A Letter from the Executive Director

Several things stand out when looking back on the past year. One notable theme was promoting self-sufficiency through land care practices. Harkening back to the days of victory gardens and more utilitarian yards, our annual shrub and seedling sale had a new focus on edible landscape plants. And, working with our Project Green Lawn partners, we advocated starting a vegetable garden and encouraged do it yourself organic lawn care. Our watershed management efforts continued with a new focus on advancing restoration opportunities identified by our assessment activities. To guide local action, we compiled a restoration report for three Mattabesset streams that flow through the town of Cromwell, and began the next steps to implement a plan to improve water quality in the Coginchaug River watershed. Parks and open spaces were also a focal point. Control of non-native invasive plants, a pet waste pick-up program, and coastal habitat management planning are just a few examples of last years natural resource assessment and conservation efforts. Activities on tap for the coming year include promoting the control of backyard invasive plants with our brand new guide for landowners, coordinating restoration action in the Coginchaug River watershed, and concluding a strategic planning effort for the Connecticut River Watch Program. We are looking forward to another active and productive year, and want to thank youour donors, volunteers and partnersfor being a vital part of our many conservation successes.
Board of Directors
Thomas ODell, Westbrook, Chair Alison Guinness, East Haddam, Vice Chair Michael Lutz, Higganum, Treasurer Cindy Gaudino, Middletown, Secretary Jennifer Charneski, Middletown Jim Costello, East Haddam Gary Crump, Colchester Christopher Holden, Portland Timothy Myjak, East Haddam Brian OConnor, Clinton Jennifer Weymouth, Middletown Mark Yuknat, Essex

IN AN EFFORT to better manage nutrients in the Coginchaug River watershed, we embarked on a multi-year project in collaboration with UConn Department of Plant Sciences Lorraine Los and dairy farmer Joe Greenbacker. We collected cornstalks and soil samples from seventeen fields in Durham, Middlefield and Middletown. Samples were tested for nitrogen content, and the results are helping the Greenbackers determine optimal amounts of manure and fertilizer to apply.

Staff

Jane L. Brawerman, Executive Director Wendy L. Goodfriend, Natural Resource Specialist Barbara A. Davis, Office Administrator Eric Mosher, Watershed Projects Coordinator Pamela Bajorek, Watershed Projects Intern

Jane L. Brawerman, Executive Director

THE DISTRICTS 61ST ANNUAL MEETING was held on October 18, 2008 at Hammonasset Beach State Park, where Ranger Russ Miller, Director of the Meigs Point Nature Center, presented a well-received program on the shoreline ecosystems of Long Island Sound. Cooperator Acer Gardens, Sharon and Bill Harris Municipality of the Year Old Saybrook Conservation Commission Special Merit Eleanore Milardo Christian Life Church Summer Hill Nursery, Michael Johnson

THE MISSION of the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District is to promote the sound use and management of our natural resources through technical assistance and education. Our programs and services are provided to municipal staff, land use decision makers, environmental professionals, engineers, farmers, teachers, Realtors, civic groups, and the general public. The District holds public meetings every fourth Wednesday, 7:00 pm at the deKoven House Community Center, 27 Washington Street in Middletown. All programs and services are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status or handicap.
deKoven House Community Center 27 Washington Street Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: (860) 346-3282 E-mail: ctrivercoastal@conservect.org Web: conservect.org/ctrivercoastal

Congratulations to the Districts 2008 Conservation Award Recipients!

Environmental Professionals Emily Wilson, Geospatial Extension Specialist, UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research Wendy Goodfriend, Natural Resource Specialist, Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District Communications/Media P2 View, Judith Prill, Editor, Connecticut DEP Office of Pollution Prevention

Certificates of Appreciation Gary Crump & Gloria Priam, Priam Vineyards Larry McCulloch, Chamard Vineyards Mark & Mindy Yuknat, CT River Expeditions Old Saybrook Shopping Center, Matthew Rubin Sunny Border Nurseries, Pierre Bennerup Thomas D. Comer, CPA, Comer and Company, LLC

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Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Inc.

Permit #21 Haddam, CT 06438

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The District serves the towns of Berlin, Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Hebron, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Marlborough, Middlefield, Middletown, New Britain, Newington, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, Rocky Hill, Salem and Westbrook.

ANNuAL REPORT 2009

American Farmland Trust CT Association of Conservation Districts CT Council on Soil and Water Conservation CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) CT Resource Conservation & Development Council CT RC&D Environmental Review Team Program CT Sea Grant National Association of Conservation Districts Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials Program (NEMO) UConn Cooperative Extension System USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) US Fish and Wildlife Service US Geological Survey Working Lands Alliance

ConneCtiCut RiveR Coastal ConseRvation DistRiCt, inC.

