ENVIRONMENT
CT RC&D seeks to promote sustainable growth toward a resilient Connecticut landscape and lifestyle, through support of and collaboration with nonprofit and government organizations who work toward natural resource conservation, open space and farmland acquisition, and land use-economic planning. CT RC&D’s Environmental Programs are focused on supporting the following activities.
CT Environmental Review Team (ERT)
From April 2019 – December 2020, CT RC&D conducted an Environmental Review Team process at the request of twelve towns of the lower Connecticut River to examine the spread and impact of aquatic invasive species, both ecological and economic.
Through this process, CT RC&D assisted with a request for funding from the Connecticut River Gateway Commission to hire the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station (CAES) to survey, inventory and map the extent of the presence of invasive aquatic plants in the lower Connecticut River. As anticipated, during that process, it was found that a new more aggressive species of hydrilla was prevalent in 189 acres of the lower CT River.
Visit the ERT Website to learn more.
CT River Invasive Aquatic Plant Collaborative
Hydrilla is a disruptive and serious invasive aquatic plant, which crowds out native vegetation, harms fisheries, limits recreation, impedes navigation and reduces property values. Further efforts supported the survey on the full length of the CT River and found that from the Connecticut border south, hydrilla became common. Portions of the river and its coves downstream from Hartford were alarmingly choked with the weed.
Visit the CT River Hydrilla Collaborative page for more detailed information, the webinar series and the CT RC&D- ERT public education film. Please contact Jocelyn at jlahey@ctrcd.org for more information.
Salmon River Watershed Partnership
CT RC&D is proud to partner with the Salmon River Watershed Partnership as its fiduciary agent. In 2007, the Watershed Towns, assisted by The Nature Conservancy, launched the Salmon River Watershed Partnership (SRWP). The Partnership consists of representatives from the Watershed Towns, The Nature Conservancy, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Trout Unlimited, Colchester Land Trust and Friends of Silvio O. Conti Refuge in Haddam. As a non-profit currently without 501 (C) status, the Salmon River Watershed Partnership partners with CT RC&D. CT RC&D provides bookkeeping and financial administrative support. Also the two organizations have worked on collaborative grant applications, fundraising, and projects.
Visit the Salmon River Watershed Partnership to learn more.
Juno SB GPS Units with ArcPad 10
These units are available for use from CT Resource Conservation and Development Area. The GPS Units are available for use, free of charge, by the municipal, regional, and non-profit community of Connecticut. The 3 Trimble Juno SB GPS units are equipped with ESRI ArcPad 10 software. The units were purchased to support trail documentation and data contribution to the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) CT State Trail Geodatabase.
Conservation–Agriculture Partner Support Program
A program to foster growth and support of our partner non-profits and education institutions, providing assistance and fiduciary management. The goal of the program includes collaboration to improve cost efficiency, fundraising, program management, cooperative grant applications, and financial administration. Recent Collaborations included working with UConn Extension toward a USDA grant application to promote access to agriculture and a Connecticut Farmer Market Association.
CT RC&D also works with the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association CCAPA to promote programs to educate municipal land use staff, non-profit planners, and elected officials.
Connecticut’s Conservation Districts
CT RC&D and the Connecticut Conservation Districts have had a 50-year history of partnership and collaboration. The Connecticut Conservation Districts (CACD) Connecticut's Conservation Districts serve municipalities and residents by providing technical services and education. They work to promote conservation and environmental stewardship through a wide variety of educational programs and provide technical services to municipalities and citizens to achieve sound land use planning so as to preserve Connecticut’s fragile soil and water, forest and wildlife. A very popular CACD program, "Envirothon," promotes environmental awareness, knowledge, and active personal stewardship among Connecticut high school students through education and team competition.
Visit the CACD website to learn more.