onservation Times

Newsletter of the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Inc. January 2012

Build a Rain Garden, Reduce Your Environmental Footprint!

Thispastfall,theConnecticutRiverCoastalConservationDistrictcollaboratedwiththeCTNEMO(NonpointEducation forMunicipalOfficials)ProgramandTownofOldSaybrookonaprojecttobuildawarenessaboutthegreenbenefits ofraingardensandpromotetheirusetoprotectwaterresources.Theprojectconsistedofahandsoncourseforland careprofessionals,municipalstaffandhomeowners,whohelpedconstructademonstrationraingardenatActonPublic Libraryaspartofthetraining. Whatisaraingarden?Raingardenslookliketraditionalgardenbeds,butaredesignedtoreducestormwaterrunoff, improvewaterqualityandrechargegroundwater.Builtindepressionsinthelandscape,raingardenscollectand infiltratestormwaterrunofffromimpervioussurfaces.Theyareplantedwithwetlovingperennialsandwoody shrubsnativetothearea,whichhelpabsorbexcessmoisture.Pollutantsareheldorbrokendownbytheplantsand soilsintheraingardenbeforetheyenterourwaterways,protectingwaterquality. CTNEMOprogramstaffsizedanddesignedthelibraryraingarden, providedinstruction,andledvolunteersfromthecommunityinbuilding theraingarden.WaterfromtheActonPublicLibraryroofwasdirectedto thegardenthroughapipe.Thegardenholdsthewater,wheremostofit soaksintotheground. Anassortmentofnativeshrubsandperennialswereplantedinthegarden, includingSummersweet,RedChokeberry,Buttonbush,MaidenhairFern, ToothedWoodFern,MorningStarSedgeGrass,Beebalm,ButterflyWeed, GoldenGroundsel,NewYorkAster,SneezeweedandTurtlehead.These plantsservemultiplepurposes.Notonlywilltheyhelpbyabsorbingwater andpollutants,butsomeoftheplantswillalsoprovideseedsorberriesfor birdsandotherwildlife,andnectarforbutterfliesandbees.Anoutdoor educationalsignfortheraingardenisbeingdevelopedandwillbeinstalled inthespring. Thisprojectisintendedtoserveasamodelandinspireotherswishingto improvedrainage,managestormwaterrunoff,andbeautifytheirhomeand commerciallandscapes.Itisourhopethatothertownswillfollowsuitand buildademonstrationraingardenatapublicfacilityintheircommunities. AnddontforgettheDistrictsannualplantsaleiscomingupsoon(see page4).Ourofferingsincludemanyplantswell suitedforraingardens. ManythankstoTheRockfallFoundationfor providingagrant;thecommunityvolunteerswho helpedconstructtheraingardentoinspireand educateothers;ScottsFarmStoreinOldSaybrook fordonatingmulch;OldSaybrookEnvironmental PlannerSandyPrisloeforlocatingagoodrain gardensiteandcoordinatingtownassistance;and CTNEMOProgramDirectorMichaelDietz,who designedtheraingarden,instructedvolunteers andsupervisedtheinstallation.
Photos courtesy of Sandy Prisloe, Town of Old Saybrook

In and Around the Coginchaug

CommitteeAdvancesCoginchaugPlanImplementation UnderthedirectionofDistrictstaff,adedicatedgroupof watershedstakeholderscontinuestomeetmonthlyto guiderestorationeffortsintheCoginchaugRiverwater shed.Accomplishmentsincludecompletingasummary ofthewatershedplantopromoteitsuse,prioritizingthe manyrecommendedpracticesandprojectsintheplan,and identifyingpotentialsitesforonthegroundmanagement improvements.
ThisprojectisfundedinpartbyaUSEPACleanWaterActSection319 GrantadministeredbyCTDEEP.

