onservation Times

Newsletter of the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Inc. January 2011

A Tale of Two Rain BarrelsPromoting Water & Watershed Conservation

Whenrainfallsinundevelopedareas,mostofthewatersoaksintothe ground.Naturalvegetationsuchastrees,shrubsandtallgrassesslowsthe flowofrainwaterandfilterspollutants.However,indevelopedareaswhere mostofthenaturalvegetationisgone,rainhitshardsurfaceslikeroofsand roads,andthenrunsoffquicklydownhill.Theexcesswaterpicksuppollut antsoil,sediment,bacteria,pesticidesandfertilizersfromparkinglots, streetsandlawns,andcarriesthemintorivers,lakesandoceans.Thisrunoff canalsocauseflooding. Sowhatdorainbarrelshavetodowithallofthis? Bycollectingandstoringrainwaterfromrooftops, guttersanddownspoutsforlateruse,theyreducethe amountofrunoff,helpingkeepourstreams,rivers, lakesandoceansclean;reduceerosionandflooding onyourproperty;andtheyalsohelppreventflooding indownstreamareas.Thisstoredwatercanbeused towatergardensandlawns,washcarsandwindows, andforotheroutdooruses,savingmoneyandenergy byreducingtapwateruse.Whileusedmostcommonlybyhomeowners, rainbarrelscanalsobeusedoncommercialproperties. Lastyear,ConnecticutRiverCoastalConservationDistrictcollaboratedwith theCityofMiddletownonademonstrationprojectwiththegoalofpromoting rainbarrelsasinexpensive,easytouseandmaintaingreenpracticesthat conservewaterandwatersheds.Twoverypubliclocations,RussellLibrary andKidcityChildrensMuseum,wereselectedtoinstallrainbarrelsand educationalsigns.Eachisaprominentdestinationdrawingadiverseclientele fromMiddletownandtheregion. Rainbarrelswerepurchased throughtheCitysspring2010 communitydistributionprogram. DistrictandCitystaffworked withRussellLibraryandKidcitytoplanforthelocationofrainbarrelsand developsignstofiteachvenue.Thefinalcomponentisaneducational brochure,tobegivenoutateachsite.Thisproject,fundedinpartwitha grantfromTheRockfallFoundation,isintendedtoserveasamodelthat wecanreplicateinothermunicipalitiesinourDistrict. YoucantmisstheKidcityrainbarrelandsign,locatedbythemainentrance atthebackparkinglot!!Thiswhimsical,colorful,eyecatchingsignwas createdbyKidcityArtisticDirectorScottKessel.TheRussellLibrarysign takesmoreofaninstructiveapproach,asisappropriateforthelocation. Duetodelaysinproduction,itwontbeinstalleduntilspring.Therainbarrel andsignwillbelocatedbythedownspouttotheleftofthemainentrance. FormoreinformationaboutrainbarrelscontacttheDistrictoffice,orvisitwww.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal.

From the Field...

District Convenes Local Committee to Guide Action on Coginchaug Plan
ActiononaplantoimproveCoginchaugRiverwater qualityisunderway,withtheDistrictatthehelm. InSeptember2010,acommitteerepresentinglocal,state andfederalinterestsmetforthefirsttimetolaunchthe effort.Thecommitteeschargeistoguideimplementation ofaplancompletedin2008bytheNaturalResourcesCon servationService,chockfullofrecommendedmanagement practicestobeimplementedthroughoutthewatershed (e.g.streetsweepingandcatchbasincleanout),aswellas sitespecificfixes(e.g.areasthatwouldbenefitfrom streambuffers,exclusionoffarmanimalsfromstreams, orpetwastedisposalfacilities). Withitsmanyrecommendations,implementationofthe Coginchaugplanisadauntingtask.Duetoourhistoryof workwiththewatershedcommunities,wewereaskedby theDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectiontocoordinate protectionandrestorationefforts,andawardedagrant. Thisprojectwillextendatleastonemoreyear. ConveningalocalImplementationCommitteeisthefirst ofseveralactivitiesontapforthisyear.Othersinclude producingamoreuserfriendlyguidedsummaryofthe fullwatershedplantopromoteimplementation;prioritiz ingrestoration/improvementprojects;andimplementing anonthegroundpollutionreductionmeasure. TheDistrictisexcitedtobeanintegralpartofthiseffort toimprovethehealthoftheCoginchaugRiver.Welook forwardtoworkingwiththededicatedmembersofthe ImplementationCommittee,andthankthemfortheir contributionstodate!
ThisprojectisfundedinpartbyaUSEPACleanWaterActSection319 GrantadministeredbytheCTDEP.

Open Space Management Strategy Developed for Great Cedars West

TheuniqueGreatCedarsConservation AreaWestinOldSaybrookwasthemost recentsubjectoftheDistrictsactiveopen spaceplanningandmanagementprogram. Inlate2010,wecompletedaninvasive speciesandhabitatmanagementplanfor this300acreproperty,characterizedby maturehardwoodforestsandpalustrine wetlandscommontothearea.Thesitealsohostsan Atlanticwhitecedarswamp,anuncommonresource.
Atlantic White Cedar USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Unfortunately,theintegrityandnaturalbeautyofGreat CedarsWestissomewhatmarredbyinvasiveplants.At therequestofthetownConservationCommission,District staff,withassistancefromwetlandsscientistPenelope Sharp,conductedfieldevaluationsandrecommended landmanagementandinvasiveplantcontrolstrategiesto improvethehealthofthepropertysnaturalcommunities, allsummarizedinawrittenreportforthetown. AccordingtoTownPlannerChristineNelson,nowthe townisontothemostimportantpart:implementation! Andinfact,theplanisalreadybeingusedbytheBoy ScoutstodevelopEagleScoutprojects. FundingforthisprojectwasprovidedbytheTownofOldSaybrook.

Efforts to Restore Salt Island Overlook Coastal Forest Progressing

Scoreoneforthegoodguys!Restoringthecoastalforestis closertoarealityattheSaltIslandOverlookPreservein Westbrook,whereinvasiveplantsoncehadastranglehold. This7acresite,purchasedbythetowntoprotectcoastal resourcesandforpubliceducation,isconsideredoneofthe fewremainingparcelsinWestbrookwiththepotentialfor publicviewing/accessofLongIslandSound.In2007,the Districtcompletedanaturalresourcesassessmentofthe propertywithmanagementrecommendations,including tacklingtheaggressiveexoticplantsthathadtakenover. Activitiestocontrolinvasiveplantswereinitiatedin2009, withtheDistrictcalledintomonitorplantdieoffand regrowth,andestablishmentofnativepopulations.The Districtcontinuedtomonitorthesuccessoftreatmentsin twiceyearlysurveysin2010.

A Coginchaug River cleanup held at Veterans Park in Middletown yielded an impressive dump truck full of trash. The winner for the most unusual item hauled out of the river? A steering wheel and column! Cosponsored with the Middletown Regional Vocational Agriculture Center, the cleanup was held in October as part of the CT River Watershed Councils Source to Sea Cleanup. Thanks to all who pitched in!

Wearepleasedtoreportthatresultsshowastrikingdecline ininvasivespecies,withanincreaseindiversityofnative plants.Treatmentsareslatedtocontinue,andplansarein theworkstoreplanttheareawithnativespecies,construct atrail,developeducationalsignage,andbuildaparkinglot. WithsuchgreatprogressandacommittedConservation Commission,wehavehighhopesthatthepropertywill soonbeawonderfulassetforthecommunity.

ThisongoingprojectisfundedbytheTownofWestbrook.

CRCCDs 63rd Annual Meeting Hosted by McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

DidyouknowConnecticuthasaNationalWildlifeRefuge?Itstrue!!TheDistricts 2010annualmeetingbroughtustoWestbrook,whereparticipantsenjoyedavisittothe StewartB.McKinneyNationalWildlifeRefugeSaltMeadowUnit,CTsfirst,andnow oneoftenseparateunitsalongthecoastthatmakeuptherefuge.With400acresofsalt marsh,forest,grassland,andshrubland,itwasestablishedtoprotectfeeding,nesting andrestinghabitatformigratorybirds;encouragenaturaldiversityoffishandwildlife; andprovideenvironmentaleducationforthepublic. Followingthebusinessmeetingstaffgaveaslideshowofconservationhighlightsfrom ourpastyear,andwepresentedConservationAwardstoourwinners(seelistbelow). Then,RefugeManagerRichardPotvinregaledthegroupwithstoriesaboutthehistory oftherefugeandongoingmanagementworkthere.Afterabriefrefreshmentbreak, featuringdelicioushandmadeCatoCornerFarmcheesedonatedgenerouslybyowners andmastercheesemakersElizabethMacAlisterandMarkGillman,weenjoyeda guidedwalkoftherefugesculturalandnaturalfeatures.
(TOP) View of the marsh from the overlook; (BOTTOM) Refuge Manager Richard Potvin (l) leads a walk on the trail.

