Editing Washington, Connecticut (section)

===20th century===
''Birth of Steep Rock''. In 1925, architect Ehrick Rossiter donated {{convert|100|acre|km2}} of land along the Shepaug River to a group of trustees for the purpose of preserving it as open space, marking the founding of the Steep Rock Association<ref>{{cite web |url=https://steeprockassoc.org/ |title=A Land Trust Supported by Your Donations |website=Steep Rock Association |access-date=August 13, 2019}}</ref> land trust, which today holds land and [[conservation easement]]s protecting more than {{convert|2700|acre|km2}} in Washington.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://steeprockassoc.org/history/ |title=Steep Rock Association, Inc. » History |access-date=June 20, 2010 |archive-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729052147/http://steeprockassoc.org/history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''Flood of 1955''. In August 1955, two large storms passed over Litchfield County in close succession, flooding many local river valleys. North of Washington Depot, twin culverts carrying the [[Shepaug River]] under [[U.S. Route 202]] were plugged with debris, causing floodwaters to accumulate upstream. The culverts and roadway succumbed to the resulting pressure, causing a wall of water to race down the river valley, washing away many of the homes and businesses in the Depot's village center, and killing a couple who ignored warnings to evacuate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Angry-waters-55585.php |title=Angry waters |website=newstimes |publisher=The News-Times |last1=Miller |first1=Robert |access-date=November 22, 2016 |date=August 14, 2005}}</ref> A reconstruction effort, led by Henry B. Van Sinderen, and modeled after a town on [[Long Island]], was quickly commenced.<ref name="auto1"/> Homes and businesses soon reemerged, but the village lost many historic structures, and it has never regained its pre-flood density or vitality. The layout and visual character of the Depot were also radically altered, and the village center assumed its contemporary appearance, which varies considerably from Washington's traditional architectural vernacular.

''Invasion of the Iroquois''. In 1986, Iroquois Gas Transmission System sought permission from the [[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]] to construct a {{convert|356|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[natural gas]] pipeline through New York and Connecticut. The proposed route ran through Lake Waramaug's eastern watershed, across the Shepaug River, and through the Steep Rock Reservation, with a secondary spur running through Washington Green and Nettleton Hollow. The Washington Environmental Council<ref name="auto4">{{cite web |url=https://www.wec-ct.org/ |title=Washington Environmental Council |website=Washington Environmental Council |access-date=August 13, 2019}}</ref> became an intervenor in the proceedings, retained a prominent Washington, D.C., law firm, and mounted a vigorous opposition campaign. In 1989, Iroquois decided to reroute the pipeline, shifting it south of Washington's borders.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/31/nyregion/pipeline-shift-logic-of-litchfield.html |title=Pipeline Shift: Logic of Litchfield? |first=Charlotte |last=Libov |date=May 31, 1987 |access-date=August 13, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.wec-ct.org/iroquois-pipeline?rq=Iroquois| title=Iroquois Pipeline| publisher=Washington Environmental Council| access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref>

''Shepaug River Lawsuit''. In 1997, Washington residents voted unanimously to join a lawsuit against the [[Waterbury, CT|City of Waterbury]], which operates a reservoir at the headwaters of the [[Shepaug River]] in the adjacent town of [[Warren, Connecticut|Warren]]. Waterbury, which had long relied on the reservoir to supply water to its citizens, had come to view the river as a revenue stream, and was removing extra water to sell to neighboring municipalities. The lawsuit, which the town of [[Roxbury, Connecticut|Roxbury]] also joined, sought to compel Waterbury to release more water into the river, which slowed to a trickle during summer months, impeding important ecological functions. After considerable legal maneuvering on both sides, river advocates prevailed in February 2000, when a Superior Court judge ordered Waterbury to release more water into the Shepaug.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

''Sempra Fight''. In 1998, [[Sempra Energy]] submitted a proposal to the [[Connecticut Siting Council]] to construct a power plant approximately {{convert|10|mi|0}} south of Washington in [[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]]. The plant was to emit 443 tons of pollutants per year, many of which would have projected toward Washington, owing to the region's prevailing wind patterns and complex terrain. The Washington Environmental Council<ref name="auto4"/> hired environmental consultants, who demonstrated that the plan would be particularly harmful to New Preston and Lake Waramaug. The council became an intervenor in the proceedings and generated scientific evidence that was cited by the Siting Council when it unanimously rejected the permit application in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/realestate/in-the-region-connecticut-a-flurry-of-proposals-for-gas-fired-power-plants.html |title=In the Region / Connecticut; A Flurry of Proposals for Gas-Fired Power Plants |first=Eleanor |last=Charles |date=October 25, 1998 |access-date=August 13, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/17/nyregion/metro-business-power-plant-is-rejected.html |title=Metro Business; Power Plant Is Rejected |agency=Associated Press |date=December 17, 1999 |access-date=August 13, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.wec-ct.org/sempra-power-plant?rq=Sempra| title=Sempra Power Plant| publisher=Washington Environmental Council| access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref>