THE TRAPROCK RIDGELANDS OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY: GEOMORPHOLOGY, HISTORY, AND LAND USE PLANNING FOR A PROPOSED NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

Displaying some of the most magnificent scenery in New England, and the locus of many important early American scientific, cultural, and historic developments, the Traprock Ridgelands of the Connecticut Valley are "landscapes of national significance." The purpose of this study is to document the essential role that these traprock (basalt lava) landscapes played in shaping American land use practices in the 19th century, and to demonstrate their importance as critical natural, cultural, economic, ecological, and recreational resources.

Extending from New Haven, Connecticut to Northampton, Massachusetts, the Traprock Ridgelands are tilted cuestas that rise more than 1,000 feet above sea level, with sheer cliffs hundreds of feet high, and deep, rugged notches. Because of their spectacular scenery, the Connecticut Valley cuestas were featured in a number of the most important 19th century American landscape paintings, including views by Thomas Cole, Frederic E. Church, and George H. Durrie. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the traprock cuestas became iconic American landforms, on a par with Niagara Falls and Virginia's Natural Bridge.

Important scientists, writers, and artists of the early- to mid-19th century studied, described, and illustrated the traprock landscapes of the Connecticut Valley. Their works led to broader understanding of geology and geomorphology, inspired new philosophies of land-use planning and environmental management, and promoted landscape tourism. The wide dissemination of images and descriptions of the traprock hills generated a greater appreciation of New England landscapes.

Nearly all of the surface water reservoirs in the Connecticut Valley are located within traprock watersheds. Comprising the only significant open space and unbroken interior forest in the Connecticut Valley, the Traprock Ridgelands are important ecological corridors that are under continued assault from development, mining, utilities, and infrastructure projects. We are advancing a proposal to establish the Connecticut Valley Traprock Ridgelands as a National Heritage Corridor under the auspices of the National Park Service.