We are the sole regional independent watchdog working to protect the entire Connecticut River basin.  Whether the issue is thermal pollution from power plants or mysterious leachate from an undocumented pipe—we jump right in.

We work to restore fish passage, and to make sure the water gets tested in neighborhood streams; we press businesses, communities and government to meet clean water standards, and help guide development away from sensitive shores.  We work across four states to protect an 11,000 acre river basin of farms and forests, rivers and marshes, urban reservoirs and tidal estuaries. 

Here’s some of what we do. To learn more more about our Advocacy, Restoration or Education work, click the image above.

We get our feet wet. 
When Greater Hartford’s raw sewage woes seemed intractable—lacking enforcement and funding at federal, state,and local levels, CRWC stepped-in, spearheading a broad-based public education campaign about sewage pollution that led to wholesale change.

And dive right in.
When Vermont Yankee nuclear plant owner Entergy requested new effluent discharge permits that would heat the river and harm fragile habitats and spawning fish, CRWC jumped in and convinced the courts to grant a stay of the new practice.

When didymo -- an invasive, smothering, stream-bottom algae, began spreading in the upper reaches of the Connecticut, CRWC helped educate upstream boaters and fishermen about their critical role in helping stop its spread.

And, in our long-standing attention to contmaination at the East Deerfield rail yard, we partnered with a community group and then a legal team from Western New England College to push the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and enforce site permits.  The rail yard and EPA ultimately agreed to new site monitoring and stricter reporting requirements.  

And an ear to the ground.
When a resident reported an oily film pooling near a local stream, CRWC helped steer him to the proper reporting agencies.  The issue was resolved with renewed MA DEP enforcement and fines. 

We get the word out.
When scientists released findings of a river-wide study of mercury, PCBs and other chemicals present in the river and fish in 2006, CRWC convened a conference in Longmeadow, MA where EPA officials could present their work directly to the public and the press.  

And make it better.
We host the Source to Sea Cleanup each year.  Over two thousand people participated 2007—clearing over 50 tons of trash.

When a dam that had blocked migrating fish on a Connecticut stream for decades proved obsolete, we partnered with the property owner and removed it, giving 16 miles of waterway back to the fish.

Then celebrate.
When rowers from 17 countries chose the Connecticut as destination for their annual FISA tour of world-class rowing rivers in 2007, CRWC was New England’s ambassador for the 75 rowers in a week-long celebration of our river.

When our cherished Connecticut River Boating Guide needed a little updating, our friends John and Wendy Sinton, and Elizabeth Farnsworth did a complete re-write, and came up with a new, beautiful, state-of-the-river Guide.

* Advocacy * Education * Restoration *

Return to top