About the Willimantic River Alliance

The Willimantic River Alliance was formed in 1996 to celebrate the river and all it has to offer.

The Alliance's Mission

The mission of the Alliance is:

to protect and preserve the Willimantic River through cooperative and educational activities that promote regional awareness, stewardship, and enjoyment of the river and its watershed.

The Alliance's Role

The Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, which sponsors:

• regional forums to encourage cooperation among towns and local planning and conservation organizations,
• outings to promote discovery of the river's recreational and natural features,
• publications and a web site to promote awareness of the river and its watershed. Publications include Spring and Fall newsletters, Recreation Guide and brochures.

Alliance Projects & Events

Alliance volunteers have coordinated with officials and local organizations to sponsor projects and events, including:

• 2007 Submitted comments to state concerning potential impacts of Route 74 bridge replacement.
• 2007 Submitted comments to University of Connecticut concerning its proposed Water Supply Plan.
• 2007 Requested modifications to Town of Stafford's wastewater treatment permit.
• 2006 Requested modifications to University of Connecticut's wastewater treatment permit.
• 2006 Submitted comments to town and state officials concerning potential impact on the river by University of Connecticut's riverside wells.
• 2006 Sponsored Willimantic River Greenway Day.
• 2006 Celebrated our Tenth Anniversary!
• 2005 Received Conservation Award from Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust.
• 2005 Received Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor's Partnership grant to create an online canoe/kayak guide.
• 2005 Sponsored Connections Forum for upper watershed towns to explore regional links between towns.
• 2005 Became a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
• 2005 Launched Willimantic River Alliance web site
• 2004 Cosponsored walks along the Greenway in Mansfield and Coventry for Connecticut Trails Day and Walking WeekendS.
• 2003 Created a Willimantic River GIS Map with assistance of students from four local high schools, the Green Valley Institute and EastConn.
• 2003 Sponsored Greenway Forum for towns and conservation organizations to share ideas for cooperative projects.
• 2003 Nominated the Willimantic River Greemway to be an official state greenway. The nine towns along the river agreed to plan and develop a cooperative greenway along the river with support from the Alliance.
• 2002 Cosponsored Connecticut Trails Day walk in Stafford.
• 2002 Published "Land Preservation Resources in the Willimantic River Watershed" brochure
• 2002 Sponsored Midwaters Forum for Ellington, Tolland and Willington to share ideas for conservation.
• 2001 Cosponsored Connecticut Trails Day and Walking WeekendS walks in Mansfield, Tolland and Windham.
• 2001 Sponsored forum for five land trusts in the watershed.
• 2001 Sponsored Headwaters Forum for Stafford and Union to share ideas for conservation projects.
• 2000 Cosponsored Willimantic River Streamwalk with Thames River Basin Partnership. Volunteers walked along the river and some of its tributaries to inventory natural features and possible problem sites.
• 1999 and 2000 Published Willimantic River Recreation Guide, a map of parks and historical sites along the river with notes for each site. Also on the map: boat launches and areas with boating hazards.
• 1998 Published "Paddling Down the River," a canoe/kayak guide to the river
• 1997 & 1998 Sponsored Willimantic River Weekends, including walking and boating events along the river.

Join the Alliance!

Help us make a difference in the watershed.