Itwasapictureperfectwarmandsunnyfalldayabeautifuldayforahikethrough thewoodstoastunningmarshoverlook.OurthankstoRichardPotvinforhosting themeetingandintroducingustotherefuge,andforhisveryinformativeandenter tainingpresentation.

Keeping the Connecticut Clean

ThisabridgedversionofMichaelMcCunesMiddletownPatcharticle isreprintedherewithhispermission.Theoriginalcanbeviewedat http://middletownct.patch.com/articles/keepingtheconnecticutclean#c.

Congratulations 2010 Conservation Award Winners!

EnvironmentalProfessional KipenKolesinskas,StateSoil Scientist&FarmandRanch LandsProtectionProgram Manager,USDANatural ResourcesConservationService EnvironmentalOrganization TheRockfallFoundation Media/Communications CTEnvironmentalHeadlines,ChristopherZurcher Cooperator CatoCornerFarm,ElizabethMacAlister&MarkGillman Teacher KimAntol,RockyHillHighSchool SpecialMerit Mark&MindyYuknat,CTRiverExpeditions SuellenKozeyMcCuin,CTCouncilonSoil&Water Conservation CertificatesofAppreciation GaryCrump&GloriaPriam,PriamVineyards BridgetRiordan,ChamardVineyards DavidRichards,ClintonNurseries Mark&MindyYuknat,CTRiverExpeditions MatthewRubin,OldSaybrookShoppingCenter PierreBennerup,SunnyBorderNurseries RobMerritt,R2Graphics ThomasD.Comer,CPA,ComerandCompany,LLC

Ashomeworkassignmentsgo,thiswasonetallorder:Clean uptheConnecticutRiver.Still,theteensattendingthe DecemberRussellLibraryGreenChildrenprogrambentto thetask.TheylistenedasEricaLarner,theDistrictsNatural ResourceSpecialist,toldthemtheConnecticutisNewEng landslongestriver,meanderingthroughfourstatesduring a410milejourney,andhometoavastarrayofwildlife. BythetimeitemptiesintoLongIslandSound,Larnersaid, theriverhascollectedenoughwatertoprovide70percentof theestuarysfreshwater.Butexactlyhowfreshisit?Trash, sewageandrainwatercarryingatoxicmixofpollutants lawnchemicals,acidrain,petpoop,detergents,oil,gasoline, roadsaltandsandthreatentheriverswaterqualityand wildlife,Larnersaid.Andcleaningthatwaterisntsoeasy. Toproveherpoint,Larnerfilledthreejarsofwaterwithher own(sanitized)versionsofthose pollutantsandchallengedstudents toundothedamage.Theygot cleanjars,funnels,filters,sponges, sand,sievesand20minutes.After screening,filteringandrefiltering, thesampleswereclearofvisible chunksortrash,butstillalight shadeofgreen.Testsrevealedthe waterwastooacidictosupport mostplantsandotherlife. Thetakehomemessagewastwofold:Removingpollutants fromwaterisnearlyimpossible,andthebestwaytokeep theConnecticutcleanistoreducetheuseofpollutants. Whowantstoswiminthis?shesaid,holdingupajarof neongreenwater.

District News & Events

WELCOME ERICA LARNER!
EricaLarner,theDistrictsNaturalResource Specialist,beganworkingwithusalmostayear ago,inMarch2010.Shestartedhercareerasa RovingConservationCoordinatorforBarnstable, ProvincetownandBourne,MA,advisingtheir conservation/wetlandscommissions,applicants andothertowndepartments,andhasoverfive yearsofexperiencehelpingclientsobtainvarious Erica in the field, collecting wetlandsandendangeredspeciespermits,deline soil samples atinganddocumentingwetlands,managingopen space,evaluatingsiteplansandapplications,andconductingconstructionand mitigationoversightandmonitoring.EricahasaB.S.inBiologyfromUMass Amherst,withadditionaltraininginwetlands.ShemovedtoConnecticut fromCapeCodwithherfamily. WithherbackgroundEricawasabletojumprightin,andshehasbeenvery busywithafullplateofprojectsandrequestsfortechnicalassistancefrom municipalitiesandprivatelandowners.Ifyouhaventalreadycrossedpaths withErica,stopbytosayHinexttimeyoureinMiddletown. Andifyou needhelpwithanaturalresourceproblemonyourproperty,likeadrainage orerosionconcern,giveheracall!

