Projects

To offer a short course in river processes to local members of conservation/inland wetland commissions and environmrntal activists.  The course will cover the basic hydrologic, geomorphic, chemical and biological processes that govern stream exosystems, and how they are perturbed by human activities.  Participants will receive the scientific tools that they need in order to understand and critically evaluate environemntal data on the Q River.

To support funding for two aspects of the Quinnipiac River Conservation and Development corridor Project. RPG will develop an inter-municipal agreement between the three lower river communities that will include land-use guidelines and a tax sharing agreement.

To support a before and after pilot study of a residential neighborhood within the Quinnipiac River Watershed after it has participated in an education program that encourages the use of organic lawn care agents versus chemical lawn care agents.

To support the production of a student lead project of internet based-handheld computer field guides resources for the Quinnipiac River that calculates water quality data, geology, oysters, plants, macro-invertabrates, birds and oystering history.

To continue monitoring vegetation change and mudflat development in the Quinnipiac River brackish marshes, and begin to test hypothesized causes for the observed wetland loss.  To complete a nitrogen and trace metal analyses and begin to assess how marsh loss has affected the load of pollutants to the river.

To educate New Haven's youth about the natural and social systems that affect the Quinnipiac River.  To design and execute a community service action project that addresses an issue for youth to identify and teach what they have learned and accomplished to others; thereby building a constituency of urban advocates for the Quinnipiac River.  This project is called Kids Explore!, Kids Do!, Kids Teach!

To continue monitoring vegetation change and mudflat development in the Quinnipiac River tidal marshes.  In addition, to conduct field and lab work to begin to test hypothesized causes for the observed wetland loss and to assess how marsh loss has affected the load of pollutants (N,trace metals) to the river.

To support volunteer monitoring, Stream Walk problem assessment, regulatory research, grassroots advocacy, education - upper and lower river, and general public education.

To continue the work the Fair Haven community has done towards cleaning, maintaining and planning for an eco-sensitive Quinnipiac River Park.

To retain services to photograph the Quinnipiac River from New Haven to Wallingford.  The photos will be used by RGP, Yale University Coastal and Watershed Study Center, and the University of New Haven for academic, economic development and planning purposes.  The parties will be using the information for public education about the marshes and the interrelationships with the marsh.  RGP will be utilizing the photos to assist in the implementation of the Quinnipiac River Conservation and Development Corridor project (QRCDC).