Equine Nutrient Management Project Funded by LIS Futures Fund Grant

TheDistrictisembarkingonanewprojecttoimprove manuremanagementathorseoperations,primarilyin coastalareas.Thisprojectismadepossiblebyagrant fromtheLongIslandSound(LIS)FuturesFund,funded inpartthroughaUSDANaturalResourcesConservation Service(NRCS)ConservationInnovationGrant,andwill becarriedoutinpartnershipwiththeSouthwestand EasternConservationDistrictsandNRCS. Throughamixofeducational,technicalandfinancial assistance,Districtswillpromotevoluntaryadoptionof bestmanagementpracticesathorseoperationswiththe greatestriskofpollutingLIS,someofwhichmaybeused asdemonstrationprojectstoeducateandinspireothers. Anticipatedoutcomesincludeincreasedawarenessofthe potentialenvironmentalimpactsofhorsefacilitiesand waystopreventthem,andultimately,reductionsin nitrogen,sedimentandpathogenpollution. Districtstaffwillbegintheprojectthiswinterbyreaching outtohorseowners/operators.Participatingoperations willbenefitfromresourcematerials,onfarmassessments, technicalassistanceandcostsharefundingtoimplement practices.Byworkingtomanagetheirfacilitiesinan environmentallysoundmanner,operatorswillprotect thehealthoflocalrivers,streamsandLongIslandSound, andcontributetothevitalityoftheircommunities.

WaterQualityProtectionProjectUnderway Aprojecttoreducepollutantsfrom StoneridgeFarm,acattleoperation intheheadwatersoftheCoginchaug Riverisinprogress.TheDistrictis workingwithDinoEsposito,the farmer/owner,andUSDANatural ResourcesConservationService(NRCS)onthiseffortto implementpracticesthataddressstreambankerosion, accesstothestreambycattle,andrunofffromthefarmtrail. Thispastsummer,atthelowerstreamcrossingofthecattle trail,atimberbridgewasconstructed,thestreambankwas stabilized,andthetrailwasreinforcedwithageocellmat andgeotextilefabric.Stillontaparestabilizationofthe upperstreamcrossing,installationofexclusionaryfencing, andbufferplantings.WeareverygratefultoMr.Esposito forhiscommitmenttomakingmanagementimprovements andhismanyhoursofonthegroundworkcompletedso far,andtoNRCSstafffortheirdesign,engineeringand constructionoversightassistance.
ThisprojectisfundedinpartbyaUSEPACleanWaterActSection319 GrantadministeredbyCTDEEP.

AnnualRiverCleanupandDuckRaceFundraiserHeld Whatdorubberduckshavetodowithrivercleanups?Well, thetraditionbeganin2010whentheMiddletownRegional AgriculturalScience&TechnologyCenterneededtoraise fundstobringitsownCTwinningEnvironmentalScience teamtotheNationalFFAConvention.Deemedagreat successthefirstyear,itwasdecidedthatthecombined cleanup/duckracefundraiserwouldberepeatedin2011.

The2ndannualeventwasheldOctober1inconjunction withConnecticutRiverWatershedCouncilsSourcetoSea Cleanup.Students,familiesandfriendsassembledat WadsworthFallsStateParktocheerontheirducksasthey raceddownLaurelBrook,thenfolksheadeddownstreamto VeteransParktopickuptrashalongtheCoginchaugRiver. Thankstotheschoolforhelpingpublicizethecleanupand recruitvolunteers,totheCityofMiddletownforproviding adumptruck andsupplies, andtoall whopitched intocleanup theriver.

Promoting Vegetated Buffers is Goal of Buffer in a Bag Program

ArecentconversationwithPatYoung,EightmileRiver WatershedWild&ScenicPartnershipProgramDirector, ledtoaplantoworktogetherwithJulianaBarrettofCT SeaGranttopromotevegetatedbuffersatLakeHayward inEastHaddam.Thisareawasidentifiedasinneedof enhancedbufferstodetergeeseandprotectandimprove waterquality.WhilethefocuswillbeonLakeHayward, outreachandeducationeffortswilltargetamuchwider audience.WehaveappliedforagrantfromTheRockfall Foundationfortheproject. AcenterpieceoftheprojectisaBufferinaBag,offeredas partofourplantsalethisyear.ThisbundleofCTnative barerootshrubs/treesandpottedperennialsisgoodfor areasalongtheshorelineofalake,pondorstreamthat mightgetfloodedperiodically.Factsheetsonplant arrangement,plantingtechniques,plantmaintenance, andotherresourceswillbeincluded.Contactouroffice orgotoourwebsiteformoreinformation!

