Staff at Connecticut River Conservancy CRC Staff We are very fortunate to have a talented staff stewarding CRC's work. Meet the people behind the mission. Executive Director Rebecca Todd She/Her, rtodd at ctriver.org, (413) 834-9457 For over 30 years Rebecca has advised organizations, individuals, and businesses in matters related to environmental, educational, contractual, employment, and non-profit management. Prior to joining Connecticut River Conservancy in October 2023, Rebecca served as General Counsel for Antioch University, as Associate Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General in Washington in the Education and Ecology divisions, and litigated cases for the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, Inc. (now Earthjustice) and the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. related to the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and hazardous waste laws. Rebecca also teaches environmental law, legal advocacy, and other subjects nationally and internationally. In addition to these professional accomplishments, Rebecca grew up in the Connecticut River watershed, has raised a family while stewarding farmland along the river in New Hampshire, and is cultivating a new passion for the sport of rowing. Staff Members Alphabetical by first name Alix Kaplan Content Coordinator akaplan at ctriver.org 413-834-7953 They/Them Read More Angela Chaffee Grant Strategist & Writer achaffee at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 204 She/Her Read More Caitlin Maguire NH Restoration Project Manager cmaguire at ctriver.org 603-703-5192 She/Her Read More Donna "Lucky" Riggs Finance Assistant driggs at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 She/Her Read More Kathy Urffer Director of Policy and Advocacy kurffer at ctriver.org 802-258-0413 She/Her Read More Lauren Zielinski Stream Restoration Specialist lzielinski at ctriver.org 603 325-7022 She/Her Read More Mary McCaughey Development Coordinator mmccaughey at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 She/Her Read More Nina Gordon-Kirsch River Steward in Massachusetts ngordonkirsch at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 216 She/Her Read More Sam Stegeman Operations Manager sstegeman at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 200 He/Him Read More Susan Heitker Chief Development Officer sheitker at ctriver.org 413-490-9197 She/Her Read More Amanda Major Outreach & Events Coordinator amajor at ctriver.org 413-253-6855 She/They Read More Ansel Appleton Staff Accountant aappleton at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 201 He/Him Read More Charles Soucy Stormwater Project Manager csoucy at ctriver.org 802-490-9701 He/Him Read More Fritz Gerhardt Conservation Scientist fgerhardt at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 219 He/Him Read More Kelly Beerman AIS Program Manager kbeerman at ctriver.org 802-318-1390 She/Her Read More Mallory Strider Interim Director of Finance mstrider at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 201 She/Her Read More Melissa Langley Water Quality Program Manager mlangley at ctriver.org 413-450-8739 She/Her Read More Rebecca Budd Restoration Program Manager rbudd at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 222 She/Her Read More Stacey Lennard Events Manager & Source to Sea Cleanup Coordinator slennard at ctriver.org 413-325-5995 She/Her Read More Amber Lively River Steward in Connecticut alively at ctriver.org 860-681-3194 She/Her Read More Bay Holmes AmeriCorps Member bholmes at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 She/They Read More Diana Chaplin Director of Communications dchaplin at ctriver.org 413-834-0079 She/Her Read More Kate Buckman Aquatic Ecologist kbuckman at ctriver.org 603-931-2448 She/Her Read More Laura Herbert Staff Accountant lherbert at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 She/Her Read More Marilla Harris-Vincent River Steward in New Hampshire mharrisvincent at ctriver.org 603-503-0419 She/Her Read More Nicole Reigle Assistant Director of Development nreigle at ctriver.org 413-325-3737 She/Her Read More Ron Rhodes Director of Programs rrhodes at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 214 He/Him Read More Stefanie Farrington Aquatic Ecology Program Associate sfarrington at ctriver.org 603-703-5657 She/Her Read More Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

