MAINE PUBLIC • June 2, 2023
The York River has been designated "Wild & Scenic," ensuring that more than 30 miles of the river and frontage are federally protected and funded. Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine's 1st District first introduced legislation for the designation in 2019. Four years later, President Joe Biden's government funding bill includes federal money to protect the York River and surrounding acreage. The designation makes the York River part of the National Park Service’s Wild and Scenic River System and recognizes the region as a national destination. It also allows the four watershed communities of York, Kittery, South Berwick and Eliot to address the river's long-term stewardship needs.