On Location at Priam Vineyards: CRCCDs 64th Annual Meeting

ConservationDistrictfriends,boardmembersandstaffenjoyedalovely,ifchilly afternoonatPriamVineyardsinColchesterfortheDistricts64thannualmeeting, hostedbyGaryCrumpandhiswifeGloriaPriam,coownersofthefarmwinery. Priam,locatedinthescenicSalmonRiverWatershed,isthefirstcompletelysolar poweredwineryinNewEngland,andthewineryand40acrefarmprovidemany notableexamplesofpracticesdesignedtoreduceitsimpactontheenvironment. ParticipantsweretreatedtoaninformativepresentationandtourledbyGary, VineyardManagerandWinemaker.GaryandGloriaspassionfortheirlandand keepingitsustainablewerewellevidentonthetourhighlightingthevineyards environmentalfeatures,includingtheimpressivesolararrayinstalledin2010,the sustainableagriculturalpractices,andthewildlifehabitatenhancements.After thetour,abriefbusinessmeeting,presentationofourannualconservationawards (seebelow),andrefreshments,manyofusretiredtothebusyandbuzzingtasting roomtowarmup,andofcourse,sampleaselectionoftheawardwinninghand craftedwhiteandredwinesmadeatthewinery.ManythankstoGaryandGloria (picturedontheleft)forgraciouslytakingtimeoutoftheirbusyweekendtohost ourannualmeeting,andfortheircommitmenttomanagingtheirfarmwineryin anenvironmentallysustainableway.

CT Envirothon Celebrates 20 Years

Hundredsofstudentsfrom29schoolsacrossthestate participatedinthe2011CTEnvirothonastheprogram celebratedamajormilestoneits20thbirthday!CT Envirothonisanaturalresourceeducationprogramfor highschoolagestudents.StartedbyCTsConservation Districtsin1992,theprogramhasbecomeasuccessful collaborationinvolvingadiversegroupofenvironmental professionalsfromthepublicandprivatesector. Duringtheschoolyearstudentslearnfromcurriculum materialsandhandsonworkwithlocalenvironmental professionalsataseriesoffieldbasedworkshops.Topics coveredincludesoils,forestry,wildlife,aquaticsanda changingspecialissue(freshandsaltwaterestuariesin 2011).Theprogramculminateswithteamscompetingat afieldeventinMay,thispastyearheldatRockyNeck StatePark,thesiteofthefirstannualcompetition. CTEnvirothonchallengesstudentstodevelopcritical thinking,cooperativeproblemsolvinganddecision makingskillstobalancequalityoflifeandenvironmental sustainability;promotesenvironmentalawarenessand individualstewardship;andintroducesstudentstoa broadrangeofnaturalresourcebasedfields.Theprogram alsoprovidesnetworkingandprofessionaldevelopment opportunitiesforscienceteachers. TeamsfromfiveDistrictschoolsparticipatedin2011: BaconAcademy(Colchester),CoginchaugRegionalH.S. (DurhamMiddlefield),Haddam KillingworthH.S.,Middletown RegionalAgriculturalScience& TechnologyCenter,andXavier H.S.(Middletown).Thewinning Connecticutteam,Housatonic ValleyAgriscience,placed5that theNationalEnvirothoninNew Brunswick,Canada.

Congratulations 2011 Conservation Award Winners!

