Farmington River News

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Brianna Fields
5 years ago
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That s non-profit jargon for: If a stranger sharing your elevator ride asks what FRWA does, how can you say it all before they get off?

1 Farmington River News Save paper, get FRWA newsletters online and see our photos in their full color glory! Go to to sign up. Issues and Activities in the Farmington River Watershed. Where Top-Down Meets Bottom-Up Thoughts from the Executive Director Someone asked me recently, What s your FRWA elevator speech? That s non-profit jargon for: If a stranger sharing your elevator ride asks what FRWA does, how can you say it all before they get off? It really means Is there an obvious reason why you are necessary? Hmm. If you look at this issue of the newsletter, you ll see students working on dam removal or stormwater runoff projects, professional scientific analysis of aquatic insect data, plus river recreation events - and the only reason we aren t covering legislative issues as well is that things are relatively quiet right now. My first thought about the elevator speech is that we d have to hope for a very tall building. My second thought is to focus instead on the bigger picture: Briefly, we work for clean, safe, and ample surface water in the Farmington Valley, plus sound land use practices that promote a healthy, living river, and seek a balance among multiple uses of the river. Well, sure, but doesn t practically everybody? There are plenty of government agencies or water utilities with that assignment. Okay, third thought: Government agencies and water utilities do top-down river management in the interest of overall public health, safety, and the well-being of our environment and economy. But like icing dribbled onto a cake, top-down stewardship doesn t cover everything - and if it did, we d probably rebel. Much essential river stewardship really has to be done from the bottom up - what we ourselves decide to do in our own yards, school grounds, and neighborhoods to protect our streams and their inhabitants (say, slimy sculpins). But where to find the information, the coordination, the access to resources, for local action that really makes a difference? Action that really accomplishes what the top-down measures can t do entirely? Aha. There s FRWA, a citizen s group with expertise in both watershed science and public outreach, that can help government agencies, businesses, AND private individuals do river stewardship in complementary and creative ways. With your help, we enable volunteers, even kids, to take action that helps implement the Clean Water Act in ways that governments alone can t get at. Oh, and we have fun on the river too! So there you have it. FRWA operates where top-down river stewardship mixes with bottom-up energy and concern, and combines them in ways that work well to protect our river for all. Maybe it s a bit cryptic. Maybe we could say it six other ways. But you have to admit that it would sound great in an elevator. One

The Farmington River Watershed Association Board & Staff Officers President - Matt Reichin Vice-President - Diana Goode Vice-President - Sia Bauer Treasurer - David Donaldson, Jr.

Robinson David Sinish Marlene Snecinski Staff Executive Director Eileen Fielding Education & Outreach Coordinator Aimee Petras Water Quality Coordinator Alisa Phillips-Griggs GIS Specialist Jeff

education and advocacy. Summer Brings New Faces to FRWA As we plunge into summer projects, we welcome the seasonal help of two highly qualified colleagues.

She will work part-time on our second season of stream crossing surveys, and do public outreach programs in Otis, Becket, and Sandisfield.

2 The Farmington River Watershed Association Board & Staff Officers President - Matt Reichin Vice-President - Diana Goode Vice-President - Sia Bauer Treasurer - David Donaldson, Jr. Secretary - Michael Gagne Directors Susan Barney Michael Feldman Cherie Griffith-Dunn Sarah Hincks Ann Jurkiewicz John Laudati Debbie Leonard John E. Robinson David Sinish Marlene Snecinski Staff Executive Director Eileen Fielding Education & Outreach Coordinator Aimee Petras Water Quality Coordinator Alisa Phillips-Griggs GIS Specialist Jeff Bolton The Farmington River Watershed Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Farmington River and its Watershed through research, education and advocacy. Summer Brings New Faces to FRWA As we plunge into summer projects, we welcome the seasonal help of two highly qualified colleagues. Alison Dixon is the Outreach Program Manager at the MA office of the Housatonic Valley Association, but this summer she is leaping over into the Farmington Valley to help with FRWA projects as well. She will work part-time on our second season of stream crossing surveys, and do public outreach programs in Otis, Becket, and Sandisfield. If you would like to help Alison in the field, she is looking for volunteers who like to get their feet wet, crawl into culverts, or help kids explore streams! Robert Roehm will be assisting the FRWA as a full-time intern this summer. He will be help out the watershed by assisting with projects such as grant writing, dam removal permitting, stream sampling, and educational outreach. I m excited to be on board for the summer Robert says, and I appreciate the amount I ll be able to learn while helping at an organization that is involved in so many aspects of the watershed and its communities. Robert is pursuing a master s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of Connecticut, and does research on factors affecting biodiversity in vernal pools. What s SUP With That? Stand Up Paddle Festival Collinsville Canoe & Kayak is hosting the Annual Collinsville SUP Cup on August 20, Join them, starting at 9 am, for the most exciting event of the summer celebrating all things Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP). At the festival you can try out Paddle boards from Hobie, Surftech, Imagine Eco and Liquid Logic. There will be a morning warm up SUP Yoga class. If yoga isn't your style, you can learn how to use SUP in your fitness routine and/or learn how to fly cast from a SUP. There will be music, races and prizes too! More info at Robert discovers a bit of biodiversity in a vernal pool: one enormous snapping turtle! Two

