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On Sunday, June 2, I led a Trails Day Paddle in collaboration with Great Meadows Conservation Trust and the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC). Assisting were CRC Executive Director, Rebecca Todd, and CRC CT River Steward, Rhea Drozdenko. We launched from the Wethersfield Cove with an excited group of 19 paddlers and headed out onto the CT River, turning upriver toward Hartford. Light winds were out of the south, with incoming tide, both in our favor, under partly sunny skies. As we passed Brainard Airport, we discussed the recent tree cutting by the CT Airport Authority to provide a safe approach for planes landing at Brainard. We also discussed waste management when we reached the MIRA trash plant. This trash-to-energy facility, which produced electricity by burning waste, was closed in 2022, forcing the state of Connecticut to rethink its solid waste management policy. Finally, after 3 miles of paddling, we reached the entrance to the Park River, the highlight of the trip. Most of the paddlers in the group had never entered this underground tunnel before, so they did not know what to expect. The tunnel was completed in the 1980’s for flood control for the city of Hartford. Entering from the CT River, we were paddling upstream into the Park River. We stopped at the entrance, and I instructed everyone to put on their headlamps before entering. I reminded everyone we were not going all the way through but were only going to paddle in for about a half mile. That may not seem like much, but in that distance, the tunnel makes two slight turns, one to the right, then to the left, enough to completely block out the light from the entrance. You are in total darkness! So much so, that even the brightest headlamp or flashlight seems to be swallowed up in the darkness. There was a lot of excitement as we entered the tunnel, and everyone immediately felt the difference in temperature, increased moisture in the air, and heard the echos of their voices. The water was dark, and you could not see the bottom, which is only about 8 feet deep at the entrance. But, as we proceeded into the tunnel, the water gradually became shallower, as the tunnel has a gradual, imperceptible incline. Finally, we reached the half-mile point, where the water becomes only a foot deep, and the outflowing current begins to increase. This was where we needed to turn around and head back out. It was also here where we could clearly see the fish swimming in an upstream direction below us in the shallow water. We identified some very large carp but could not tell what other kinds of fish there were. In the dark tunnel, with only the light of a headlamp, they looked like zombie fish, and there were many of them! We paddled back to the entrance and welcomed the light of day and warmth of the sunshine. After stopping for a break at Great River Park on the East Hartford side of the river, we paddled back to Wethersfield Cove. Everyone said they would gladly do it all again.

Community Challenge Race – Sunday, June 28 Rally your cheering squad and bring your competitive spirit to Norm’s Marina on July 28th for a day of fun and friendly competition! Event Details: Location: Norm’s Marina, 1347 Brattleboro Rd, Hinsdale, NH Registration begins at 10:00 AM // Races start at 10:30 AM Race Description: Two-person canoe teams in traditional canoes compete in a scenic 1-mile (0.9 km), single-lap race around Brattleboro-Hinsdale Island. Compete for local pride, cash prize, and enjoy the laughter-filled entertainment with friends and neighbors. Already Registered Teams: Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors, Brattleboro Food Co-op, Brattleboro Reformer, Connecticut River Conservancy, and Norm’s Marina. Whether you’re a family, group of friends, or a company, add your team to the list! Don’t have a canoe? No worries – we have boats available! Additional Opportunities: For serious paddlers, sign up for the New England Paddlesports Championship (NEPC): 12-mile marathon or 5-mile race options available. Registration fee: $20 per adult. How to Get Involved: Register for the Community Challenge race at $10 per boat. Registration is HERE . For more information or to join our race-day host team, contact Gabriél Chevalier ( gchevalier@ctriver.org ) or Stacey Lennard ( slennard@ctriver.org ). Volunteers are also welcome to help make this event a success!

