Welcome to the website of the York River Wild and Scenic Study Committee, which was formed in 2015 and includes appointees from Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, and York. The committee was tasked with evaluating York River for designation into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. On December 23, 2022, York River was designated by Congress into the national system as a Partnership Wild and Scenic River. President Biden signed the bill into law on December 29, 2022 (Public Law No. 117-328).
The York River Watershed Stewardship Plan is the culmination of over 30 months of work by the York River Study Committee to gather information about the York River and its watershed. An accompanying “Story Map” – or online tour – provides highlights, maps and data from the Stewardship Plan. Communities endorsed river designation and the Stewardship Plan in late 2018.
Contact the York River Study Committee: Email Judy Spiller (Chair) or Paul Dest (Vice Chair)
WHAT’S NEW
River Designation celebrated: On June 1, Congresswoman Pingree joined the York River Study Committee, York River watershed community members, National Park Service representatives, Friends of the York River, town officials, and others to celebrate designation of the York River into the national Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. Representatives for Senator King and Senator Collins joined the Congresswoman in making remarks at the celebratory event. READ THE PRESS RELEASEUpcoming events:
- The York River Study Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the York Land Trust office (1 Long Neck Marsh Road, York). Contact Judy Spiller for more information.
York River Wild and Scenic Study in the news:
- York River is now federally recognized: here’s what ‘wild and scenic’ designation means, York Weekly / Seacoastonline, January 6, 2023
- Accomplished: York River Watershed Designated Wild and Scenic, The Wrack (Wells Reserve Blog), January 5, 2023
- York River is now federally recognized: what does it mean? NEWS CENTER Maine, December 29, 2022
- Pingree secures ‘wild and scenic’ designation for York River as part of federal spending bill, Portland Press Herald, December 23, 2022
Information about York River and designation:
Read more about what makes York River special: Poster on York River’s outstanding resources
See the Study Committee’s Designation Recommendation Overview
View climate resiliency and adaptation measures: York River and Climate Change Poster
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Towns that are part of the 33 square mile York River watershed |
Dams (or remnants of past dams) in the watershed, including historic dams originally built to harness the river’s power for saw and grist mills |
Species of fish found in tidal habitats during a 2001 study of the York River |
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Miles of streams and rivers in the York River watershed |
Acres of salt marsh in the York River estuary that capture and store carbon and provide valuable habitat for many species |
The year the first dam was built in the watershed |
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