The Friends of the York River received some excellent news last week: The Wild and Scenic Study Bill written and sponsored by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree was unanimously passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 5.

The bill calls for a multi-year study of the York River, done in conjunction with community input, that would determine if the river is eligible for designation as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River by the National Park Service. The bill still needs to pass in the Senate before it can become law.

In her press release announcing the bill's passage, Pingree said: "The York River is an economic and ecological asset to the area and this legislation could help protect and preserve it."

Since the spring of 2009, the Wells Reserve has been part of the Friends of the York River, a group that has been exploring whether the "Wild and Scenic" program is an appropriate fit for the river and the communities — York, Eliot, and Kittery — through which it flows.