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The Connecticut River Conservancy restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. Water Chestnut Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an invasive, non-native aquatic plant that is spreading throughout New England and the Connecticut River watershed. Rooted in shallow waterbodies such as lakes, ponds and coves, water chestnut can take over the surface if left unchecked. These annual plants reproduce by seeds before dying off in the winter. Seeds drop in August and September, and can lie dormant but viable for up to 12 years. Pulling water chestnut by kayak or canoe before the plants produce seeds is the most efficient control method, and a great way to engage by volunteering! 2025 events are listed on our volunteer registration site in the spring/summer! You can also sign up for email updates to be notified when new volunteer opportunities are added. Read On, or Click Below to Jump to a Specific Section What does water chestnut look like? Why is water chestnut such a problem? Water chestnut infestation interactive map If it's not native, how did water chestnut get here? How does water chestnut reproduce? How does water chestnut spread? Water chestnut removal video Water chestnut management with volunteers What does water chestnut look like? Water chestnuts plant their roots at the bottom of the river, while their leaves float on the water surface. They have rosettes of leaves that float on the water's surface that appear to be radiating from a central point. The leaves are triangular or slightly diamond shaped, toothed on two sides and connected to the stem by a long, flexible submerged stalk. Submerged leaves are feathery. The stem can grow up to 4.6m long, allowing them to colonize a wide range of freshwater habitats — from shallows to deep waters. Plants typically bloom in July. The tiny, white, four-petaled flowers produce characteristic horned seeds. In lightly infested areas you might find a single rosette or plant floating on the water. In heavily infested areas water chestnut forms dense floating mats, covering the surface of the waterbody. Why is water chestnut such a problem? To aquatic plants and animals: Water chestnut is a problem because it takes up space and nutrients. It can crowd out native plants that are food sources for native animals. Not only do they take over our waterways by out-competing other emergent and floating vegetation, but their colonization also negatively impacts the function of the entire aquatic ecosystem. They proliferate profusely on the surface of freshwater. The densely-layered floating mats they form — often as thick as three layers — limit light penetration through the vertical water column. As water chestnut decomposes, it decreases dissolved oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive. To humans: Water chestnut infestations also impede fishing, hunting, swimming, and boating as the rosettes cover entire bodies of water with plants up to sixteen feet deep in some extreme cases. They congest streams, block boats, and kill fish. The spiny seeds can cause injury. Management of out-of-control infestations is costly and requires incredible coordination. Water Chestnut Infestations Interactive Map This map shows all reported water chestnut (aka Trapa natans ) infestations within the Connecticut River Watershed. This map is continuously updated as stewards, monitors, and the other river users report new infestations and report on the status of existing ones. Water chestnut infestations have been reported in the four primary states within the watershed – NH, VT, MA & CT. If it's not native, how did it get here? European water chestnut has not always lived in the United States. The water chestnut is a resident of the Old World, native to Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, and Western Africa. In 1877, the species Trapa natans was introduced to the United States from Europe (as suggested by its name) at the Cambridge Botanical Garden at Harvard University (Sculthorpe, 1967; Oliver, 1871; Voroshilov, 1982). It was planted in Collins Lake, MA and other ponds in Massachusetts. In 1879 the plant escaped the cultivated areas and started growing in the Charles River. Since then it has continued to spread all along the east coast as far south as Virginia and Kentucky, as far north as Quebec, invading the Hudson River and, of course, the Connecticut River. Without removal it has the capacity to spread farther. How does water chestnut reproduce? Each plant produces at least one flower annually. These flowers begin to form nut-like fruits in mid-July. Seeds ripen about a month later and start to drop in early-mid August. The seeds, known as water caltrop, are four-horned nut-like structures that develop on the underside of the floating rosette. One seed can produce up to 15 floating rosettes, each rosette producing up to 20 more seeds. Seeds remain viable for up to 12 years! It is important to remove water chestnuts before the seeds mature and drop to the floor of the water body. Though most seeds germinate within the first few years after being dropped, they can be viable for twelve years. A single plant left behind can drop over 20 seeds, restarting a long 12 year cycle of removing and monitoring. If we can prevent plants from dropping new seeds, an infestation can be successfully