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

sstegeman at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 200 He/Him < Back Sam Stegeman Operations Manager Sam joined CRC in 2024, and he is likely to be the person to answer your call to the office or greet when you visit the CRC Headquarters in Greenfield. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Environmental Studies. Prior to CRC, Sam served nine years as the Executive Director of the Vermont Wilderness School in Brattleboro and five years on the program team at Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) in South Deerfield. Sam spent his adolescence in the Westport River watershed of southeastern Massachusetts, and since 2006 he and his family have lived alongside the South River in Conway. He got to know CRC through volunteering for water quality monitoring, and today is thrilled to bring his affinity for nonprofit development to such a great organization with such a fun and dedicated staff. sstegeman at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 200 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

Easthampton Beautification Team The annual Source to Sea Cleanup, organized by Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC), is a regional effort throughout NH, VT, MA, and CT to remove trash from the Connecticut River watershed, including tributaries, riverbanks, and community spaces. Most cleanups took place during the main event weekend, September 26–27, though many groups began early in August or scheduled events into October. The final group count came in at 126 registered groups with 2,029 volunteers! You can find all the details in the 2025 Cleanup Chronicle. 2025 Participant Highlights Easthampton Beautification Team returned for their third year of participation. With incredible leadership from Owen Zaret, Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, and the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee, this team organized several separate cleanup groups that spread across the town. After picking up trash, the groups rejoined and helped each other out with the trash tallying. In Greenfield, MA at the Green River Cleanup, over 250 volunteers spread out and picked up all sorts of trash. This was an absolutely massive effort that has been led every year by David Boles, Michael Pattavina, and Charlie Olchowski with his Greenfield Super Sorters who stay all day sorting trash, washing bottles, and making the pile ready for the DPW. Featured on site was Greening Greenfield who provided supplies to volunteers to make upcycled reusable bags. “Very high-spirited day at the Green River Cleanup where we gathered well-over 16 tons of debris from the Town's four rivers and abundant brooks and streams.” - Michael Pattavina Wallet Returned After Missing for 25 Years! During the Deerfield River Trout Unlimited cleanup in Franklin County, a black purse covered in moss was found and almost landed in the trash! Fortunately, it was opened and inside was a set of keys and a fully intact wallet from about 25 years ago. Charlemont Transfer Station Attendant Thorne Palmer Googled the name on the multiple cards in the wallet, and made contact with the owner, a teacher from Rhode Island. In the year 2000, as she and her friends tubed down the river, her car was unfortunately broken into and her purse stolen. It ended up in the woods of Rowe or Charlemont... until cleanup day! The owner was amazed to get the call from Thorne and said it made an unfortunate experience into a great story. The Fort River Watershed cleanup in Amherst, MA boasted some impressive numbers. With over 200 volunteers, they collected and counted 1,016 cigarette butts, 4,236 pieces of foam packaging, 288 nips, and 161 pounds of scrap metal. That is now all trash diverted from our rivers and streams. This effort was led by Fort River Watershed Association members Brian Yellen and Victoria Quill. “This is something I have always wanted to do. It felt so good to come and participate. I love the water & the river; it brings me solace. Of course I want to keep it clean.” - Patti O. All Out Adventures hosted an accessible, all-abilities cleanup of Elwell Island, MA. Senior paddlers, veterans, local college students, and a group from VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System set out in canoes and kayaks to clean up. They dug out trash bins, pallets, broken bottles, shoes, and other debris. An interesting find was an old cassette tape of Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride." Thanks to Colleen Gault who brought Connecticut River Conservancy's Jon boat and Great Meadows Conservation Trust member Denis with his pontoon boat, the Wethersfield Cove cleanup (CT) was able to make an amphibious effort on a lot of trash. Helping lead the charge was CRC Board Member, Tim Lewis. There was so much trash that it turned into a multi-day effort! SLR Consulting led a cleanup of Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro, VT. Unfortunately, one of their cleanup crew members lost her wedding ring, potentially during the cleanup. If you are in Whetstone Brook and see a ring, please reach out and let them know! Hypertherm