Conservation Success Stories
NAUGATUCK RIVER WATERSHED
The Naugatuck is famous nationwide for a dramatic recovery from past industrial pollution. NCD has been involved in many projects to improve the Naugatuck. We trained Streamwalk Volunteers for both the East and West Branches of the River in Torrington. Over the summers of 2002 and 2003, many volunteers walked the river and collected data on river and streambank conditions. This data has been compiled, trouble spots prioritized and mapped. In the Spring of 2004, we assisted the CT DEP in creating a vegetated buffer of native plants along the river at the Water Pollution Control Facility in Waterbury.
FARMINGTON RIVER WATERSHED
We sponsored another streamwalk training program for volunteers to survey a stretch of the Farmington Riverbank. The data collected became part of a multi-state study led by a Coalition of all the Conservation Districts up and down the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Two other programs focused on educating Homeowners and Business Owners along the Farmington in good river stewardship:
• New Hartford Business Partners. This program invited each business to become a River Friendly Business and to consider the connection between their parking lot and the health of the Farmington River. We visited each business, provided on site assistance and followed up with a series of mailings providing tips on maintenance and education on Stormwater Pollution: “When stormwater washes across paved surfaces, pollution like trash, sand, salt, oil is carried directly into the river. Maintaining your grounds and parking lot will keep trash and pollutants out of the river.”
• Farmington River Good Neighbor. Each abutting homeowner was encouraged to carry out a few simple tasks to protect the health of the river such as “Green Landscaping”, Regular Septic Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, and others.
POMPERAUG RIVER WATERSHED
We are in the midst of a project to repair a serious erosion site on the Pomperaug River near the Judson Avenue Bridge in Woodbury. This site was chosen as the most serious of several potential spots. When finished, this fix will protect private property and improve the river for all residents.
This project is being funded in part by the CT DEP under section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act.
HOLLENBECK RIVER WATERSHED
For years the Beebe Hill area in Falls Village has been dealing with incredible erosion problems which have threatened town roads and private property. District persistence to obtain Grant Funding for a permanent fix finally paid off. Fixing this erosion will benefit the local area and keep sediments from damaging nearby Robbins Swamp, a pristine wetland area.
This project is being funded in part by the CT DEP under section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act.
BLACKBERRY RIVER WATERSHED
The large numbers of livestock in this small watershed require creative answers to manure management.
Over the past several years, NCD has secured five grants for the Canaan Valley Agricultural COOP and its members. These grants have supported research, planning and design of machinery to separate, dry and compost manure. This new pathogen free material can then be used for consumer landscaping materials such as peat pots.
Another project in the Blackberry assisted the farmers by conducting soil testing to measure nutrients. NCD staff sampled all farm fields and tested for nutrient levels. The results saved dollars spent on excess fertilizer and protected water quality in the watershed.
LAKE WARAMAUG WATERSHED
Sucker Brook was identified as one source contributing excess nutrients that were causing damage to the lake. A local dairy operation needed assistance to solve this problem.
NCD secured Clean Water Act funding from the CT DEP under Section 319 and then was able to piece together a coalition of funding from federal (USDA NRCS), state (CT Dept of Agriculture) and local (Lake Waramaug Task Force) sources.
A system for storage and controlled usage of manure on farm fields was constructed resulting in a cleaner brook and lake.