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Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Inc.
Middletown office:
deKoven House Community Center
27 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 06457
Phone: 860-346-3282
Fax: 860-346-3284
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Welcome to Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District
soil and water conservation since 1946
The Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is
to promote the sound use and management of natural resources in our 26-town area.
The District provides technical assistance and education in:
- soil and water conservation
- erosion and sedimentation control
- stormwater management
- watershed protection
Our programs and services are provided to:
- municipal staff and land use commissioners
- private residents
- agricultural producers
- the public
- the development community
The Connecticut River Watch Program, a citizen monitoring program for the Connecticut River
and tributaries, is one of the District's flagship programs.
The District receives financial support from municipal contributions, the Connecticut Fee Bill (Public Act 92-235),
an annual native plant sale, state, federal and private grants, and private contributions.
| Reading the Land: A Practical Workshop for Real Estate Professionals April 29, 2010, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT
Real Estate Professionals—Earn 3 CEUs at this workshop about natural resources topics of importance to your work! Learn how to use web-based soil maps, the ins and outs of septic systems, how wetlands are regulated in Connecticut, and about Low Impact Development practices. A brochure and registration form are available here (link to PDF brochure), or phone our office at (860) 346-3282 for a copy. |
| 2010 Plant Sale!! Time to start planning for spring—the District's annual plant sale information is now available! Check out our great selection of native shrubs, grasses, ferns, flowering perennials, and tree seedlings, along with a variety of notable local edibles (link to PDF brochure). For more information, go to the main "Plant Sale" tab on the left. |
| 2009 Annual Report Published We are pleased to present our 2009 annual report, this year featuring a beautiful "poster" of the Old Lyme Watch Rock Preserve, with a haiku written by local CT poet Donna Fleischer. Enjoy! (link to PDF report). |
| Invasive Plants In Your Backyard: A Guide to Their Identification and Control. New! September 2009. This guide was developed to help landowners identify
and control non-native invasive plants in their yards. Invasive plants
thrive outside their natural range, threatening the health of our native plant and animal communities. Controlling invasives is a challenge, but the benefits are great! Download a PDF of the guide (5.6 MB), or contact us for hard copies. (link to PDF guide) |
| Pet Waste, Water Quality & Your Health Pet waste is the source of two types of pollutants: pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms), which can make people or pets sick, and nutrients, which can degrade water quality. Read more in this brochure produced by the District (link to PDF brochure) |
| How to Create a Streamside Buffer Garden April 2008. Vegetated streamside buffers provide shade, stabilize stream banks, slow runoff, help to avoid flooding, filter pollutants, and provide food and shelter for wildlife. Buffers can also be inviting places to stroll while enjoying views of the stream they protect. Learn from this practical guide how to size, design, and plant your own streamside buffer garden. Hard copies are available. (link to PDF guide) |
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62nd Annual Meeting Held at Connecticut River Museum
Community members joined District board and staff for our 62nd annual meeting, on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex. The meeting included a slide show highlighting last year's conservation successes (link to PDF show), presentation of conservation awards, and a special guided tour of the museum...along with plenty of good conversation and refreshments! Congratulations to our 2009 award recipients (link to PDF award list).
 
Workshop Participants Learn About Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitat
On Sunday, October 4, 2009, 20 people gathered to learn from Eleanore Milardo's yard, transformed from a lawn dominated 3/4 acre suburban lot into a diverse array of plants and habitats, now featuring 120 native species planted to enhance wildlife value. DEP Wildlife Biologist Peter Picone gave an information-packed onsite presentation and walking tour, highlighting the relationship between the native plants and abundant insects, birds, and mammals that now share the garden. This event was sponsored by Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Project Green Lawn, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
At the workshop, we were pleased to present Eleanore an award from the District in recognition of her ongoing efforts to transform her suburban lot into a haven for wildlife using native plants, and to teach and inspire others with her yard.
Cruise and Wine Tasting a Dazzling Success!
On October 1, 2009 the District held our fifth annual Tree Swallow Cruise and Wine Tasting on the Connecticut River to benefit the Connecticut River Watch Program. Everyone on board enjoyed a beautiful, if chilly, early fall evening on the lower river--a feast for all the senses! Fine local wines, delicious seasonal fare, and gorgeous scenery, including multiple eagle sightings, and an amazing show by the tree swallows as they gathered and spiraled into the marsh for the night. New this year was musical entertainment on our return trip featuring a sing-along.
The cruise was a great success! Many thanks to those who joined us or made a donation to support the River Watch program, and to our generous sponsors who made the trip possible: CT River Expeditions; Priam Vineyards; Chamard Vineyards; Clinton Nurseries; R2 Graphics; Saybrook Point Inn and Spa; Jim Sipperly; and musician Darrell Gagnon.
 
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