Board of Trustees at Connecticut River Conservancy Board of Trustees We are continually rewarded by the generous gifts of time and skill from members of the CRC Board of Trustees. All are seasoned experts in fields ranging from the environment and education, to legal, corporate business, and finance. The dedicated folks on our Board offer us the know-how and long-range thinking that helps keep CRC moving in the right direction. We cannot thank them enough. Board Members are listed in alphabetical order by first name. Bob Dryfoos Trustee Retired computer software architect & experienced in board leadership. Read More Christine Palm Trustee Former State Rep. in CT & legislative champion for the environment & working families. Read More Janki Darity Trustee 15+ years of experience in regulatory compliance and ethical responsibility. Read More Paul Detwiler Trustee Experienced in law, energy policy/research, and environmental remediation. Read More Tony Judge Trustee Former broadcasting executive and radio, television, & film producer, and wildlife nonprofit board vice-chair. Read More Bob Sproull Trustee Computer scientist, rower, and experienced conservationist and board manager. Read More David Deen Trustee Former CRC River Steward + 30 years as a VT legislator advocating for river protections. Read More Leslie Harris Trustee, Board Chair Nonprofit administrator for 25+ years, orchard manager, and outdoor enthusiast. Read More Stephen Gephard Trustee, Vice Chair Fisheries biologist and consultant, formerly with CTDEEP for 42 years. Read More Candace Damon Trustee Creates sustainable urban redevelopment strategies in cities across North America. Read More Geoffrey Habron Trustee Former professor of Fisheries/Wildlife; current focus on equitable climate resilience. Read More Michael Simpson Trustee Environmental Scientist & Professor Emeritus at Antioch University New England. Read More Tim Lewis Trustee, Secretary Avid paddler and conservationist retired after a career in manufacturing. Read More Honorary Trustees Raul de Brigard Land Use Consultant Higganum, CT Ed Gray Author Lyme, NH Susan Merrow Environmental Lobbyist East Haddam, CT Jim Okun Principal, O'Reilly, Talbot, and Okun Ellington, CT Ronald Poltak Retired, Executive Director, NEIWPCC Auburn, NH John Sinton Retired, Professor of Geography, Land-Use and Environmental Planning, Human Ecology Florence, MA Annette Spaulding Retired, Spaulding & Harris Tax Service Bellows Falls, VT Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

The Connecticut River Conservancy restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. We protect, restore, and advocate for the Connecticut River Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate Connecticut River Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the Connecticut River watershed in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. We collaborate with regional partners to restore and advocate for your rivers, and educate and engage communities. We bring people together to prevent pollution, improve habitat, and promote enjoyment of the river and its tributary streams. Join us to support healthier rivers today! Clean Water Through advocacy to prevent pollution and water quality monitoring to track data. Healthy Habitats Through dam removal, tree planting, and migratory fish programs. Resilient Communities With river recreation, community science, & Source to Sea Cleanups. Our Mission & Programs Sign Up for River News! Sign up to get emails about river news and events. Choose Your Newsletter Read Our Latest Annual Report Get the Full Report 1,182 Tons of trash removed from rivers 32 Old dams & culverts removed 104,908 Trees planted in the watershed 150+ Sites annually tested for bacteria CRC Opposing Rescission of Federal Roadless Rule to Protect the Green and White National Forests Part of a national coalition of 208 nonprofits, businesses, and environmental groups opposing proposed changes to the Federal Roadless Conservation Area Rule. Nature-Based Resilience: Strategic Wood Additions on West Branch of Ompompanoosuc River Major River Restoration Project Completed in Central Vermont: Over 8 Miles of Ompompanoosuc River Headwaters Restored for Wildlife and Flood Resilience. Highlights from the 30th Annual Source to Sea Cleanup Thirty years into the Source to Sea Cleanup, volunteers continue to demonstrate the impact of community-led efforts to protect and restore the Connecticut River watershed. River Stories from Around the Watershed Latest News More River News We envision a future where people and wildlife can enjoy a clean, free-flowing Connecticut River. Upcoming Events Thu, Oct 01 Call to Artists: The River We Call Home / Online Submission Learn More Oct 01, 2026, 9:00 AM – Nov 01, 2026, 9:00 AM Online Submission Learn About: Migratory Fish Migratory fish are essential to healthy river ecosystems. The Connecticut River hosts 8 species of migratory fish that travel thousands of ocean miles and over 200 miles upriver annually. CRC's migratory fish restoration efforts include advocating for and expanding fish passage and raising awareness through community science and education. Learn More

