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The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) and the Willimantic River Alliance (WRA) announced a major expansion of nationally-acclaimed water trails in the region.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced recently that the 21-mile Willimantic River Water Trail has been designated a Nation Recreation Trail.
In addition, the Quinebaug River Water Trail, already a National Recreation Trail, has been expanded by 35 miles for a total of 45 miles of easily-accessible and enjoyable paddling on the Quinebaug.
“These designations are the culmination of a great deal of work by the Willimantic River Alliance and The Last Green Valley, and represent the next logical step in fulfilling our missions to protect our rivers by connecting people to them. This is a rare ‘everyone wins’ occurrence, benefitting the public, the towns, property owners, and most of all, the rivers themselves,” commented Larry Diamond, WRA President.
WRA Vice-President Meg Reich added, “Designation of the Willimantic River gives it national recognition as a healthy and accessible river for all to enjoy.
"This honor acknowledges all the work that has gone into improving water quality over the last 40 years, from a river that was once heavily polluted to a nationally recognized recreational asset.”
According to Lois Bruinooge, TLGV Deputy executive director, “The Quinebaug River is also a national treasure. Many of the paddling segments provide an opportunity for family-friendly, close-to-home outdoor adventures with a surprisingly remote feel; wildlife is abundant and the only traces of civilization are the remnants of old mills. Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers and partners, we will be releasing a new Quinebaug River Paddle Guide later this month to help people discover the river.”