CRERPA

The Gateway Conservation Zone, which is the geographic focus of the Commission's activities, is some thirty miles in length and includes those portions of the eight member towns (Chester, Deep River, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook) lying within view of the river. In recent years, it has become an area of interest for a number of other environmental organizations as well. The Nature Conservancy has designated the Connecticut River Tidelands as one of its "Last Great Places"; the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has obtained the recognition of the river's tidelands as "internationally significant" wetlands under the terms of the international Ramsar Convention; the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior has publicly recognized the lower Connecticut River valley as "one of the most important ecological landscapes" in the United States, and in 1999, the River was designated as one of 14 American Heritage Rivers by the President of the United States.

SCENIC PRESERVATION RESPONSIBILITIES

While other organizations have concerned themselves with the preservation of endangered species and habitats in the valley, this Commission has concentrated its attention on the protection of key upland tracts that contribute to the valley's scenic qualities. Since its inception, the Commission has been instrumental in protecting over one thousand acres of land through gifts or purchase of scenic easements, development rights and fee simple titles. These are located in four different towns, ranging from the estuarine marshes in Old Lyme to the heights of Mount Tom in East Haddam and include:

• six gifts of scenic easement and development rights on 375 acres in Lyme and Old Lyme whose owners gave the rights to the State of Connecticut or to a private land trust;

• two gifts of fee title to 29 acres in Old Lyme & Chester, given to the Lower Connecticut River Land Trust and subsequently transferred to the State of Conn. or the Gateway Commission;

• conservation easements on 475 acres owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy in East Haddam and Lyme, obtained in return for gifts from the Gateway Conservation Fund totaling $400,000;

• easements on 72 acres in Chester and Old Lyme purchased by the State of Connecticut with bond funds ($435,000) specifically earmarked by the Gateway Act in 1973 for use within the Gateway Conservation Zone;

• fee title to 80 acres in three different locations in East Haddam, costing a total of $397,500, which are still held by the Gateway Commission itself; one of these parcels adjoins Gillette Castle State Park and was purchased with the specific understanding that it would eventually be transferred to the State for addition to the park when funds became available; 

• fee title to 1+ acre in Old Lyme, subsequently transferred to the State of Connecticut for park purposes.

LAND USE OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES

Another significant role given to the Commission by the 1973 enabling legislation is the establishment of certain minimum zoning standards for height, setback, lot coverage and the like which the member towns are expected to establish and enforce within the Gateway Conservation Zone for the benefit of the Lower Valley scene. The Commission meets regularly to review and act on zone changes and zoning board of appeals applications affecting land within the Conservation Zone referred to it by local boards and commissions as required by statute. No zone change can become effective without the Commission's approval.

Issues of concern in the past year have included the construction of numerous large "trophy houses" along the riverfront and tree cutting to provide residents with water views. Both of these activities can have a significant impact on the riverscape. The damage done by the woolly adelgid infestation to many of the large hemlock stands along the river has also had considerable visual impact.

FINANCES

Until 1991, the State supported the work of the Commission with a modest annual allocation of funds for administrative purposes. These funds were removed from the State's budget in 1992; the Commission has had no state support since that time and it has had to rely upon its own limited resources originally earmarked exclusively for land acquisition and related expenses to meet its administrative costs of about $15,000 a year .

The Valley Railroad and Gillette's Castle, two of the State's major tourist attractions, are located in the lower Connecticut River Valley. Their continued attraction is very much dependent upon the maintenance of the valley's scenic and environmental quality. The mission of this Commission, given to it by the Connecticut General Assembly some two decades ago, is to "preserve the unique scenic, ecological, scientific and historic values of the lower Connecticut River valley for the enjoyment of present and future generations of Connecticut citizens." The cooperation and financial support of the State is crucial to the success of this mission and this Commission would greatly appreciate the support of the General Assembly in carrying it out.

DELEGATES

Current members include: Margaret Wilson and Christine Nelson of Chester; Nancy Fischbach of Deep River; Robert Boulware and Logan Clarke of East Haddam; Edward Marlowe and Fred Vollono of Essex; Susan R. Bement and Scott B. Thompson of Haddam; Kevin Mazer and J. Melvin Woody of Lyme; Rudi Besier and Ted Crosby of Old Lyme; Madeline Fish and David LeMay of Old Saybrook; Doris Sanstrom for the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency; Raul de Brigard and Stasia DeMichele for Midstate RPA and David Blatt of the Conn. DEP.