The Water Way(s)   Project and Curriculum is a community arts engagement project connecting children with their local Rivers.  Erin Maile O’Keefe , educator and community activator, leads a collaborative team of teaching artists to bring the Water Way(s) curriculum to local schools. In June, fourth graders at Green Street School in Brattleboro, VT invited community members to attend an Expo showcasing what they learned during a multi-week Water Way(s) residency.  Students presented maps, movements, and poetic writing inspired and informed by the Whetstone Brook and restored floodplain   a short walk from their school. Erin Maile O’Keefe described the goal as, “understanding the impact of a floodplain on human settlements, animals, water quality, flooding events and the indigenous peoples who live here.” Dear River: Weathergrams “River…I can hear your voice but nobody believes me when I say ‘that river talks.’” On their walking field trip to the Whetstone Brook, students wrote notes to the River on biodegradable paper. They attached the “weathergrams'' to vines hanging from a lofty willow tree. The poems hang there for anyone to read and for students to revisit to discover how they weather over time.  Sharing Land Acknowledgements Students launched the Expo by reading aloud from land acknowledgements they composed after visiting the floodplain, learning about its history, and collecting sensory observations. “When I am near the river I feel safe… almost like the river is singing.” Their words resonate with gratitude: “I r espect the animals and moss. I honor our indigenous ancestors. I appreciate the life and fish the river brings to us.” How Rivers Move – Fluvial Geomorphology Choreography  In a choreographed performance, students moved their bodies and props to illustrate a floodplain in action. With synchronous fluctuations, pairs of students manipulated blue fabric for running water, push sticks for soil, and pull ropes for change. Initially calm, they made the River build in intensity to a flooding event, showing the impact on soil and sediment.  “It all ends up in the river!” Two students held the attention of the audience with an interactive Enviroscape demonstration, cheered along by Kathy Urffer, Connecticut River Conservancy’s Vermont River Steward. The students sprinkled point and nonpoint pollution on the model, then sprayed it with water so everyone could see how “it all ends up in the river!”  One of the fourth graders explained in her introduction, “this is a model of our actions and how it affects the river and really just… life.”  Map-Making Gallery Walk To conclude the Expo, students invited visitors to observe their colorful folded maps and ask questions about the mapmaking process. The maps, created with educator and legislator Mollie Burke, feature local waterways, streets, and buildings, decorated with artistic flourishes and poetic text. The mapmaking project, according to 4th grade teacher Kjersten Cantillo , “pulled together a lot of things they were learning.” She added, “I’m blown away by what they did!”   River Reflections  Flowing across the wall outside the 4th grade classrooms, a banner of “River Reflections” displays droplets of student writing capturing take-aways from each day of the arts residency. “How will you continue your relationship with Whetstone Brook?” prompts the final panel, anticipating and encouraging childrens’ enduring connections with the river. “I will try to visit the river more often and respect it.”  For more information: Water Way(s) — Human Connection Project Collaborations and Gratitude Collaborating educators: Erin Maile O’Keefe, Water Way(s) leader and educator Carol Berner, River of Words Regional Co-Coordinator Mollie Burke, state legislator and educator Kathy Urffer, Connecticut River Conservancy River Steward and educator Special Thanks to Vermont Humanities Connecticut River Conservancy Gedakina Vermont River Conservancy – Hayley Kolding Brattleboro Planning Department - Sue Fillion and Brian Bannon Kelly Shifflette & Kjersten Cantillo - 4th grade teachers All the 4th graders

Among the governance and programmatic updates, brunch and boat rides, and community mingling, Connecticut River Conservancy’s recent Annual Meeting & Riverside Celebration also honored the contributions of Dick Shriver with the Bud Foster award.   About the Bud Foster Award:    Every year, CRC has the distinct honor of recognizing individuals from our communities with the Bud Foster Award. This award is given to those showing outstanding devotion, service, and accomplishment in the Connecticut River watershed. Bud Foster was the first Executive Director of the Connecticut River Watershed Council, now the Connecticut River Conservancy. In those pre-Clean Water Act days when CRC was first established, the challenge facing our rivers was significant. That meant the dedication of those looking to make a difference was also extraordinary. This award shines a light on those who work hard for the benefit of our rivers.   About Dick Shriver:   Richard H. Shriver has an esteemed professional history that has taken him all around the world and led him to settle by the Connecticut River we all know and love.   He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. He has held executive positions in government and industry having been assistant secretary of the US Treasury Department and Senior Vice President of Chase Manhattan Bank. He has been professor of Business Finance & Marketing at the International Management Institute in Kiev, Ukraine and Executive-in-Residence at the US Coast Guard Academy. Dick has worked in an advisory role on behalf of Native American communities conducting research for the Department of the Interior, and served as a member of the board of the National Museum of the American Indian, participating in the transition of this museum to the Smithsonian Institute. He is also Provost Emeritus of the European College of Liberal Arts (now Bard College Berlin).   