1991
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Act passed by Congress.
Silvio O. Conte, a 30-year Member of Congress and lifelong conservationist, introduced legislation authorizing a national fish and wildlife refuge within the four-state Connecticut River watershed. After his death the Congress renamed the Act in his honor, and it then passed as the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Act (P.L.102-212).
1993-1994
Scoping meetings held for Environmental Impact Statement.
One hundred and seventy-four scoping meetings and workshops held throughout the watershed. In addition, three informational mailings were sent to the large mailing list and 3,500 copies of an issues workbook, soliciting input, were distributed and 500 completed workbooks were returned and analyzed. Biological information was also collected and analyzed.
1995
Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement and Action Plan published.
Following the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement in May, 1995, and 16 public meetings that more than 990 people attended, the recommended alternative was modified in reponse to public comment, and the Final Environmental Impact Statement was released in November. The FEIS also responded to all comments received. Copies of the document or a summary were distributed to all interested parties. (see Documents page of website for more details - For a summary of the planning process, read the FEIS Executive Summary and the Record of Decision.).
1996
Refuge operations begin, Conte Challenge Cost-Share Program launched.
This program used operations funding to provide matching grants to applicants who wished to accomplish education or research, inventory and management projects that would further Conte Refuge purposes. The staff also initiated or helped develop other cooperative projects. Cooperative agreements were established with many partners to accomplish important environmental education and conservation objectives. The Conte Refuge Challenge Cost Share Program was discontinued due to lack of funds in 2002. (See “No Ordinary Refuge” in library page of the website for more details).
1997
Refuge established.
Third Island in Deerfield, Massachusetts, was donated by the Connecticut River Watershed Council; Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge was formally established as the 513th refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System
1998
The Refuge purchased a parcel hosting the Northeastern bulrush, a federally-endangered plant in Putney, Vermont.
1999
The 26,000 acre Nulhegan Basin Division was acquired as part of the larger partnership project to protect the former Champion Lands in northeastern Vermont.
2000
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the first tract (670 acres) of the Pondicherry Division (Jefferson and Whitefield, N.H.) from Hancock Timber Resources Group.
2002
Two of the refuge’s cooperative visitor centers, the Great North Woods Interpretive Center (Colebrook, N.H.) and the Conte Refuge Education Center at the Montshire Museum (Norwich, VT.) opened.
The refuge purchased 140 acres of the former Mt. Tom Ski Area in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in cooperation with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, the Trustees of Reservations, and the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club, who purchased the remaining 260 acres.
The refuge purchased 21 acres on the Ct. River in Greenfield, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management and the Friends of Wissatinnewag, who purchase the remaining 42 acres of the valuable parcel.
The Nulhegan Basin Division Visitor Services Plan was published. It was developed cooperatively and concurrently with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources management plan for the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
2003
Great Falls Discovery Center opens.
Nulhegan Basin Division’s new modular office building opens on site of demolished Bear Mountain Inn.
An additional 3,010 acres of land at Pondicherry were purchased.
2004
The Pondicherry Division expanded following fee-title acquisition of 309 acres and purchase of a 166-acre conservation easement.
2005
The Service purchased an additional 516 acres of high quality wetland and upland forest habitat at the Pondicherry Division.
Work started on a new headquarters and visitor contact center at the Nulhegan Basin Division.
The first purchase in the Fort River Division in Amherst and Hadley, Massachusetts (23 acres) was made.
A 31-acre area along the Connecticut River in Cromwell, Connecticut was purchased to protect federally-listed as threatened Puritan tiger beetle.
The non-profit support group Friends of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge was established.