Projects

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.

For development of GIS data layers and analyses in support of conservation and sustainable development activities in the lower Quinnipiac River Watershed.

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

To continue efforts in support of the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail Project and the development of a greenway corridor along the Quinnpiac River Watershed.  Activities will include further land acquisition, trail development, public outreach and education with regard to environmental and recreational aspects of the river.

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

To support educational activities and access improvements at the Quinnipiac Meadows Preserve.

To help design and build a bicycle/hiking bridge over the Quinnipiac River.

To continue to work on scientifically validated Stream Team assessment program, to redesign the program to use a larger poll of personnel who will learn to perform rapid assessment  in the field to collect baseline and annual data, develop a bioassessment protocol for the salt marsh in the lower river that can be performed by teams, and enlarge citizen "eyes on the river," the Adopt-the-River program, but reorganizing adopters so that they are convened together at least once per year to learn skills of river protection and restoration and to report progress to officials.