and Black River Action Team (BRAT) in Springfield, VT joined forces to cleanup a total of 17 tires (including a very large tractor trailer tire down in a setback near Hoyt's Landing), 15.5 shopping carts, a relatively new bicycle, 4 bags of recyclable plastic, a full bag of redeemable cans & bottles, 10 bags of straight trash, and more. Shoutout to the RiverSweep team and Kelly Stettner! Source to Sea cleanup sponsors, Eversource in Connecticut, had a fun and rewarding day removing trash from the pond and trails at Union Pond. A total of 3,383 trash pieces were removed from the trails and pond area. Most of the items collected were nip bottles, plastic/can bottles, food wrappers, tobacco products and other items. According to Rebecca Fowler, Town of Manchester, 560 pounds of regular trash and 460 pounds of metal was collected. Eversource teams in MA and NH also participated in the cleanup. Ashuelot River Campground in New Hampshire brought back a bigger than they expected load of trash. It was hard going this year with the low water level, but spirits were high. They also noted that the help from folks at the campground after the crew returned was much appreciated. There were so many wonderful youth groups this year, making a positive impact on their environment. Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH found tires, clothes, and even a bike! The crew sprawled out around the nearby Connecticut River and True's Brook. Thank you We saw it all again this year — from old cassettes, rusting kitchenware, dolls, mattresses, etc., to thousands of plastic nips, cigarette butts, and beverage containers. To everyone who rolled up their sleeves this year — THANK YOU for your time, your commitment, and your energy. The Source to Sea Cleanup wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated community of volunteers, schools, businesses, and river champions. Sponsors Special thanks to our Lead, River, and Tributary sponsors. Full list of sponsors available at Sponsors - Source to Sea Cleanup. Coming Soon: Cleanup Chronicle We’ll be sharing a full summary of 2025 results, volunteer spotlights, and photos in our annual Cleanup Chronicle — stay tuned this fall!

The Connecticut River Conservancy's (CRC) Source to Sea Cleanup is celebrating a major milestone this year. Marking its 30th anniversary, the watershed-wide volunteer event returns September 18-19, with flexible cleanup opportunities that allow groups and individuals to choose the day that works best for them. The annual effort brings together thousands of volunteers to remove litter and debris from rivers, streambanks, parks, and communities throughout the entire Connecticut River watershed—including the tributaries that feed the mainstem river in NH, VT, MA, and CT. The goal is simple but powerful: keep trash out of local waterways. Registration is open for Group Leaders and Volunteers at SourceToSeaCleanup.org. What began in 1996 as a grassroots cleanup organized by a dedicated group of river advocates has evolved into one of the largest volunteer-driven environmental events in the region. For three decades, people of all ages have come together around a shared commitment to clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities. Today, businesses, schools, municipalities, nonprofits, community organizations, families, and individual volunteers participate in cleanups across the watershed, collectively making a visible and lasting difference. Since formal data collection began in 1999, volunteers have documented the removal of over 2.6 million lbs. of trash, including 14,849 tires, 336,073 beverage containers, and 410,145 lbs. of scrap metal. The true total is likely much higher, as not all cleanup groups submit detailed data. Group Leaders organize cleanup events at locations where trash has been identified as a concern, while volunteers contribute their time and energy to remove litter from the landscape. Municipal partners play an important role by providing dumpsters, waiving disposal fees, or collecting bagged trash once cleanups are complete. In addition to removing waste, participants help gather valuable data. Trash tallies recorded after each cleanup are added to CRC's long-running database, providing important information that supports pollution prevention efforts, restoration projects, public education, and advocacy throughout the watershed. The event also frequently draws participation from local elected officials and community leaders. Last year's Source to Sea Cleanup engaged 126 volunteer groups and more than 2,000 participants across all four watershed states. Together, they removed more than 35 tons of trash from rivers and riverside areas, totaling over 70,000 pounds of debris. CRC provides cleanup supplies to volunteers, such as gloves and trash bags, and offers a variety of resources on the Source to Sea Cleanup website, including a planning guide, safety information, required forms, and tips for hosting a successful cleanup. "The Source to Sea Cleanup is an opportunity to get outside, work alongside your neighbors, and make a direct impact on the health of our rivers," said CRC Cleanup Coordinator Stacey Lennard. "Every piece of trash picked