These years of experience have led to incredible contributions in international business and education, and national heritage, and ultimately led Dick to focus his attention closer to home. When he retired near the mouth of the Connecticut River in Old Lyme in 2007, Dick began to get friendly with his neighbors and form a deeper connection with the river through recreation, hiking, fishing, sailing, and photography. This resulted in the launch of Estuary Magazine  in 2019, an aspiring endeavor of traditional media which was quickly challenged by the economic impacts of the Covid-19 health crisis in 2020. But the magazine survived under Dick’s leadership as Publisher and Editor, highlighting unique bioregional perspectives, history, scientific insights, and storytelling from up and down the watershed.   Contributions to Connecticut River Conservancy:   Dick has been supportive of Connecticut River Conservancy at every turn since starting the magazine and developing a connection to our organization and many others. He has been an early morning boat captain for the Unified Water Study, has published articles about restoration stories (such as the Fenwick project ) with great depth and detail, has hosted murmuration bird paddles for local community members, and offered his home as a celebratory reception for CRC Board of Trustee Kari Kastango’s monumental Connecticut River swim . He has been a convener, connector, and friend who brings others together with open arms to unite our efforts for greater collective impact. Thanks to Dick’s leadership, 1 million dollars was recently granted by the Endeavor Foundation to support conservation priorities throughout the watershed. All this in a relatively short time after  a successful career.   Dick Shriver is an impressive example of how much one person can accomplish when inspired and committed. And now his efforts inspire more of us to appreciate and steward this amazing resource.

Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is happy to share the continuation of programs dedicated to collaborative community science for a healthier Connecticut River watershed , with a focus on the specific projects outlined in this announcement. Building upon previous progress and tangible outcomes in 2023, programming will expand in 2024 thanks to support from generous funding partners and volunteer engagement. Community Science Objectives: The primary objectives of this collaborative community science effort are to expand and strengthen established community science programs while fostering new collaborative partnerships to increase local participation. The CRC is dedicated to protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of the Connecticut River and its watershed. By engaging with local communities, organizations, and volunteers, we aim to address pressing issues, including invasive aquatic plants, river cleanliness, and the need for collaborative partnerships and local citizen action across the watershed. Funding Partners: Funding collaboration has proven essential to growing success, and we’d like to recognize the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving for their support of this work for a second year in a row. Additional funding partners include the Town of Glastonbury; Cities of East Hartford and Middletown; Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Sestero Fund; Community Foundation of Middlesex County’s Janvrin Fund; Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Aquatic Invasive Species Grant; Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Grant; Raymond and Pauline Larson Foundation, The Kitchings Family Foundation, and Connecticut River Conservancy’s member support. Program Focus Areas: These projects aim to increase efforts in aquatic invasive plant management, enhance water quality monitoring, and strengthen community engagement through educational and recreational events.   Removing and Preventing Aquatic Invasive Plants: Our focus remains on combating the spread of invasive species, particularly European water chestnut and hydrilla . This year we are expanding our Aquatic Invasive Species Field Crew from three to four seasonal staff members. These individuals will remove plant material from waterways, organize volunteer events, and educate community members about ways to prevent the spread.   2. Ensuring River Cleanliness: Through CRC's water quality monitoring  programs, we will continue to provide essential data to address public inquiries regarding river cleanliness. Continued funding will support hiring a new Water Quality Monitoring Assistant who will coordinate bacteria monitoring volunteers and our participation in Save the Sound’s Unified Water Study,  which looks at ecological health throughout the Long Island Sound watershed. We are also launching a new project funded by CT DEEP – in which we will support the creation of a Watershed Based Plan for the Scantic River. We are partnering with CT DEEP, the Scantic River Watershed Association and the University of Saint Joseph on this several-year long project. This project will help us become better connected with communities in the Scantic River Watershed and will help identify key areas to improve water quality.   3. Community Engagement and Partnerships: Our commitment to collaborative partnerships remains unwavering. By fostering alliances with environmental organizations, municipalities, educational institutions, businesses, and governmental agencies, we aim to broaden collective impact across the watershed. Friends of Whalebone Cove and the Jonah Center for Earth and Art two examples of such partnerships. We are piloting a new seasonal staff position: Environmental Education and Outreach Assistant. This individual will organize environmental education and youth engagement opportunities like the Compass Youth Paddles and school visits, as well as engage community members at farmers markets and environmental fairs. They will also support events and initiatives put on by our watershed partners.   