We live, work and play in a watershed where vibrant and engaged communities, a healthy natural environment and an ecologically sustainable economy are valued.

The Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge was established in 1997 to conserve the abundance and diversity of native plants and animals and their habitats in the 7.2 million acre Connecticut River watershed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

In 2005, a small group of committed partners formed the Friends of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.  In the past 13 years, we have become a thriving network of more than 70 public and private organizations and individuals whose collective efforts forge mutually beneficial partnerships. The Friends organization is made up of dozens of groups, representing land trusts, environmental advocacy groups, watershed organizations, nature centers and outdoor recreation interests of the Connecticut River Watershed.