eliminated. How does water chestnut spread? Seeds can drop directly into the sediment beneath the parent plant or they can hitch rides to new locations. Water chestnuts’ spikes allow them to stick to birds or other wildlife and end up in a new location. Plants can also get caught on boats or other recreation gear allowing them to get carried up/down-stream or to new water bodies. Water Chestnut Removal in the Connecticut River Watershed Water Chestnut Management To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Fortunately, it is easily identifiable and smaller infestations can be managed with trained volunteers hand-pulling the plant. The key to keeping water chestnut from invading new areas is to remove plants before they have a chance to go to seed. Control requires vigilant patrolling and harvesting for many years to ensure a water body is saved. Infested sites should be monitored and controlled every few years to fully remove the invasive species. Most removal is completed by volunteers manually through a series of pulls. Volunteers pull the plants by hand, often depositing the pulled plants into baskets or boats that are brought to shore. Water chestnut can be composted away from the water body. Mechanical harvesters are efficient for removing large infestations of water chestnut. They can remove lots of plants from the surface. However, this method can be quite expensive. It cost the state of Vermont approximately $500,000 to remove water chestnut in 2000. Compared to hand removal, which usually involves many volunteers and few expenses, this method is more expensive but less time consuming. Volunteer to Remove Water Chestnut! Citizens like you help remove these invasive species from our waterways! Volunteers that frequently scout for and remove the invasive plants are the major contributors to preventing heavy infestations. CRC, partners, and other stewards of our rivers collaborate to organize many water chestnut removal events. These community events have been very successful at removing large swaths of water chestnut. In the summer of 2023, 145 volunteers and partners removed 43,000lbs of water chestnuts! You can learn how to identify and report water chestnut as well as when it is appropriate to pull the plants, how to properly pull them, and how to properly dispose of the pulled plants. If you're interested in volunteering visit our volunteer registration site , or sign up for email updates to be notified. For questions related to CRC’s water chestnut program, request a presentation from one of our staff, or to connect about volunteering, contact us at volunteer@ctriver.org or 413.772.2020 207.

The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. Thank you for supporting our mission. Photo courtesy of Al Braden More Ways to Give Connecticut River Conservancy offers diverse ways to support our mission. From online and mail donations to IRA contributions or legacy gifts, we are happy to meet our donors where you are. See below for giving options, or contact us for any questions. For questions or support, please contact Nicole at nreigle@ctriver.org . Charitable Distributions If you're 70 1/2 or older, you can support the Connecticut River through an IRA or Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)—a tax-savvy way to give. More About IRA's Legacy Gifts Legacy gifts may take the form of a bequest, by designating CRC as a life insurance or retirement account beneficiary, or other planned gift. Leave a Legacy Sponsorship Businesses large and small contribute cash, marketing assistance, supplies, employee time and more to help restore and protect our region’s rivers Sponsor Events Workplace Giving Organize an employee group for environmental activities, have your employer match your contribution, or designate CRC as a beneficiary in your workplace campaign. Workplace Options Facebook Fundraiser Facebook fundraisers are a great way to support CRC for your birthday or special occasion while gathering donations from friends and family on social media. Fundraiser Details Stock Donations Gifts of stock often provide tax benefits to you, while allowing you to make more generous gifts to protect your rivers. CRC accepts a range of stock donations. Stock Gifts Online Donation Gifts online can be made by bank transfer, credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, or GooglePay. Donations of any amount help support CRC’s work throughout the watershed. Donate Online Charitable IRA Rollover If you’re over 70, Charitable IRA Rollovers, otherwise known as Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), can be a tax-smart way to put your IRAs to work for causes you cherish like the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC). In most cases, distributions from a traditional Individual Retirement Account are taxable in the year the account owner receives them. However, a QCD is a nontaxable distribution made directly by the trustee of an IRA to an eligible charitable organization like CRC. Taxpayers who make a QCD must be at least 70-1/2 years old on the day of the distribution. A QCD also will count toward a Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) which must be taken each year following the year in which IRA holders turn 72. Such qualified charitable distributions may keep a donor out of a higher tax bracket and at the least avoids paying income tax on the amount up to $100,000 annually. Even if you don’t itemize, you can take advantage of this option to do more for causes you care about like Connecticut River Conservancy. Please click here to download Frequently Asked Questions as well as letter templates you can use to: a) Ask your IRA custodian to make a tax-exempt distribution to the Connecticut River Conservancy this fall; and b) Let CRC know you're making a gift from your IRA as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). To learn more about gifts from your IRAs, please email me at bmorrison@ctriver.org . I’d be delighted to help. Read more about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) at irs.gov . Legacy Gifts Many donors find including a charitable gift to CRC in their estate plan is an effective and satisfying way to ensure a lasting impact while fulfilling their financial goals and providing for loved ones. In many cases, planned gifts can provide immediate and/or future tax benefits. Two of the easiest examples of planned gifts are bequest arrangements and beneficiary designations. Bequests A gift in your will or living trust, known as a bequest, can be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after all other obligations are met. See sample bequest language here. Beneficiary Designations Non-probate assets are not covered in your will or trust and instead require you to name beneficiaries. These assets include bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, donor advised funds, or life-insurance policies. It is very simple to name Connecticut River Conservancy as a beneficiary. Start by requesting a change-of-beneficiary form from your policy administrator or download the form from your provider's website. Make your desired changes and return the form to establish your gift. Please note: Though doing business as Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) since 2018, CRC maintains its legal name, Connecticut River Watershed Council, Inc. and all planned gifts must reference that legal name. Existing bequests or other planned gifts which list Connecticut River Watershed Council, Inc. are correct and need not be revised. Bank Account, Certificate of Deposit, or Brokerage Account Designations Designating Connecticut River Conservancy as beneficiary of your bank accounts, certificates of deposit or brokerage accounts is a simple and straightforward way to support our work. Click here for more details on the two options for making this kind of gift to CRC. Long River Society Have you already named CRC in your will or designated CRC as a beneficiary of a nonprobate asset? Please let us know so we can ensure that your gift is used according to your wishes. Notifying us of your plans will enable us to plan for the use of your future gift. If you prefer to remain anonymous, we will keep your name and gift in strict confidence. For more information or to discuss other options for including CRC in your plans, please contact Brett Morrison, Director of Development, at 413-772-2020, ext. 218 or bmorrison at ctriver.org . Disclaimer: The planned giving information presented on this website is not offered as legal or tax advice. We encourage prospective donors to consult with their estate planning attorney, financial advisor, accountant, or other appropriate professional before making any material decisions based on information provided through this website, printed materials, or other sources. Sponsorship Businesses large and small contribute funding, marketing assistance, supplies, employee time and more to help restore and protect our region’s rivers. You can play your part in protecting the Connecticut River and its watershed while receiving recognition for your commitment to the environment. CRC’s largest annual events are the New England Paddlesports Championship (NEPC) , and the Source to Sea Cleanup , a coordinated cleanup of the rivers, streams and banks that make up the Connecticut River system. These events are popular with CRC's audience, and with the press, appearing in local and regional newspapers regularly. They also attract radio and television coverage plus online exposure through social media, newsletters, and partner networks. The Source to Sea Cleanup will be in its 28th consecutive year in 2024, where over 1,000 volunteers from more than 100 groups in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut will remove tons of trash from the river. You can help ensure these volunteers have the support and supplies needed for a safe and successful cleanup. We can also work with you to develop sponsorships that meet your co mpany’s particular interests and help to fulfill CRC’s mission. To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact Brett Morrison, Director of Development, at 413-772-2020, ext. 218 or bmorrison - at - ctriver.org . Workplace Giving You can support CRC through your workplace. Pull together an employee group to participate in the Source to Sea Cleanup, ask your employer to match your contribution, or designate CRC as a beneficiary in your workplace campaign. Matchin g Gifts Many businesses have their own workplace giving or matching gift programs by which employees can designate a payroll deduction amount to go to the non-profit of their choice or have their donation to a non-profit matched by their employer. You may be able to have your gift matched by asking your employer. Please contact