MortGelstonLongTermService StanZaremba,319Program Coordinator,CTDepartment ofEnergy&Environmental Protection(retired) EnvironmentalProfessional MichaelBeauchene,Volunteer MonitoringCoordinator,CT DepartmentofEnergy&EnvironmentalProtection (photoabove) EnvironmentalOrganization EasternCTResourceConservationDevelopmentArea Cooperator WellstoneFarm,HigganumCT,Melissa&IanGibson SpecialMerit ChrisSullivan,CTEnvirothonSteeringCommittee CertificatesofAppreciation GaryCrump&GloriaPriam,PriamVineyards BridgetRiordan,ChamardVineyards DavidRichards,ClintonNurseries Mark&MindyYuknat,CTRiverExpeditions MatthewRubin,OldSaybrookShoppingCenter PierreBennerup,SunnyBorderNurseries RobMerritt,R2Graphics ThomasD.Comer,CPA,ComerandCompany,LLC

District News & Events

WELCOME KELLY STARR!
WearepleasedtowelcomeKellyStarr,theDistricts newNaturalResourceSpecialist.Kellywashiredin thefalltoreplaceEricaLarner,ourformerNatural ResourceSpecialistwholeftConnecticuttoreturnto CapeCod.Kellyspastexperienceincludessevenyears ofdiverseenvironmentalconsultingwork,ranging fromsiteassessmentsandsubsurfaceinvestigationsto constructionoversight,andcoastalpermitting.She hasalsoworkedasaseasonalemployeewiththeCT DepartmentofEnergy&EnvironmentalProtection FisheriesDivisionmonitoringfishpopulationsand restorationefforts.KellyhasanM.S.andB.A.inBiologyfromSCSUand UConn,respectively.Kellyisveryexcitedaboutapplyinghertechnicalskills fromtheconsultingworldtoournaturalresourceprotection,conservationand environmentaleducationprojects.Sheislookingforwardtohearingfromour municipalitiesandresidentsaliketoassistwithnaturalresourcemanagement andprotectionconcerns.

January2012
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 TimothyMyjak,EastHaddam BrianOConnor,Clinton MarkYuknat,Essex JenniferWeymouth,Middletown DistrictStaff JaneL.Brawerman
ExecutiveDirector

KellyL.Starr
NaturalResourceSpecialist

7TH ANNUAL CRWP RIVER CRUISE FUNDRAISER OUR BIGGEST EVER!!

Thethreateningbadweatherpostponedthecruise, butdidntspoilthefun!Ourintrepidandbyfar largestgroupeversetoffontheOctobercruise withoutasnag.Despitetheprecipitationsaidtobe headedourway,notadropofrainfellonusforthe entiretrip(althoughthedockwasquitewetwhen wereturned!).Weareverygratefulforoursponsorsgenerouscontributions, withoutwhichthecruisewouldnotbepossible:RiverQuestownersMarkand MindyYuknat;DavidRichardsofClintonNurseries;andPriamVineyards GaryCrumpandGloriaPriam.Ourdeliciousandplentifulfarewascatered byTheCookingCompanyinHaddam.Andtoourenthusiastic,funloving ConnecticutRiverWatchProgramsupporters,newandold,whohelpedmake theeveningsoenjoyable...abigThankYouforjoiningusonboard!!!

BarbaraA.Davis
OfficeAdministrator

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.

21ST ANNUAL SHRUB & SEEDLING SALE TO BE HELD April 20-22, 2012
OldSaybrookShoppingCenter,BostonPostRd.&ElmSt.,OldSaybrook Itmaybecoldoutside,butitstimetostart thinkingaboutspringandplants!!!Thisyears diverseConnecticutnativeplantofferings includeshrubs,groundcovers,evergreentree seedlings,floweringperennials,grasses,ferns, andmanyediblessuitableforlandscaping. Alsofeaturedthisyearareavarietyofplants thatareexcellentchoicesforraingardens,and aBufferinaBagpackettoenhancehabitatand protectwaterqualityalongstreamsandlakesor ponds.Greenupyouryardwithnatives,grow freshfoodforyourfamily,provideforageand coverforwildlife,supportourpollinators,and attractbutterfliesandbirds! Forabrochureandorderformgotowww.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal,or phoneusat(860)3463282.Quantitiesofyourselectionsmaybelimited,so dontmissoutreserveyourplantsbysendinginyourorderformonorbefore April2,2012.

Conservation Times ispublishedby:

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