Impact and Outcomes from 2023: Previous years efforts have yielded tangible benefits for the Connecticut River and its surrounding communities.  We aim to build upon these collaborative foundations in the year ahead: Removal of invasive aquatic plants, resulting in improved habitat quality and biodiversity Increased awareness of river cleanliness and public safety, leading to informed decision-making by recreational users Strengthened community engagement and partnerships, fostering a sense of ownership and stewardship among community members Exposure and enjoyment of the river by new communities   In 2023, CRC engaged 98 water chestnut volunteers, logging 419 hours of work. Despite a difficult season due to heavy rain and flooding, CRC staff and volunteers removed over 16,550 pounds of water chestnut, or 1,202 cubic feet. Vinton’s Mill Pond in South Windsor used to be a major infestation – yet last year we found less than one hundred plants. This shows the importance of consistency in our work. Thanks to the foldable kayaks provided by an anonymous donor through Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Express Grants, we were able to engage many new volunteers who do not own their own boats and would not have been able to participate otherwise. The boats also expanded community access to the river by creating on-water experiences that benefitted the volunteers and the river.   CRC's community science initiatives also have played a pivotal role in monitoring bacteria levels at eight locations along the Connecticut River in Connecticut. Through the "Is It Clean? / Está Limpio?" online network   , high-quality data on river cleanliness has been made accessible to the public, ensuring informed decision-making regarding recreational activities and public safety. With all the rain and flooding the Connecticut River watershed experienced last summer, we had many opportunities to educate communities about water quality issues like combined sewer overflows and dangers of contaminated floodwaters. CRC staff were featured in local news outlets    discussing the flooding and organized a CRC webinar on where our water comes from and where it goes . Collaborative partnerships and community engagement remain central to CRC's mission. This year we met regularly with our River Partners group, which brings together diverse stakeholders to work towards common goals. We engaged a diversity of communities and ages from UConn Adult Learner’s Program to the STEM GEMS Summer Camp to the Compass Youth Collaborative Paddles.   We look forward to continuing these collaborative community science programs. Future announcements will share similar initiatives in the upper watershed and celebrate how CRC's watershed-wide collaborations and programs are improving ecology and resiliency across the system.  Thanks as always to our incredible funders, dedicated volunteers, and watershed communities for continuing to engage in this important work for healthier rivers.

Our June Live Stream was part how-to and part storytelling, bringing you two seasoned Connecticut River paddlers who shared stories from the trail. Ahead of the summer recreation season, check out this recording to hear how these travelers made their journeys from source to sea. This episode featured Mary “Badass” Anderson, a Vermonter and seasoned hiker, paddler and adventure blogger, who through-paddled in 2022; and Tim Walsh, hailing from Georgia, who solo kayaked his journey down river in two seasons, getting invaluable car shuttle help and new friendships from a couple of River Angels! We also shared the rich resources of the Connecticut River Paddlers' Trail , including available maps, campsites, and safety information, and answer any questions you may have about getting out on the river this summer! For more information on Connecticut River recreation go here . _____________________ About Live Stream : CRC brings your rivers to you! Join CRC staff and partners for a series of live lunchtime presentations, on select Wednesdays from Noon-1pm. You get to learn more about the rivers you love, ask questions, and interact with a river-loving community all from the comfort and safety of your home (or wherever you may be). LiveStream will be hosted via Zoom. Please register for each presentation to receive meeting information.

Recorded on 5/22/2024 At Connecticut River Conservancy's Live Stream , we dove into the dynamic realm of river ecosystems at a virtual event that brought together migratory fish restoration experts and community scientists. We were joined by William McDavitt, fisheries expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Jill Devito, PhD, an enthusiastic community scientist, ecologist and teacher. They helped shed light on the vital role of migratory fish and inspire you to explore how community scientists can contribute to their restoration efforts. As part of this Live Stream , CRC's Ecology Planner, Aliki Fornier, shared a number of interactive opportunities happening in the spring and summer that will allow you to participate in this important work. For more information on how to get involved go here . About Live Stream : CRC brings your rivers to you! Join CRC staff and partners for a series of live lunchtime presentations, on select Wednesdays from Noon-1pm. You get to learn more about the rivers you love, ask questions, and interact with a river-loving community all from the comfort and safety of your home (or wherever you may be). LiveStream will be hosted via Zoom. Please register for each presentation to receive meeting information.