your company’s personnel department to find out whether your employer has such a program. Companies contributing to CRC as part of an employer match include Aetna, Ensign Bickford, Inc., IBM, Microsoft, Nokia, Pfizer, Travelers, United Health Group, and United Technologies. Employee Group Projects A wide range of businesses participate in the annual Source to Sea Cleanup. For more information about the Cleanup and how your company can help, contact Brett Morrison, Director of Development, at bmorrison - at - ctriver.org or 413-772-2020, ext. 218. Groups participating in recent years include All American Waste, Athletic Brewing Company, Eversource, Greenfield Savings Bank, Hypertherm HOPE Foundation, King Arthur Flour, Prentiss Smith & Co. Walmart-Northampton, MA, and many others. Connecticut River Conservancy is a member of EarthShare New England and 1% For the Planet . Another easy and effective way to support the work of Connecticut River Conservancy is by pledging an automatic payroll deduction from each paycheck. Through our partnerships with EarthShare New England and 1% For the Planet , employees at hundreds of public and private organizations can donate through payroll contributions. Find out if your employer has a workplace giving campaign that includes EarthShare here . If you are interested in starting an employee engagement program that involves EarthShare New England at your employer, please contact Nicole Reigle, Assistant Director of Development, at nreigle - at - ctriver.org or 413-772-2020, ext. 221 Giving as a Federal Employee As a member of EarthShare New England, Connecticut River Conservancy participates annually in the largest workplace giving campaign in the nation – the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) for employees of the federal government and the U.S. military. If you are a federal government or military employee and would like to give to Connecticut River Conservancy through the CFC, please enter CFC code #68414 on your pledge card during the next fund drive. Giving as a Public Sector Employee State of Massachusetts employees, including University of Massachusetts Amherst employees, can donate to the Connecticut River Conservancy with UMACC code #104777. More information can be found here: UMACC . State of Connecticut employees can donate to Connecticut River Conservancy with CSEC code # 8614. Click here for more info. Giving Through Your United Way Campaign If your company offers a United Way campaign and EarthShare New England is not listed in your company’s annual giving campaign brochure, you may still donate to EarthShare New England and any of its member organizations by writing the name of the organization in a “donor choice” option. Many campaigns allow you to write in the name of any eligible, tax-exempt charity that has 501(c)(3) designation by the IRS. EarthShare runs successfully side-by-side with United Way in hundreds of campaigns across the country. If you are interested in starting a campaign in your business, please contact Nicole Reigle, Assistant Director of Development, at or 413-772-2020, ext. 221 or nreigle - at - ctriver.org. Got a birthday or special occasion coming up? Would you rather support the nonprofits you love rather than getting more things you don't need? Facebook fundraisers are a wonderful way to honor your special day while gathering donations from friends and family on social media. If you have a Facebook account, here's what you can do: Visit our Facebook account here. Click "fundraisers" at the top (use the magnifying glass to search for "fundraisers" if you don't see it right away. Select "raise money" or "create a fundraiser" on the top right. Customize your fundraiser and select Connect River Conservancy as your nonprofit of choice. From there you can share the fundraiser with your friends and family! Thank you for making a lasting impact for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities in this creative way! Stock Donations Gifts of appreciated stock often provide tax benefits to you, while allowing you to make more generous gifts to protect your rivers. Contact Nicole Reigle, Assistant Director of Development, for more information or gift transfer instructions. You may reach her at nreigle@ctriver.org or 413-772-2020, ext. 221.

Support the Connecticut River by making a contribution for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities. DOUBLE Your Impact! Make your fall gift by Nov. 17th to help earn the full $60,000 challenge Challenge donors have generously agreed to extend their MATCH until 11/17 to give the community more time to earn the full $60,000 Upper Valley Challenge. Join this opportunity for your generosity to do twice as much with CRC. Donate before 11:59PM on 11/17/2024 to DOUBLE your impact for clean water, healthy habitat, and resilient communities. Other Ways to Give Donate by Mail Please mail your check, made out to Connecticut River Conservancy, to: 15 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA 01301 Donate by Phone To donate by phone or to get assistance with your donation, please contact us at 413-772-2020 More Ways to Give Learn about legacy and workplace giving, sponsorships, stock donations and more with more ways to give. For questions about making your gift to support Connecticut River Conservancy, contact Brett at bmorrison - at - ctriver.org or call 413.772.2020 x218.

