Welcome

Welcome to the website of the York River Stewardship Committee, which was formed in 2023 and includes appointees from Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, and York. The committee is tasked with implementing the York River Watershed Stewardship Plan and coordinating activities related to the Partnership Wild and Scenic River designation for York River. In December 2022, the York River Wild and Scenic River Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, designating sections of York River and its tributaries into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (Public Law No. 117-328).

Please note: the Stewardship Committee inherited this website from the York River Study Committee, which created and administered the site from 2016 to early 2023. Expect major updates to the site later this year or in early 2024. For now, Stewardship Committee information is contained on this home page, and the Stewardship Committee’s meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the Documents & Notes page of the site. Content on the rest of the site was developed before the river was designated and the Stewardship Committee was formed.

Contact the York River Stewardship Committee: Email Judy Spiller (Chair) 

Upcoming events and meetings: 

  • The York River Stewardship Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the York Land Trust office (1 Long Neck Marsh Road, York). Contact Judy Spiller for more information.

WHAT’S NEW

Seeking Watershed Coordinator: The newly formed York River Stewardship Committee is hiring a York River Watershed Coordinator. See the position posting to learn more, including how to apply. Application deadline is August 16, 2023. 

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 RELEASE

Stewardship Committee appointed: As of mid-May, all four watershed towns have appointed members to the York River Stewardship Committee. See the list of town-appointed Stewardship Committee members and officers
 
What’s next? (early 2023): Now that the river is designated, read about next steps and plans to form the York River Wild and Scenic Stewardship Committee: Stewardship Committee-background and next steps & Stewardship Committee-description and responsibilities
 
Designation accomplished! (December 2022): Congress authorized designation of York River into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System on December 23, 2022. The designation authorization was included in the omnibus government spending bill that was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden on December 29, 2022. READ THE PRESS RELEASE
 

Information about York River & Partnership Wild and Scenic River designation:

4_towns

Towns that are part of the 33 square mile York River watershed

11_dams

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

23_fish

Species of fish found in tidal habitats during a 2001 study of the York River

109_miles

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

1634_date

The year the first dam was built in the watershed

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