Projects

To support the Safe Grounds Campaign to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of toxic lawn pesticides in the Quinnipiac River watershed and throughout Connecticut.

To support the review of Cytec's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) water permit for discharges into the Quinnipiac River and see if there have been any violations of their permit during this year or during the past 5 years.

To support the education of fishers on safe consumption of fish from the Quinnipiac River and work with the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to ensure fish signage is posted in the area in appropriate languages as well as support an exchange program where Quinnipiac River fishers can trade their lead weights for non-lead weights.

To raise awareness among legislators, homeowners, and the general public about ways to reduce both non-point and point sources of pollution and to improve habitat for birds and other wildlife within the Quinnipiac River Watershed.

To support consultant/professional work required to support the definition and granting of land easements from private property owners along the river where the intended route of the trail is located.

To support the Biodiversity and Impacts of Drift Algae in the New Haven Harbor study, which will continue to assess habitat structure and species diversity in New Haven Harbor, and to investigate the dynamics and potential impacts of extensive drift algal mats that have been found in portions of the harbor.

To continue to educate fishers on safe consumption of fish by volunteers, bilingual safe fishing signage posted at river locales and by building grassroots support for a new state ban on lead fishing weights in the interest of fishers' and wildlife well-being.

To support the continuation of homeowner workshops which will initiate educational outreach on organic land care to inland/wetland and conservation commissions, including installation and assisting in the development and related outreach of an online turf forum geared towards Connecticut school groundskeepers.

To support a two-day training program for local land use leaders to educate them on the scope of their jurisdiction, the flexibility they have under the law, tools for natural resource and watershed protection and collaborative techniques including consensus building, facilitated decision-making, community participation and effective meetings management.

To educate fishers on the safe consumption of fish from the Quinnipiac River and to work with the State Department of Environmental Protection to ensure fish signage is posted in fishing areas in common languages such as English, Spanish, Chinese, Kmer, Lao and Vietnamese.