Projects

To support the measurement of hexavalent chromium concentrations and chemical behavior in stormwater within the Quinnipiac River watershed and in the Quinnipiac River itself with the condition to obtain studies about the Quinnipiac River from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

To support monitoring of sediment accretion, elevation change, and sea level rise in the Quinnipiac marshes.

To support Surveying the Quinnipiac River, a study of bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and other plasticizers in an effort to characterize contamination from industrial sources.

To support the research of private property land titles and negotiating easements with property owners to allow sections of the trail to pass through their land.

To support environmental advocacy, particularly through raising awareness of new federal phosphorus requirements for the lower Quinnipiac River.

To provide general operating support for fostering awareness of environmental issues of the Quinnipiac River and promoting activities that safeguard the health of residents that use the Quinnipiac River.

To support the "A Fair Haven for Wildlife: Community-based land stewardship to benefit wildlife and waterways" project, in partnership with the Urban Resources Initiative.

To offer a 2-day short course in river processes to local environmental activists and municipal officials.  The course will cover the basic hydrologic, geomorphic, chemical, and biological processes that govern stream ecosystems, and how they are perturbed by human activity.  Participants will receive the scientific tools that they need in order to understand and critically evaluate environmental data on the Quinnpiac River.

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 work with selected leaders from Quinnipiac River Watershed communities to improve the land use decision-making process and control non-point source pollution.  The proposed program is for a 4-day workshop, emphasizing the regulatory power to make wise land use decisions, and presenting collaborative decision making techniques.