Partners

Providing Assistance for Natural Resource Conservation since 1946

CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS
Promoting Green Land Care Practices
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Our new display on Backyard Water Resource Protection made it to many libraries in our District, along with plenty of resource materials for visitors to pick up and read later. n A guidebook, Invasive Plants in Your Backyard: A Guide to Their Identification and Control, was developed to help stem the spread of non-native invasive species. n In a new collaboration with UConn Department of Plant Science, we collected cornstalk and soil samples for nutrient testing to ensure that fertilizer is applied optimally to silage cornfields farmed by the Greenbacker family of Durham. n Through our annual shrub and seedling sale, we promoted the use of Connecticut natives as well as edible plants with the goal of enhancing the beauty, utility and wildlife value of home landscapes. n With our Project Green Lawn partners we held an extremely popular workshop, Greening Your Yard Naturally: Safe Lawns, Native Landscapes and Edible Gardens, which we plan to make an annual event. In Westbrook, based on a management plan developed by the District, we helped obtain grant funds to control invasive plants at the town-owned Salt Island Overlook, and conducted pre- and post-control monitoring to evaluate the success of the project. n We furthered pet waste management efforts with a new project at Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown that included installation of pet waste stations and education and outreach on the health and environmental risks of uncollected pet waste. n At Watch Rock Preserve in Old Lyme, we launched a coastal habitat management planning project in collaboration with CT Sea Grant and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Our search for sources of impairment and the development of restoration plans continued in the Mattabesset watershed. Plans have been completed for seven local stream basins, with Miner Brook in Middletown the latest addition to our list. n Connecticut River Watch Program volunteers monitored fifteen sites on Coginchaug River tributary streams for E.coli bacteria, and uncovered several hot spots that are likely contributing to the high bacteria levels found in the main stem. n Laurel Brook, one of the Coginchaug tributaries found to have very high bacteria levels, was the subject of an intensive stream corridor assessment and water quality study conducted by District staff. n A group of water resource professionals and community river advocates was convened to initiate a strategic planning effort for the Connecticut River Watch Program. Input gathered on possible new program areas, water quality data needs, data dissemination and use, and funding and other resources will be used to develop a strategic plan in the coming year.

IN COLLABORATION with CT Sea Grant and US Fish and Wildlife Service, the District began an effort to develop habitat-based management plans for two coastal open space properties in Old Lyme. This past year, we conducted assessment activities and completed a draft management plan for the 25-acre Watch Rock Preserve. Next year, we will work with state and federal partners to assess the 105-acre Bartholomew Preserve and develop a plan to preserve and improve habitat for native wildlife, including New England Cottontail, a species under evaluation for federal protection.

Protecting our Parks and Open Spaces

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Assessing Watershed Health

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MIDDLETOWNS MINER BROOK was the subject of the Districts latest pollution track down survey effort. We identified a number of potential pollution sources during the intensive stream corridor assessment, and wrote a restoration plan recommending pollution reducing practices. Top on the list are more frequent street sweeping and catch basin cleanout, storm drainage and road culvert repair, and a watershed-wide landowner education campaign.

Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District Donors

We are grateful to the many Conservation District donors who support our important work. The following list reflects all individuals, municipalities, organizations, businesses and granting agencies that have supported the District from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
Individuals
Diane & Jason Alderete Charlene & David Amacher Richard Amerling Sarah Anderson-Krengel Bruce Andes Charlie Baldwin Diann Baldwin Linda & Richard Barredo Johanna & Fred Behringer John Beierle Lorraine & Peter Bengston Karin Benguigui Yvonne Biagiarelli Gwyn & Greg Boughey Jane Brawerman & Brian Stewart Lola & Peter Bullenkamp Jamie Ann Burgess Carolyn & Donald Capellaro Jeanne & Paul Carroll Jennifer & Robert Chaffiotte Anne & Carl Clement Kathy & Paul Connolly Jennifer & Sean Cope Jim Costello Angelique Craney Denis Cunningham Lawrence Cyrulik Elinor F. DArcy Barbara David Jane I. Davison Sandra & Michael DeMazza Daniel Digiulio Beth & James Dillon Judy & Frank Dobai Beth Emery & Tim Roaix Shirley Feldmann Ingrid & Walter Felix MaryAnn Futia Jennifer & Kenneth Geisler Stephen Gephard Laureen & James Gibb Dana Gordon Alison Gould Carol Jaworowski Grasis Katherine Green Alison Guinness Ann & Scott Hadley Peter J. Harder Lisa & David Harding Charles Harris Cynthia & John Hennessy Lynn Herlihy Terry Hickey Danielle & Raymond Hoff Kim & Chris Holden Ann Horton Lisa A. Hourigan George S. House Alan Hurst Jean & James Insinga Anna & Raymond Jarema Diane & Raymond Karpinski Jeff King Sandra Kopell Debra & Charles Landrey Eileen P. Landry Vicky Learner Nellie & Edward Lee Gina Legnani Barbara & Alan Lipman Joan & Marc Lorah William Maisfehlt Linda & Joel Maynard Megan McMahon Marie McTigue Jan & Ron Melnik Kate Miller Betsy & Lawrence Morse Ishita Mukerji Paula & Timothy Myjak Bill Neale John A. Neville Kristee Nichols Erin Norton Jerry & Shawn OConnell Carol & Tom ODell Margaret & Frank Oller Catherine & Edward Olsen Kim & James ORourke Sylvia & John Ouelette Frances & George Perchal Ted Peterson Mary Ann & Thaddeus Pianka Anne B. Pierson, MD Zenaida Ramos Marjorie Reid Gail & Daniel Reynolds Kimberley A. Ricci Judith A. Riccitelli Linda & Anthony Rigono Denise Ruzicka & Paul Hayes Diana Sattelberger Starr & Philip Sayres John Schroeder Roy Schulte Joan L. Sepassy Maxine Simon James Sipperly Havi Stander Priscilla & Edward Stanton Patricia & Ronald Strom Candace Sue Deborah & David Sweet Paula & Edward Tautkus, III Harvey Thomas Jr. Chester Truax Gordon Ulmer Ann & Stanley Walonoski Susan & William Wasch Jennifer Weymouth & Jason Polayes Anne & Wayne Winslow Karen & Scott Winters Carol S Wood Suzanne & Richard Yanavich Jr. Summer Hill Nursery, Inc. Sunny Border Nurseries, Inc. Travelers Foundation Wesleyan Environmental Organizers Network

Financial Statement
July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009

Municipalities
Berlin Chester Clinton Cromwell Deep River Durham East Haddam East Hampton Essex Haddam Hebron Killingworth Lyme Madison Marlborough Middlefield Middletown Newington New Britain Old Lyme Old Saybrook Portland Rocky Hill Westbrook

INCOME 319 Grants River Watch Grants State Funds Local Funds Material Sales N.E. Grassroots Environment Fund Rockfall Foundation Grant UConn Nutrient Management Project Interest Income Contributions Miscellaneous
Total Income

$114,559 14,760 91, 412 45,488 38,383 1,500 1,500 2,037 2,251 2,412 957 $322,263 $158,612 575 688 2,729 1,971 13,236 945 3,073 488 820 1,919 13,200 434 57,652 24,105 2,814 4,675 $287,936 $34,327

EXPENSES Wages Professional Fees Postage Publications & Advertising Insurance Taxes Dues & Subscriptions Telephone Conferences, Meetings & Workshops Mileage Office Expense Rent Depreciation Grant Expenses Shrub Sale & Fundraising Expenses Equipment Lease & Maintenance 403(b) Matching
Total Expenses Excess (Deficiency)

Compiled by Comer & Company, LLC, Certified Public Accountants

Corporations

fish clouds birds in a stream how it goes on

Donna Fleischer

Aetna Foundation, Inc. Chamard Vineyards Clinton Nurseries, Inc. Comer & Company, LLC Connecticut River Expeditions Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park Old Saybrook Shopping Center Priam Vineyards Prides Corner Farms, Inc. Rhode van Gessel Design R2 Graphics, Inc. Roses Berry Farm

Grants

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act 319 New England Grassroots Environment Fund Rivers Alliance Watershed Assistance Small Grant The Rockfall Foundation

ConneCtiCut RiveR Coastal ConseRvation DistRiCt, inC. DeKoven House Community CenteR 27 WasHington stReet miDDletoWn, Ct 06457 PHone: (860) 346-3282 e-mail: CtRiveRCoastal@ConseRveCt.oRg Web: WWW.ConseRveCt.oRg/CtRiveRCoastal
Haiku Credit:
Donna Fleischer is a poet from Windsor, CT. Her haiku was first published in the journal bottle rockets and more recently on Christopher Zurchers CT Environmental Headlines website.