“What do you think watershed means?” Kathy Urffer, CRC River Steward, asked 5th graders in Bridget Cole’s class at Dover School in Vermont. On a cloudy Monday in late January, with snow piled high outside the school, Kathy and Alden Dumas, an ECO Americorps member serving with the CRC, facilitated a lively presentation about the Connecticut River watershed featuring the 3D EnviroScape model. Kathy broke the word down into “water + shed” and asked students what happens when dogs shed? “What if your dog was made of water and it shed?” Everyone laughed when Aleah responded, “It would disappear.” Students contributed ideas about water moving downhill and bringing stuff with it. Alden confirmed their concepts with a definition of watershed – “an area of land within which water flows into the same body of water” – and projected maps of the Deerfield and Connecticut River watersheds. Watershed neighbors and stories Colorful slides provided a vivid backdrop to the question and answer format of learning about the watershed. Students shared stories about storm drains ( Where do you think the water goes? ) and fish living in the Connecticut River watershed.  Miles observed that “two trout live under the rock” in the stream behind his house, and another student once saw a sea lamprey stuck onto a fish they caught in the river. They were spellbound by Kathy’s stories of American eels leaving their babies out in the ocean to find their way home: " Could you do that? No! We’re human!”  Working with the 3D Model Alden invited students over to the 3D watershed model and asked them what people put on the land and where will it end up when it rains? Students called out: Cow manure! Gasoline! Trash! Salt! Sewage! Pesticides! Fertilizers! With each suggestion, Alden and Kathy sprinkled substances. Everyone pointed to the basin of water at the bottom of the landscape as the place where it would all end up. One student exclaimed, “I would not drink anything from that town!”  Point Source Pollution Kathy and Alden used the “factory” building with sludge flowing out from a pipe to explain “point source pollution” (“ you can point to it!” ). Kathy explained how it is restricted by federal and state regulations. Students seemed surprised and indignant that factories are allowed to put any “sludge” into the water.  “When you get older, how can you help to solve this problem?” Kathy asked the 5th graders, who were examining the mess on the model watershed. “Pull the plug!” was the first suggestion – but Alden and Kathy said it would go straight to the ocean. Students chimed in with other possible solutions: “Use giant squeegees to remove the dirty water” “Make people who live in the town use the water for cooking, so they realize” “Maybe in the future, instead of gasoline we could use orange juice” “Make people use this water – we would give them clean drinking water – but if they want to fill their pool, they have to use it” Alden shared a solution from the Rich Earth Institute that ECO Americorps friends of his are developing- a project to pasteurize pee to reuse the nitrogen to fertilize crops. Kathy showed students on the model where and how planting trees could protect streams and filter run-off before it reached our rivers.  Takeaways and reflections The session closed with thank-yous from Alden and Kathy for students’ interest in learning about water problems and solutions. Students each shared one word that stuck with them from the presentation: “ dinosaur fish, sturgeon, cow manure, eels leave their babies in the ocean, sludge, sea lamprey, loon, pollution.” Their words capture the excitement of learning about the challenges, complexities and wonders of our watershed. Fifth grade teacher Bridget Cole reflected on the lesson, “What a great presentation! I think it’s so important for the youth to learn about what is going on in their environment. I want them to know as much as possible so they are better able to make changes for a better future.” CRC staff is glad to come present in your classroom.  Don’t hesitate to reach out to our river stewards in each state.   Teachers are also welcome to borrow CRC’s Enviroscape pollution model: Enviroscape Watershed Model Request.

Connecticut River Conservancy recently participated in a Middletown River Day at Macdonough Elementary School in Middletown, CT! We partnered with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  to bring activities to teach over 200 K-5 students about river health, pollution, and wildlife. CRC's River Steward for CT, Rhea Drozdenko used the Enviroscape to showcase different sources of pollution and how they end up in our waterways. Thanks to Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP)  for the Enviroscape borrow! Ava Gandhi and Gabby Gulino ran a game of "Runoff Tag," designed by a student from Wesleyan University. The kids learned about different types of wildlife found in the Connecticut River, and how trees protect our waterways from pollution and provide habitat for animals. USFWS staff organized several activities centered around fish - teaching kids how to fish, and how fish ladders work. Many Macdonough students have been learning about the Connecticut River and about pollution lately - so it was great to be able to connect these activities with the things they're learning in the classrooms, as well as teach them about some new things - like Dwarf Wedge Mussels. Our Education and Community Engagement work is supported by the Robert F. Schumann Foundation, the Community Foundation of Middlesex County , and the Raymond and Pauline Larson Foundation . Thank you!

