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 continue monitoring vegetation change and mudflat development in the Quinnipiac River brackish marshes, and begin to test hypothesized causes for the observed wetland loss.  To complete a nitrogen and trace metal analyses and begin to assess how marsh loss has affected the load of pollutants to the river.

To offer a short course in river processes to local environmental activist 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 activities. Participants will receive the scientific tools that they need in order to understand and critically evaluate environmental data on the Quinnipiac River.

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.