Conservation Connections
Protecting the river and its watershed is possible when people work together and have access to good information. The resources listed below can provide information and referrals to people who can assist with water and land conservation.
Water Conservation Resources
Contact person for Ct. DEEP water quality and watershed information:
Eric Thomas, Watershed Manager
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
DEEP Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Telephone: 860-424-3548
E-mail: eric.thomas@ct.gov
Organizations that Address Water Issues
- Rivers Alliance of Connecticut WRA is a member of this organization.
- Eastern Connectioncut Conservation District includes Andover, Ashford, Columbia, Lebanon, Mansfield, Union, Windham
- North Central Conservation District includes Bolton, Coventry, Ellington, Tolland, Vernon, Willington
- Thames River Basin Partnership WRA is a partner in this organization.
- The Last Green Valley includes communities of Ashford, Coventry, Lebanon, Mansfield, Union, Windham.
Land Use Planning Resources
Critical land issues include the impacts of development on waterbodies and the need to preserve natural areas related to waterbodies. These issues can be addressed by planning appropriate stormwater controls and by preserving natural areas that protect streams, such as wetlands and waterside buffers of natural vegetation.
Municipal Resources
Your town's Planning and Zoning Commission, Inland Wetlands Agency, Conservation Commission, and Town Planner
Organizations that Address Land Use Issues
- Windham Region Council of Governments includes Ashford, Coventry, Columbia, Lebanon, Mansfield, Windham
- Capitol Region Council of Governments includes Andover, Bolton, Ellington, Hebron, Tolland, Vernon
- Eastern Connecticut Conservation District includes Andover, Ashford, Columbia, Lebanon, Mansfield, Union, Windham
- North Central Conservation District includes Bolton, Coventry, Ellington, Tolland, Vernon, Willington
- University of Connecticut's Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) has created many online references, including CTECO (Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online) that offers natural resource maps, guides and data about Connecticut's water resources, open space properties, geology, and more.
Land Conservation Resources
Local Land Trusts
Friends of Valley Falls Park (FVFP)
Focus: land near Valley Falls Park
Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust (JTLT)
Towns: Ashford, Columbia, Coventry, Lebanon, Mansfield, Tolland, Willington, Windham
Opacum Land Trust, inc. (OLT)
Towns: Monson, Wales, Holland, Southbridge, Charlton, Sturbridge, the Brookfields, Warren, Palmer, and Brimfield, Massachusetts
Northern Connecticut Land Trust, inc. (NCLT)
Towns: Bolton, Ellington, Stafford, Union, Vernon
Focus: farmland and large forest tracts
Wolf Den Land Trust (WDLT)
Focus: Managed forest land in Windham County (includes Ashford and Windham)
Other Resources for Land Conservation
American Farmland Trust, Connecticut Working Lands Alliance
Focus: Farmland preservation and estate planning.
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Land Acquisition Department (DEEP property purchases)
Elizabeth Brothers, Director, Division of Land Acquisition & Management
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Telephone: 860-424-3016
E-mail: jacqueline.albert@ct.gov
Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program
(Matching grants to towns and trusts)
Dave Stygar, Division of Land Acquisition and Management
Address: 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106
Telephone: 860-424-3016
E-mail: david.stygar@ct.gov
Connecticut Department of Agriculture
J. Dippel
Address: 765 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT 06105
Telephone: 860-713-2511
Norcross Wildlife Foundation, inc.
Towns: Somers, Stafford, Union
Focus: Wildlife habitat conservation and stewardship
The Last Green Valley (Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor)
Towns: Coventry, Lebanon, Mansfield, Windham
Focus: Facilitates land protection projects.