On August 16th, 2023, a press conference was held by the Connecticut General Assembly at the Chester Boat Basin to update the public about the threat of Hydrilla in Connecticut and the Connecticut River. A full recording is available here . This press conference was intended to educate the public about testing and remediation of invasive aquatic species in the Connecticut River, focusing on hydrilla (hydrilla verticillata), a highly problematic invasive rapidly spreading throughout the lower River Valley. Experts addressed how these species cause ecological and economic harm, talked about the different research and removal projects being conducted in the Connecticut River, introduced the newly formed Office of Aquatic Invasive Species, and offered methods of prevention. To better understand the dynamics of water flow and exchange in the local waterways, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), will be applying Rhodamine WT (RWT), a red tracer dye to the Chester Boat Basin, along with three other sites. This dye release and study program is preparatory to the eventual release of herbicide treatment for the control of hydrilla at each site. According to the USACE, RWT dye is a fluorescent, xanthene dye that has been used for water tracing since at least the mid-20th century to quantify time of travel in dynamic (in this case, tidal) waters. This dye has no significant effects on aquatic organisms and has been proven to be safe to use for these studies. There will be impacts on the color of the water at the sites and surrounding areas as the dye is bright red in color, but these are expected to be minimal and short-term as the dye will dilute and dissipate with the flow and tides of the river. More information about hydrilla management plans are available from Connecticut River Conservancy here , and the U.S. Corps of Engineers, New England here . Speakers at the press conference: Greg Bugbee, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station/Office of Aquatic Invasive Species Margot Burns, Lower River Council of Governments Senator Richard Blumenthal State Representative Devin Carney Matt Goclowski, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wendy Flynn, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Bob Petzold, Petzold’s Marine/Chester Boat Basin Captain Mark Yuknat, Connecticut River Expeditions Rhea Drozdenko, Connecticut River Conservancy State Representative Christine Palm Thank you to all those who attended and are participating in work related to Aquatic Invasive Species, for any questions please feel free to contact Connecticut River Conservancy’s River Steward for Connecticut, Rhea Drozdenko at rdrozdenko@ctriver.org .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wilmington, VT [12/19/23]: The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC), in collaboration with a private dam owner, the Town of Wilmington, the State of Vermont, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), recently completed a dam removal project on Beaver Brook in Wilmington, VT. The project will improve water quality, restore native Brook trout habitat, and bolster flood resiliency in Beaver Brook, a vital tributary to the Deerfield River. CRC received funding for the dam removal from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation through the Dam Removal Design and Implementation Block Grant administered by Watersheds United Vermont. Additional funding was provided by Vermont’s Flood Resilient Communities Fund, the Vermont Watershed Grant Program, Deerfield River Enhancement Fund, VT Rural Fire Protection Dry Hydrant Grant Program, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Thanks to a truly collaborative effort, Beaver Brook is now a free-flowing river with updated infrastructure benefiting the ecosystem as well as the human community! Important funders, landowners, restoration experts, and fish biologists all came together to make this project happen.” – Rebecca Todd, Connecticut River Conservancy’s Executive Director. In addition to removing the old mill dam, CRC and project partners removed a town-owned culvert on Hall Rd. and installed a new bridge, and also upgraded the Town’s dry hydrant at the site. The US Fish and Wildlife Maintenance Action Team removed the undersized culvert and installed the new 40-foot bridge, which improves flood resiliency and emergency access to Hall Rd. CRC hired local contractor Joe Saladino to remove the privately owned dam – which resulted in lowering the flood elevation level by 7 feet – and to install the new dry hydrant. CRC and USFWS will be back on site next spring to finish the restoration of the site by planting more than 130 native trees and shrubs along the stream to restore the riparian area along Beaver Brook. Over time the trees will help keep the stream cooler, reduce erosion, and increase habitat. More information about the Beaver Brook Dam Removal can be found HERE. Several key members of U.S. Fish & Wildlife staff were recognized as Connecticut River Conservancy’s Restoration Partners of the Year for their incredible work on this project. Pictured in the center photo from left to right above are Ron Rhodes, CRC’s Director of Restoration; Dave Sagan from the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program at U.S. Fish & Wildlife; Phillip Herzig and Julie Butler from the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program at U.S. Fish & Wildlife; and Becky Budd, CRC’s Restoration Program Manager. This project wouldn’t have happened without USFWS funding and their staff expertise in implementing river restoration projects like this. Vermont’s Watershed Grant Fund mentioned above supported this project thanks to conservation plates like these! The Watershed Grant Fund assists local efforts related to stewardship and enjoyment of our water resources.