< Back David Deen Trustee David spent 19 years as a CRC River Steward and 30 years as a Vermont legislator, focusing on public policy and advocating for river protections. For most of his legislative career, he’s been on the Natural Resources/Water Resources committees. He helped found and now serves as chair of the VT/NH Connecticut River Chapter of Trout Unlimited and is a founding incorporator of the Vermont Community Foundation. He serves on the Vermont Climate Council, the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board. David holds a M.S. from Antioch New England Graduate School and has been a NH licensed flyfishing guide for 20+ years, teaching people to fish while simultaneously teaching them the basics of healthy rivers. He tries to fish whenever he can. CRC@ctriver.org

< Back Leslie Harris Trustee, Board Chair Leslie manages the agriculture on 200-acre Quonquont Farm in Whately, MA. Before coming to the farm, she served as a non-profit administrator for more than 25 years, leading the Dakin Humane Society’s transformation from a small, all-volunteer organization to a nationally-recognized resource for companion animals and the people who care about them. She now uses her considerable experience with non-profit finance and resource development to further achieve the missions of organizations doing meaningful work in her community. Leslie also serves as chair of the Trustees of the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation, helping to fund meaningful projects in animal welfare, land conservation, and veterinary research. And she serves on the board of Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture. Leslie and her wife are the kind of people whose idea of a terrific vacation is to see how many dogs they can get into their canoe before they disappear into a cloud of bugs down some remote waterway. CRC@ctriver.org

< Back Tony Judge Trustee Tony grew up on the Connecticut River in South Hadley Falls. For many years, he’s worked as a broadcasting executive and radio, television and film producer. He served as board vice-chair for the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Now returned from the Midwest to the Valley and its great river, Tony’s eager to help the Connecticut River Conservancy in its vital, exciting work.

The Connecticut River Conservancy restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. Here are ways you can get involved for Earth Day! Earth Day Earth Day – and Earth Month in April – is the time of year when nature awakens after the slumber of winter and our field season begins to have the greatest possible impact for the Connecticut River watershed. Whether you’re taking small steps to support your local environment, or you’re ready to get your hands dirty for cleaner rivers, we have several ways to get involved. Community Events See a list of community events from our partners including volunteer opportunities, Earth Day festivals, and other ways to lend a hand for nature. Support CRC's Mission Make a contribution of any amount to support clean water and healthy habitats throughout the Connecticut River watershed. Organize a DIY Cleanup Trash is a big issue in our rivers and you can organize a group of any size to clean up a beach or park near you. Get started with our DIY Cleanup Guide. Community Events Give a Gift Start Organizing #CTRiverWatershed Whether your Earth Day entails river cleanups, advocacy, or simply appreciating the beauty of the great outdoors, we'd love to hear about it! Share your experience with #ctriverwatershed and tag to @ctriverconservancy on Instagram. We’ll be on the lookout to share your photos. You can show the beauty of your favorite river spot or tributary, or use this opportunity to raise awareness for the importance of conservation in your part of the Earth. More Ways to Get Involved If you’d like to read up on the local issues, our news page covers a range of updates including water quality research, education about local habitats and species, comment submissions to state agencies, and more. You can also sign up for our newsletter to be more informed about river-related news throughout the watershed in NH, VT, MA, and CT in your inbox. If you observe a riverside area that could use a cleanup, contact our Source to Sea Cleanup Coordinator at slennard@ctriver.org . Looking ahead beyond Earth Day to volunteer with us? We’ll have many community science activities throughout the summer. Community & Partner Events Massachusetts: Greenfield, MA: Keep Greenfield Beautiful Spring Cleanup on April 19-20 Greenfield, MA: Greenfield Earth Day Celebration in Energy Park on April 21 Northampton, MA: Park Service Day at Elwell State Park with Mass DCR on April 26 Belchertown, MA: Park Service Day at Quabbin Reservoir with Mass DCR on April 26 