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 the grassroots organization identified in the Quinnipac Watershed Action Plan and continue to organize volunteers toward implementaing the plan's actions.  To harness the combined efforts of a large pool of citizen volunteers, clubs, civic roups, shcools and businesses, which hav eparticipated at least one year in a QRWA river activity.  To use our conservation, recreation and education events and programs to increase our volunteer ranks.  To continue to train and guide these volunteers toward reducing the point source and nonpoint source pollution that enters our waterways.  These volunteers will educate landowners and builders whose activities have a direct impact on water quality and habitat health in tributaries and main rivers.

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 measure contamination along the Quinnipiac River and in oysters of the New Haven Harbor and evaluate the extent of mercury pollution and  identify sources and hotspots.

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 annual monitoring, education, advocacy, public access and restoration activities as well as expanding grassroots organizing to continue with clean up activities in the Quinnipiac Rive Watershed Action Plan.

To support an education and awareness program for youth and the broader community.

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 work directly with municipalities in the Quinnipiac river watershed not only to educate municipal officials, but also to follow up and help them improve municipal regulations that affect water quality in the Quinnipiac and watershed.  Primary target for this project are municipal CEO's, Planning and Zoning Commissions, Inland Wetland Commissions, and Town Councils.

To reach out to businesses close to the Quinnipiac River to educate those who have not registered or are not in compliance with the commercial stormwater general permit.  This outreach will also engage businesses close to the river in voluntary programs of good stormwater management practices.