Students Plant Ahead for a Rainy Day FRWA has successfully completed another buffer planting, however this project was like no other buffer planting we have done.

REI employees at the West Hartford store invited us to apply to their small grants program with a project that includes volunteers, stewardship, and conservation.

As you may know from our Water Quality Reports, the Still River (which runs through Winsted) is one of the more impaired tributaries of the Farmington Watershed.

We thought it would be neat to have a project that improves water quality along the Still. We were thrilled when REI approved our grant.

3 Students Plant Ahead for a Rainy Day FRWA has successfully completed another buffer planting, however this project was like no other buffer planting we have done. From the beginning, we knew that this project was going to be a little bit different. REI employees at the West Hartford store invited us to apply to their small grants program with a project that includes volunteers, stewardship, and conservation. In response, we chose to design and plant a beautiful demonstration rain garden in the Still River Watershed, Winsted. As you may know from our Water Quality Reports, the Still River (which runs through Winsted) is one of the more impaired tributaries of the Farmington Watershed. FRWA was at that time studying outfalls leading into the Still River and trying to discover pollution sources. We thought it would be neat to have a project that improves water quality along the Still. We were thrilled when REI approved our grant. We found our volunteers from a likely source, the local community college: Northwest Connecticut Community College (NCCC). But even better than that, we got to work with the Spring 2011 Botany class. In collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), North Central Conservation District (NCCD), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), we taught the students about FRWA s mission and water quality monitoring, the importance of streamside vegetation, native plants, invasive plants, and soil and site characteristics. Following our lectures, the students conducted independent research on native plants, suggested plants to include in the project, contributed to the rain garden and buffer design, and worked with us to install the rain garden. The students loved the real-world approach to their botany course and FRWA enjoyed the educational and community building opportunity, in addition to improving the habitat of the Still River. We thank our project partners for their help and cooperation: Tara Jo Holmberg and her 2011 Botany Students (NCCC), Ruth Klue (NCCD), Vivian Felton (USDA/NRCS), Lisa Krall (USDA/NRCS), and Charlotte Pyle (USDA/NRCS). And most of all, FRWA thanks REI for the project funding! Photos: NCCC Botany Students in their outdoor classroom (aka our rain garden and buffer) And You Can Do This, Too! Download the "Rain Gardens in Connecticut: A Design Guide for Homeowners", created by Mike Dietz and Karen Filchak of UConn - NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials). The guide provides simple yet detailed information on how to construct a rain garden at your own home from design to maintenance, including a native plant list. documents/rain_garden_design_guide.pdf Three

4 River Health in Massachusetts -These two pages show FRWA s 2010 assessment of aquatic insects at 7 sites, done by Watershed Assessment Associates. On this report card, non-impacted is a good grade! Four

5 Farmington River Watershed Association Summer 2011 Funded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, from purchases of MA environmental license plates Five

Farmington River Watershed Association Summer 2011 Canoe Trips Canoe Trips: Canoe trips take from 2-4 hours and paddlers must be able to handle a canoe in flat water.

Cost per person: Members: Need a boat: $15; Have own boat $10; Non-members: Need a boat: $20; Have own boat: $15 Saturday, July 16, 5:45 PM - Twilight on the River : Paddle the River in the cool of

Jay Kaplan, Naturalist and Director of Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton will share his vast knowledge of local plants and animals visible and/or audible along the River at sunset.

