York River ~ Partnership Wild and Scenic River | Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, and York, Maine

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:

The York River Watershed Stewardship Plan was 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.
All four watershed communities endorsed river designation and the Stewardship Plan in late 2018.
Read more about what makes York River special: Poster on York River’s outstanding resources
See the York River Study Committee’s Designation Recommendation Overview
View climate resiliency and adaptation measures: York River and Climate Change Poster
York River is one of 228 rivers designated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (and just one of 18 Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers). Learn more about Wild and Scenic rivers on rivers.gov.