up is one less item headed into a storm drain, river, or ultimately the ocean. Small actions add up, and together volunteers help protect the waterways and communities we all depend on." Group Leaders looking for a cleanup location can explore CRC's map of adoptable trash sites or select their own location by submitting a "Report a Trash Site" form. Parks, boat launches, neighborhood gathering spots, downtown streets, trails, and other community spaces are all excellent options. Because litter often travels through stormwater systems before reaching rivers and streams, even cleaning up a city sidewalk can help protect downstream wildlife and water quality. Thirty years after the first Source to Sea Cleanup, the mission remains the same: people coming together to protect and improve the waterways that connect communities across the Connecticut River watershed. The Connecticut River Conservancy would also like to thank the following sponsors for supporting this initiative – in some cases for many years! Presenting sponsors in 2026 are U.S.A. Waste & Recycling Inc., All American Waste, and the Antonacci Family Foundation. With additional support from Eversource, The Walker Group, Hypertherm HOPE Foundation, Berkshire Home Company, and many other local businesses and organizations that help make this event possible. For more information, visit Sourcetoseacleanup.org To sign up as a Group Leader, start with the Cleanup Sites Map here. For any questions about getting involved, contact Stacey Lennard at cleanup@ctriver.org.

[Brattleboro, VT, 7/16/2026] – The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is proud to announce the successful completion of project development work on three proposed stormwater projects in southeastern Vermont, made possible through funding from the Clean Water Initiative Program funding administered by Watersheds United Vermont. This project sought to develop potential stormwater projects in Windham County with the goal of minimizing anthropogenic nutrient and organic pollution, protecting and restoring riparian habitats, and minimizing flood and fluvial erosion hazards. The project began in May 2025 and concluded in June 2026, completing a feasibility study and conceptual drawings for a proposed stormwater best management practice in each of the towns of Brattleboro, Rockingham, and Westminster. The Vermont Department of Conservation (VT DEC) has completed stormwater master plans (SWMP) for each town, which identified a list of dozens of potential projects from which to choose. CRC considered at least four potential projects for each town from their respective SWMPs. CRC then worked with municipal staff, the Windham Regional Commission, the Vermont Department of Ecological Conservation, and private landowners to narrow the list down to the one proposed project in each town that was specifically developed. Pollution load reduction calculations from the proposals estimate that implementing these three proposed stormwater projects could prevent 28.75 kg of phosphorous, 19.5 kg of nitrogen, and 9.05 tons/18,100 pounds of sediment annually from polluting local surface waters, including the Connecticut River and by extension the Long Island Sound. “This project represents a significant step forward for each of these towns to develop stormwater management and treatment practices for the benefit of clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities,” said Charles Soucy, CRC Stormwater Project Manager. He added, “None of this work would be possible without the funding from the Vermont Clean Water Initiative Program or the administering organizations, like Watersheds United Vermont, that put that money into the hands of clean water practitioners to do good work in our local communities.” CRC received a VT DEC Enhancement Project Development Grant of $45,100, to scope at least 4 potential projects and develop a specific, conceptual project proposal for each of the towns of Brattleboro, Rockingham, and Westminster. The results of this development work are proposals for: A constructed gravel wetland at the northwest stormwater outfall into Kettle Pond in Brattleboro, A stormwater gully stabilization and filter strip planting project off Lovell Drive in Rockingham, and A bioinfiltration practice (rain garden) at the Westminster West School in Westminster. CRC will work with the specific landowners for each project to further refine the proposal designs, secure landowner support for future project phases, and seek funding for further design stage and eventual implementation. CRC invites the community to learn more about its stormwater work throughout the Connecticut River watershed at their River Restoration page, or by contacting Charles Soucy, Stormwater Project Manager at csoucy@ctriver.org. About the Connecticut River Conservancy 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. Their programs include advocacy, aquatic invasive species management, dam removal, habitat restoration, migratory fish surveys, recreation, trash cleanups, and water quality monitoring. Together through community engagement and education, they’re dedicated to ensuring healthy rivers for all. Learn more at ctriver.org.