) Saturday, July 23, 8:30 AM - Morning Paddle with Naturalist Diane Tucker: Join the Hill-Stead Museum s naturalist to paddle through a section of river that is rich Coming Soon: in both wildlife and

We will learn about the changes in the landscape over the past few centuries and Take a Tour Inside the Saville Dam We are planning a late summer/fall tour into the what it has meant for the wild and

6 Farmington River Watershed Association Summer 2011 Canoe Trips Canoe Trips: Canoe trips take from 2-4 hours and paddlers must be able to handle a canoe in flat water. Canoes courtesy of Huck Finn Adventures, Collinsville, CT. Cost per person: Members: Need a boat: $15; Have own boat $10; Non-members: Need a boat: $20; Have own boat: $15 Saturday, July 16, 5:45 PM - Twilight on the River : Paddle the River in the cool of evening in the company of great blue herons, muskrats, beavers, and other crepuscular wildlife. Enjoy a little night music orchestrated by native songbirds and singing insects. Jay Kaplan, Naturalist and Director of Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton will share his vast knowledge of local plants and animals visible and/or audible along the River at sunset. (Trip lands after nightfall.) Saturday, July 23, 8:30 AM - Morning Paddle with Naturalist Diane Tucker: Join the Hill-Stead Museum s naturalist to paddle through a section of river that is rich Coming Soon: in both wildlife and local history. We will learn about the changes in the landscape over the past few centuries and Take a Tour Inside the Saville Dam We are planning a late summer/fall tour into the what it has meant for the wild and human residents in MDC Saville Dam followed by a walk to some of the the valley. old Barkhamsted foundations. The history and Saturday, July 30, 11 AM - Farmington River preservation of our watershed is intertwined with the Archeology : Paddle along our own ancient Native story of the Metropolitan District and the pursuit of American canoe trail as we explore the fascinating culture clean drinking water for Greater Hartford. of the people who inhabited the Farmington River Valley thousands of years ago. Learn about the latest archeological discoveries from Ken Feder, Professor of Anthropology, Central Connecticut State University, and founder of the Farmington River Archeology Project. To participate in any of these events preregistration is required. Space is limited and trips sell out quickly so please contact FRWA at (860) , or river@frwa.org to register. Where in the River is This? Do you recognize this dam? If you think you know what and where it is, you can add a comment to our Facebook page. Or if you just want to find out for sure, visit the FRWA website! Six

Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Phone Number: Email: Check one: I want to renew my membership now: $40 (Individual) $60 (Family) $120 $250 $500 $ other New Member $10 $25 $40 $60 $120 $150 $250

7 Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Phone Number: Check one: I want to renew my membership now: $40 (Individual) $60 (Family) $120 $250 $500 $ other New Member $10 $25 $40 $60 $120 $150 $250 Gift Membership to In Memory donation to Other Donation Amount, please specify: $ Please send acknowledgment to (if different from above): Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: I have enclosed my check payable to FRWA, or please charge my MasterCard or Visa. Card #: Expiration Date: Amount $ Name on Card: Signature Please send to: Farmington River Watershed Association, 749 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT Credit card donations may be phoned in to Aimee Petras at (860) x. 201 or submitted online at via our secure online contributions server. Seven

The Farmington River Watershed Association 749 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Simsbury, CT Permit No.

8 The Farmington River Watershed Association 749 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Simsbury, CT Permit No. 26 Protecting The Farmington River, For You, For All, Forever. FRWA Summer 2011 Calendar of Events Date Event Location July 16 Twilight Paddle, Wildlife Viewing with Jay Kaplan Paddle through Simsbury July 23 Morning Paddle with Naturalist Diane Tucker Paddle Farmington to Avon July 30 Farmington River Archeology Canoe Trip Paddle through Simsbury August 20 SUP CUP Festival at Collinsville Canoe & Kayak Collinsville, CT October 1 Annual Farmington River Clean Up! All over the Watershed Please RSVP to (860) ext. 0 to ensure we have adequate food and supplies for all events. Check the Events page at for more information on our events. Printed on 100% recycled paper, always.

Farmington River News

Farmington River News Save paper, get FRWA newsletters online and see our photos in their full color glory! Go to www.frwa.org to sign up. Issues and Activities in the Farmington River Watershed. True