Connecticut River Conservancy is happy to announce the receipt of a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for water quality monitoring in the Connecticut River watershed. The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded more than $199,000 in grants to three coalitions of non-profit environmental organizations to support the testing of water quality in rivers, lakes and ponds, and coastal resources in eastern Massachusetts, the Connecticut River Watershed, and Cape Cod. The Water Quality Monitoring Grant is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and supports waterbody monitoring efforts across the Commonwealth. The original announcement can be found here. “We are excited that this support from DEP will allow us to expand our own data collection while supporting our partners,” said Ryan O’Donnell, Connecticut River Conservancy’s Monitoring Program Manager. “Together, we are all contributing to a better understanding of water quality in the Connecticut River watershed.” “Local watershed organizations are the eyes and ears of Massachusetts’ lakes and rivers,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple.“We rely on the water quality data collected by our local and regional partners to make important determinations about the condition of our waterbodies. I am pleased that we can support their tireless work.” The grant, which is managed by MassDEP’s Watershed Planning Program, facilitates recipients in their collection of data from a wide range of surface water quality projects and helps them achieve their water quality monitoring goals. The data from these state and local partners helps MassDEP maintain, improve, and protect water quality in accordance with requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. Non-profit organizations – including watershed groups and lake and pond associations, as well as federally recognized Tribal Nations – with expertise in water monitoring are encouraged to apply. The three grant awardees are: Connecticut River Conservancy – $75,000 The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is leading a coalition of four watershed organizations (including CRC, Fort River Watershed Association, Deerfield River Watershed Association, and Chicopee 4 Rivers Watershed Council) to conduct a regional monitoring program among coalition partners. The grant will fund staff salaries, laboratory supplies, and travel to monitor for E. coli , nitrogen, and cyanobacteria in the Connecticut River watershed. The goals are to coordinate a regional monitoring program among coalition partners and develop a new collaborative nitrogen monitoring initiative. Mystic River Watershed Association – $73,875 Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is leading the Eastern Massachusetts Water Quality Monitoring Coalition consisting of eight member organizations to perform routine water quality monitoring in support of a long-term monitoring collaboration. The funding will be used for water quality monitoring supplies and equipment, laboratory analyses, staff salaries, and to host a training meeting to synchronize sampling methods and explore regional trends in water quality data. The coalition will monitor for bacteria, cyanobacteria, chlorophyll-a, nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), and conductivity. The goals are to assist MassDEP with identifying impairments under criteria set forth in the Clean Water Act by leveraging the coalition’s collective expertise and synchronizing regional data collection and communication to the public. Center for Coastal Studies – $50,267 The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is partnering with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod and the Indian Ponds Association on a project designed to enhance targeted water quality monitoring of priority areas. The project leverages existing monitoring programs among the partner organizations actively involved in the monitoring, conservation, and restoration of freshwater pond water quality throughout Cape Cod. The grant will fund supplies and equipment, staff salary, and laboratory analyses to monitor for Secchi disk depth, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, nutrients, chlorophyll, alkalinity, and cyanobacteria. The goals of the project are to help Cape Cod communities protect and manage ponds, understand the effects of watershed development, and inform pond protection and management strategies. For more information about the Water Quality Monitoring Grant and the Watershed Planning Program, please visit the MassDEP  website . MassDEP’s  mission  is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities served by the agency. Thank you very much to the MassDEP for supporting Connecticut River Conservancy with the funds to continue improving our water quality monitoring capacity.