CALAIS — Funding for the St. Croix Island International Historical Site was included in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s appropriation bill approved by the Senate and House of Representatives. The bill awaits President Clinton’s signature.

According to a press release issued last week by Sens. William Cohen and George Mitchell, the federal government has earmarked $250,000 “for management of the St. Croix Island International Historical Site.”

Settled by French explorers in 1604, St. Croix Island, at the mouth of the St. Croix River, was the first European settlement in North America north of Florida. In recognition of the national significance of the area, the island was named a National Monument in 1949.

For the past few years, Keith Guttormsen, executive director of the Greater Calais Area Chamber of Commerce, and others have waged a campaign to persuade the U.S. government to follow through on promises to develop historic St. Croix Island.

In 1982, the U.S. and Canadian governments entered into an understanding that formally recognized the island’s historic significance. The agreement called for the two governments to cooperate in development of facilities, interpretation, and visitor use of the facilities. In 1984, the island and about 15 acres on the mainland were designated the St. Croix Island International Historic Site.

In 1993, Guttormsen met with the former superintendent of Acadia National Park, Bob Reynolds, and Bruce Jacobsen, park planner for the National Park Service, to discuss the future of the island. Guttormsen earlier enlisted the help of area residents to swamp federal officials with letters urging that they prepare for the 400th anniversary of the settlement of the island.

Although a master plan for the area was completed in 1966, and an interpretive prospectus approved in 1970, little tangible work has been done to develop the historic site.

An assessment of development alternatives for the site, drafted in 1977 by the National Park Service, presented several options. Among them was the development of a visitor center on the mainland with parking areas and a floating dock from which tourists could take to the island a shuttle boat operated by a concessioner.

Suggested improvements on the island itself include a floating dock and a pedestrian trail loop that would guide visitors to the important historical and cultural features of the island.

Guttormsen said Tuesday he was pleased the project had attracted the attention of the federal government, and he said the funds would help advance “Project 2004.”

In the year 2004, St. Croix Island will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its settlement. Among the projects planned are a visitor center to show what life was like on the island in 1604; a display of the artifacts gathered on the island; construction of a model, within the visitor center, of the island and its buildings as they were in 1604-05.

“This money will at least get us started,” Guttormsen said. He said the park service plans to conduct a study, but he was uncertain what the study would entail. He said he hoped some of the money would be used to riprap a portion of the island that is eroding. Guttormsen plans to meet with park officials in the next few weeks.