January2011
TheConnecticutRiverCoastalConservation District,Inc.isanonprofitorganization whosemissionistopromotethesounduse andmanagementofournaturalresources throughtechnicalassistanceandeducation. BoardofDirectors ThomasM.ODell,Westbrook,Chair AlisonGuinness,EastHaddam,V.Chair ChristopherHolden,Middletown,Treasurer CindyGaudino,Middletown,Secretary JimCostello,EastHaddam GaryCrump,Colchester MichaelLutz,Higganum TimothyMyjak,EastHaddam BrianOConnor,Clinton MarkYuknat,Essex JenniferWeymouth,Middletown DistrictStaff JaneL.Brawerman
ExecutiveDirector

EricaN.Larner
NaturalResourceSpecialist

BarbaraA.Davis
OfficeAdministrator

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, TASTY FOOD & WINE, FUN PEOPLE, DAZZLING BIRDS6TH ANNUAL RIVER CRUISE FUNDRAISER ANOTHER BIG SUCCESS!!
ItshardtobelievewevebeenholdingourTree SwallowCruiseandWineTastingtobenefitthe ConnecticutRiverWatchProgramforsixyears now!Thisyearscruisewentoffwithoutahitch, withourbiggestgroupever.Specialthanksto oursponsorsfortheirgenerouscontributions: RiverQuestownersMarkandMindyYuknat; DavidRichardsofClintonNurseries;Priam VineyardsGaryCrumpandGloriaPriam;BridgetRiordanofChamard Vineyards;andnewthisyear,ChristianaandJamieJonesofJonesWinery. OurdeliciousrepastcamefromTheRiverhouseatGoodspeedLanding. Thanksalsotoourmanyrepeatandnewsupporterswhojoinedusonthe cruiseandcontributedtothefun!

TheDistrictservesthetownsofBerlin, Chester,Clinton,Colchester,Cromwell, DeepRiver,Durham,EastHaddam,East Hampton,Essex,Haddam,Hebron, Killingworth,Lyme,Madison,Marlborough, Middlefield,Middletown,NewBritain, Newington,OldLyme,OldSaybrook, Portland,RockyHill,SalemandWestbrook. TheBoardofDirectorsholdspublicmeetings everyfourthWednesday,7:00PM,atthe deKovenHouseCommunityCenterin Middletown.Allprogramsandservicesare offeredonanondiscriminatorybasiswithout regardtorace,color,nationalorigin,religion, sex,age,maritalstatusorhandicap.

Conservation Times ispublishedby:

ConnecticutRiverCoastal ConservationDistrict,Inc. deKovenHouseCommunityCenter 27WashingtonStreet Middletown,CT06457 Phone:(860)3463282 FAX:(860)3463284 www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal

20TH

ANNUAL SHRUB AND SEEDLING SALE: April 15, 16 & 17, 2011

OldSaybrookShoppingCenter,BostonPostRd.&ElmSt.,OldSaybrook Helpuscelebrateour20thyearBUYPLANTS!!!Thefirst200orderswe receivebyMarch4,2011willbeenteredinadrawingforoneofthreegreat prizes:aGreatAmericanRainBarrel,aCTRiverSunsetCruisefor2onthe RiverQuest,andacopyofTheOrganicLawnCareManualbyPaulTukey. CheckoutourgreatselectionofConnecticut nativeshrubs,treeseedlings,grasses,fernsand floweringperennials,includingmanyedibles suitableforlandscaping!!Forabrochureand orderformphoneusat(860)3463282,orgoto www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal. Quantitiesofsomeselectionsarelimited,so dontmissoutreserveyourplantsbysending inyourorderformonorbeforeMarch25,2011.Anddontforgetaboutour greatprizegiveaway!

Photos: Jim Costello