HARTFORD — Sens. Christopher S. Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, both D-Conn., and Reps. John B. Larson, D-1st District, and Elizabeth H. Esty, D-5th District, continued their fight to create a U.S. National Park Service protective designation for the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook.

The river runs through Avon, Bloomfield, Burlington, Canton, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, Hartland, Simsbury and Windsor. The upper portion of the river was given protected status in 1994.

In a letter addressed to leaders of the Energy Policy Modernization Act conference committee, the members urged the committee to include their Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Act — which the Senate passed by unanimous vote — in the final energy policy bill that Congress will vote on later this year.

With protective designation as a "Wild and Scenic river," the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook would be eligible for federal funding to support conservation efforts.