Projects

to support outreach, education and advocacy of the current school lawn pesticide ban and activities associated with the expansion of the ban to include all Connecticut parks, playgrounds, municipal playing fields and town greens, as well as the enhancement of the organization's website.

to support increasing capacity of the organization, sponsoring public events to focus attention on the lower Quinnipiac and urban rivers of Greater New Haven, and implementing certain recommendations from the Urban River Permits Project to reduce polluted runoff.

to support the costs of an informational kiosk for Fireworks Island which is included in Phase III of the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail in Wallingford.

to support a series of educational programs related to the Quinnipiac Meadows/Eugene B. Fargeorge Nature Preserve, which is a significant means of public access to the river in New Haven as well as an example of riparian habitats such as tidal wetlands, coastal forest and coastal grasslands.

to support a community education course to train 20 New Haven residents about ways to reduce water pollution in the Quinnipiac River and its human health impacts, who will in turn educate 1000 additional residents in the community.

Funds are requested to support the offering of a short course in river processes to local members of conservation/inland wetland commissions and environmental activists. The course will cover the basic hydrologic, geomorphic, chemical, and biological processes that govern stream ecosystems, and how they are perturbed by human activities. Participants will recieve the scientific tools that they need in order to understand and critically evaluate environmental data on the Quinnipiac River.

Funds are requested to support the continuation and extension of the successful Safe Grounds Campaign in efforts to reduce non-point source pollution from lawn pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

Funds are requested to support organization and implementation of outreach and advocacy for the Quinnipiac Watershed Stream Buffer Initiative (Phase II) and regular grassroots events.

Funds are requested to support implementation of informational and educational efforts and activities advocating for pesticide use reduction. These efforts will focus on the 80 property owners whose properties abut the Quinnipiac River in Plainville, CT. The activities will include 2 river clean-ups, coordination of a fishing derby, Earth Day Extravaganza, promotion and advocacy of Freedom Lawn Initiative, and a Tomasso Nature Park clean-up. (see grant notes)

Funds are requested to support the organization and implementation of "Consider the Qunnipiac" photo-based awareness campaign" motivationg people to consider the consequences of poor stewardship. The campaign will include photo exhibits, and web-based gallery including information about the specific threats, pollutants, and damages to the river.