interior urging the agency to seek additional funding for the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request. The Conte Refuge stewards over 50,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont and is bolstered by the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership, a unique coalition of over 75 stakeholders and partners.

“U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge staff, in partnership with the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership, have identified approximately 24,000 acres of priority land conservation project opportunities in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 within the Conte Refuge, valued at more than $51 million. This unmet need underscores our call for robust funding to support critical projects in this region,” the Senators wrote.

“Land conserved by the Conte Refuge enhances the quality of natural resources and expands recreational opportunities for the more than 2.4 million people who live in the 396 communities in the watershed and another 70 million who live within a day’s drive of these lands,” the Senators continued.

The Senators underscored the economic benefits investing in National Wildlife Refuges would bring to communities in New England and across the country, “On average, wildlife refuges nationwide return $4.87 to local economies for every $1 Congress provides in federal funding, which helps our rural communities create jobs and enhances recreational opportunities for visitors. In aggregate, the outdoor economy generates a total of $564 billion in consumer spending and supports 4.9 million American jobs.”

“To meet this demand, build upon last year’s momentum, and capitalize on available opportunities, we encourage the President’s FY26 Budget Request to reflect the need for robust funding to address the slate of ready-to-go projects in the Conte Refuge,” the Senators concluded.

The full text of the letter is available HERE. 

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