Connecticut River Watershed Partnership program

(a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a nonregulatory program, to be known as the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership program. (b) Duties In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall draw on existing and new approved plans for the Watershed, or portions of the Watershed, and work in consultation with applicable management entities, including representatives of the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, the Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative, the Federal Government, and other State and local governments, Tribal governments or organizations, and regional and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities within the Watershed through the adoption of an inclusive Watershed-wide strategy and framework. (c) Consultation In establishing the program, the Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with— (1) the heads of Federal agencies, including— (A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; (B) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (C) the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; (D) the Director of the National Park Service; (E) the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers; (F) the Secretary of Transportation; (G) the Secretary of Commerce; and (H) the head of any other applicable Federal agency, as determined by the Secretary; (2) the Governors of the Watershed States; (3) Tribal governments or organizations, including Tribes; (4) the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership; (5) the Connecticut River Joint Commissions; (6) the Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Cooperative; (7) other public and quasi-public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in or affecting the Watershed; and (8) stakeholders from impacted environmental justice communities. (d) Purposes The purposes of the program are— (1) to coordinate and collaborate on restoration and protection activities among Federal, Tribal, State, local, and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the Watershed; and (2) to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities in, and provide technical assistance throughout, the Watershed— (A) to restore, recover, and manage for sustainable fish, wildlife, and plant populations; (B) to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration, stewardship, and protection activities; (C) to improve and maintain water quality to support fish, wildlife, and fish and wildlife habitat, including to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the Watershed consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat; (D) to advance the use of nature-based solutions to maximize the resilience of communities, natural systems, and habitats under changing sea levels, storm risks, and watershed conditions; (E) to support farmland conservation and food equity, including habitat protection, climate resilience, and carbon sequestration on working farms and forests; (F) to engage the public, particularly environmental justice communities, through outreach, education, and community involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and protection activities in the Watershed; (G) to identify, affirm, and promote the practice and awareness of traditional Tribal river and Watershed-related cultural practices and traditional ecological knowledge; (H) to improve access to open space and trails by enhancing trails in the Watershed and on-street active transportation, such as bike lanes, sidewalks, public transportation, and bike share; (I) to sustain and enhance water management for volume and flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat; (J) to support land and water conservation and management activities necessary to fulfill the Watershed-wide strategy adopted under subsection (b); (K) to monitor environmental quality to assess progress towards the purposes of the program; (L) to facilitate strategic planning to maximize the resilience of natural systems and habitats under changing watershed conditions; (M) to improve fish and wildlife habitats, including opportunities for personal recreation, hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing along rivers, particularly in environmental justice communities; (N) to increase scientific capacity to support the planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities; and (O) to provide technical assistance to carry out restoration and protection activities in the Watershed.