The Farmington River originates in southwestern Massachusetts and flows 81 miles until it reaches the Connecticut River in Windsor, CT. It is the longest tributary of the Connecticut River, and was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1994.
The Farmington River now faces a significant threat from the harmful and outdated
Rainbow Dam. Today, American Rivers announced the inclusion of the Farmington River in its annual list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers®.
“The Farmington River supports diverse fish and wildlife, is a vital source of clean drinking water for the region, and provides boating and other recreation opportunities, but this dam is an ongoing threat. This is an important moment for the river and an opportunity for Commissioner Dykes to continue her leadership in river restoration and environmental stewardship. We need Stanley Black & Decker to fix the problems it has created,” said Katie Schmidt with American Rivers.
Eight miles upstream from where the Farmington River joins the Connecticut River is the Rainbow Dam, owned by Stanley Black & Decker. This small, poorly maintained hydropower dam has been in operation since the early 20th century, but due to a quirk of law, it has no federal oversight which has allowed it to damage the river for decades.
“While hydropower contributes to our energy needs, this small and poorly maintained and unreliable dam is not necessary to New England’s energy needs. The insignificant energy it generates causes really big environmental problems,” noted Katie Schmidt. “Protecting the Farmington River is an important investment in our environment, our economy, and our
quality of life. I fought for the river’s ‘Wild and Scenic’ designation, which unlocked thousands of federal dollars for conservation efforts, but there’s more we can do to protect and restore the watershed. I will continue to fight to keep our waters clean and healthy for generations to come,” said Senator Chris Murphy.
The dam creates conditions in the upstream reservoir that repeatedly cause toxic algae blooms that can be a health hazard to people, and lethal to pets and wildlife, and degrades the water quality. In addition, the lack of federal oversight and limited state jurisdiction has allowed this small and poorly maintained hydropower project, whose inadequate and outdated fishway often led to fish mortality before it was shut down in 2023, to effectively render more than 95% of the watershed’s habitat inaccessible to river herring, shad, eel, and sea lamprey.“The time is now to act for the Farmington River,” urged Aimee Petras, Executive Director of Farmington River Watershed Association who nominated the river for Most Endangered Rivers. “Stanley Black and Decker has ignored Connecticut’s environmental laws and held the Farmington River hostage. The company has had well over a century of largely unrestricted use of the Farmington River’s resources–it is time for them to demonstrate respect for the river they benefited from and ensure future generations can enjoy it too.”
American Rivers and partners called on the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) and Stanley Black & Decker, to fix these problems for the health of the river as well as public health and safety. The power company has an unprecedented opportunity to tap into federal infrastructure funding to fix Clean Water Act violations, eliminate toxic algae blooms, and allow migratory fish populations to flourish again.
"The Farmington River is vital to the environmental landscape of Connecticut and the 5th District in particular,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. “I recognize the need to protect it, which is why I helped to secure a Wild and Scenic designation along the Farmington River for the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook during my first term in Congress. Protecting and restoring this fishery and recreation destination is of the utmost importance. I remain committed to working to protect this vital part of the region's environmental ecosystem."
The Farmington River watershed covers over 600 square miles in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It holds two national Partnership Wild & Scenic River designations due to its remarkable values, and is a major tributary to the Connecticut River which spans across four states. The Farmington and its tributaries support cold-water resident fish species and habitat for various important migratory fish species. The watershed is a public drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of people in the Hartford region.
The West Branch of the Farmington is a highly regarded trout fishery. The river provides stretches of whitewater, used by individuals including world-class paddlers and outfitters,
further adding to its cultural value as a coveted recreation destination.
“Children and families rely on the Farmington River watershed for clean drinking water and a healthy, thriving regional ecosystem,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Dam operators — like the Farmington River Power Company — must do better to protect aquatic life, combat toxic algae outbreaks, and ensure clean water for communities across the Commonwealth.”
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. Over the years, the report has helped spur many successes including the removal of outdated dams, the protection of rivers with Wild and Scenic designations, and the prevention of harmful development and pollution. Other rivers in the region listed as Most Endangered in past years include the Ipswich River (2021), Hudson River (2019) and the Susquehanna River (2016). Within Connecticut, a river hasn’t made the list since 2004, when the Housatonic River was at risk with pollution.
American Rivers reviews nominations for America’s Most Endangered Rivers® from local groups and individuals across the country, and selects rivers based on three criteria:
1) The river’s significance to people and wildlife
2) The magnitude of the threat to the river and communities, especially in light of climate
change and environmental injustice
3) A decision in the next 12 months that the public can influence
Learn more about the Farmington River and why it's Endangered.
Take action here: Remove the Rainbow Dam | American Rivers.
Local press coverage here.
This article was adapted from a press release by American Rivers. American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain
streams to urban waterways.