Bioengineering river restoration project on Ottauquechee River. Today the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) announced the completion of a large river restoration project on the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, VT. The project brought together multiple partners and organizations to deliver a bioengineered solution to address the underlying cause of bank erosion and nitrogen loading in the river. In addition to water quality benefits and habitat improvements, the work will allow the Ottauquechee River to dissipate some of its energy during high flows. Funding for the project was provided through the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (VT DEC) Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Long Island Sound Futures Fund, and several other grants received by CRC. Nearly 50 percent of the total nitrogen load in Vermont's Connecticut River basin is transported during the spring when ice melt and high flows result in excessive riverbank erosion, especially on lands with little or no protective riparian buffers. This excess nitrogen is transported downstream from Vermont tributaries of the Connecticut River to the Long Island Sound causing algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills. CRC and its project partners hired local contractors to install more than 150 large wood structures along 370 linear feet of the eroding streambank. Several hundred native trees and shrubs will be planted on more than half an acre of new floodplain next spring after ice out. The combination of wood structures, growing roots of the new vegetation, and floodplain space for the river to expand during high flow events will improve localized soil retention and filtration. The project was identified as a priority for state funding because the river here is considered in poor condition and "significant reductions in the nitrogen load are still needed to meet water quality goals." This project meets those goals and those of the Long Island Sound Futures Fund by reducing nitrogen loading by 99 lbs./year. Left: bank erosion along the Ottauquechee River before the project began. Center: root wads prepared for installation. Right: Ottauquechee River from above during bioengineering project (credit: New England Laser). CRC thanks all of the partners and funders who helped make this project a reality, including; the private landowners on both sides of the river, the Town of Woodstock, the King Farm and Vermont Land Trust, the Ottauquechee Natural Resource Conservation District, Two Rivers Ottauquechee and Mt. Ascutney Regional Planning Commissions, Watersheds United Vermont, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and numerous private businesses/contractors who did a fantastic job from start to finish on design, permitting and construction. For questions about the project, contact: Ron Rhodes, Director of Programs Connecticut River Conservancy rrhodes@ctriver.org | 413-768-4994

In celebration of the Connecticut River Conservancy’s 75th anniversary, we invite artists to submit work for a curated group exhibition, The River We Call Home. This exhibit honors the Connecticut River watershed as a place of wonder, belonging, and relationship—one that sustains both human and natural communities. For 75 years, the Connecticut River Conservancy and many collaborators and volunteers have worked to protect, restore, and advocate for the Connecticut River and its tributaries. This exhibition seeks to reflect a legacy of love and stewardship through artistic interpretations of the river as a home. By highlighting the watershed’s dimensionality as only art can do, we hope the exhibit will stir a renewed sense of passion and engagement for environmental conservation among museum visitors. Two united yet distinct exhibits will be held at beautifully situated river-side locations in 2027: at the Connecticut River Museum (Essex, CT) from February-May; and at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (Brattleboro, VT) from July-October. The art will be complemented by informational displays, a kid-friendly interactive art corner, and supportive historic materials such as a scrapbook and digital media. Artists may use this entry form to submit their works through November 1st, 2026. Details & Guidelines: Artists are encouraged to respond to ideas such as: The river as a place of beauty, reflection, belonging, or identity Inhabitants of the watershed, great or small Relationships between people, wildlife, and water Change over time—ecological, cultural, or personal Stewardship, care, and responsibility for shared places Daily life, recreation, or quiet moments along the river Interpretations may be literal or abstract, historical or modern, celebratory or contemplative. This call is open to artists who: Live, work, or have a meaningful connection to the Connecticut River watershed (in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, or Connecticut) Work in any artistic medium Are able to deliver/ship and pick up their art at the appropriate times Artists at all stages of their career are encouraged to apply. Collaborative and interdisciplinary works are welcome. All media will be considered, including but not limited to: Painting, drawing, printmaking Photography and digital media Sculpture and installation Fiber, textile, and mixed media Assemblage or found-object work Selected works must be delivered ready to hang/display. Artists may submit up to 3 works for consideration. Submissions must include: Contact information [name, email, address, phone] Artist statement (brief, 250 words max) describing your connection to the watershed and how the work relates to the exhibition theme Short artist bio (100 words max) Work description(s) including title, medium, dimensions, and year completed Images or media files All submissions will be reviewed by a curatorial panel. Important dates: Call opens: Oct 1 Submission deadline: Nov 1 Artist notification: by Dec 4 Exhibition dates: February 13 - May 30, 2027 (CRM) Thur, March 25 Reception 5-7 p.m. July 10-Oct 31, 2027 (BMAC) Sat, July 10 Reception 5-7 p.m. Additional Information All submitted work must be original. Artists are responsible for delivery and retrieval of artwork unless otherwise noted. Sales information, honoraria, or insurance details (if applicable) will be provided upon acceptance. We invite artists to help tell the story of a river that connects us across borders, generations, and ecosystems, and to reflect on what it means to call the Connecticut River home. About the Organizers: The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. CRC has been a steward of the Connecticut River and tributary streams since 1952. Through collaborative partnerships in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, we lead and support science-based efforts for natural and life-filled rivers from source to sea. Our programs include advocacy, aquatic invasive species management, dam removal, habitat restoration, migratory fish surveys, trash cleanups, and water quality monitoring. Together through community engagement and education, we are dedicated to ensuring healthy rivers for all. Learn more at ctriver.org. The Connecticut River Museum deepens appreciation of the Connecticut River's history and inspires its stewardship through art, history, and the environment. Located at the historic Steamboat Dock in Essex, Connecticut, the Museum features permanent and changing galleries as well as a historic house, and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Museum also operates two vessels, RiverQuest and Onrust, offering cruises along the lower Connecticut River. Learn more at ctrivermuseum.org. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) is an independent, non-collecting contemporary art museum situated near the confluence of the Connecticut and West Rivers, long a place of great significance to the indigenous people of the area, a site of transportation and trade, and the source of inspiration for many artists. BMAC's mission is to illuminate art and ideas in ways that inspire, inform, and connect all people. Learn more at brattleboromuseum.org.

View of Echo Lake from Artist’s Bluff within the Franconia Notch State Park, White Mountain National Forest (within the Connecticut River watershed). The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) has joined a national coalition of 208 nonprofits, businesses, and environmental groups opposing proposed changes to the Federal Roadless Conservation Area Rule. This contributes to approximately 1.2 million comments submitted to the Forest Service overall regarding this policy in 2026, an overwhelming 99% of which support keeping the current policy in place. This U.S. Forest Service policy enacted in 2001 prohibits road construction, road reconstruction, and most timber harvesting across approximately 58.5 million acres of undeveloped National Forest System lands. In August 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) formally published a proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule nationwide, which was followed by a public comment period in September/early October 2026. Within the Connecticut River watershed, the White Mountain and Green Mountain National Forests are integral to the health of this region. Their forests, wetlands, headwater streams, and roadless areas provide critical ecological functions that extend far beyond the boundaries of the National Forests themselves. These lands protect headwaters, regulate water temperatures and flows, retain sediment and nutrients, support wildlife habitat, enhance biodiversity, bolster the outdoor recreation and tourism economy, and provide clean water to communities throughout New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and beyond. For these reasons, CRC has urged the U.S. Forest Service to retain the 2001 Roadless Rule and select Alternative 1 - No Action, in the draft Environmental Impact Statement. Read CRC’s comment letter in full. Read joint letter undersigned by 208 groups throughout the United States. Additional resources: USDA information page for the Roadless Rule. Roadless Rule docket facts and figures.