Springfield, MA: Earth Day Festival with Springfield Museum on April 27 Easthampton, MA: Easthampton Citywide Cleanup organized by Owen Zaret on May 4 Greenfield, MA: Sign up to plant trees with the City of Greenfield in Millers Meadow in May Connecticut: New Hartford, CT: River Cleanup with Farmington River Anglers Association on April 26 Winsted, CT: Earth Day Cleanup with Friends of Main Street on April 26 Farmington, CT: Farmington Town-Wide Cleanup on April 26 Vermont & New Hampshire Brattleboro, VT: Adopt-a-Drain on Earth Day with Windham County NRCD on April 22nd Brattleboro VT/Hinsdale NH: Brattleboro-Hinsdale Island Cleanup & Clearing on April 27th Canaan, NH: Earth Day Celebration and Cleanup on April 26th More community and partner events for Earth Day coming soon. Contact Stacey at slennard@ctriver.org to submit your event. Special thanks to Savings Bank of Walpole for supporting the Connecticut River Conservancy for Earth month. They will donate $5 for every customer who switches to e-statements through June 30th! More Upcoming Events We are updating our events calendar regularly. While not all upcoming events are specific to Earth Day, there are many other opportunities to learn and engage with your rivers. See All Events

The Connecticut River Conservancy restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. Dam Removal River restoration includes improving fish passage and flood resiliency at “pinch points” in our rivers. These obstacles include obsolete dams no longer serving a useful purpose, and undersized culverts that block or hinder fish and other aquatic animals from accessing their entire watershed. CRC works with many partners to safely remove dams and upgrade culverts. Our accomplishments since 2014: There are over 3,000 dams in the Connecticut River watershed. Most of them are obsolete. In addition, there are 44,000 stream crossings (bridges and culverts), many of which are undersized. Why Remove Dams? Fish Passage Removing the old dams, building fish ladders at active hydro dams, and replacing culverts with larger flood and fish-friendly structures allows fish to move upstream to spawn and find colder water during the warm summer months. Creating fish and aquatic animal passage helps reestablish natural cycles in rivers, allowing migratory fish, mussels, amphibians, turtles and a host of aquatic invertebrates access to critical habitat to reproduce. Learn more about migratory fish in the Connecticut River. Flood Resilience By removing obsolete dams and undersized culverts we create natural stream flows that improve flood resiliency in our communities. Each dam removal lowers the flood elevation level and provides additional storage capacity within the river channel during the next big storm. Non-flood control dams do not provide flood storage capacity during large storm events; these obsolete dams only act as a small speed bump during the high flow events. Dam Safety Poorly maintained dams or those that have outlived their useful life are at risk of failing. Dam failure can cause flooding and damage to upstream and downstream infrastructure, homes, businesses, and ecosystems. Any polluted sediment trapped behind a dam is also released. With severe storms becoming more common, dam failure is a growing threat to communities. The National Inventory of Dams is a helpful resource to look at the number of dams in your state, along with their hazard potential. Water Quality Dam removal improves water quality by increasing water flow and oxygen levels and reducing water temperatures critical for aquatic organism health. Many projects also remove the accumulated sediment behind the dam which may contain excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that can be harmful to a healthy river system. Dam removal is often followed by buffer planting in the spring to help stabilize the riverbank for long-term benefit. Learn More About River Restoration Blake Higgins Dam Removal in Bellows Falls, Vermont Project Highlight Connecticut River Conservancy worked with multiple partners to remove the remnant Blake Higgins dam on the Saxtons River, a tributary of the Connecticut River, in Westminster/Bellows Falls, Vermont. Learn More About This Project How We Remove Dams CRC works with private landowners, towns, and other owners of these structures to facilitate dam removal so that our rivers are healthier for everyone to enjoy. Agreement Communicate with landowners to ensure there is agreement on moving forward with a potential project. Permits Secure all necessary local, state, and federal permits legally required for dam removal. Assessment Collect information on site structure, environment, potential benefits, and feasibility of moving forward. Funding for Removal Another round of funding must be secured for the implementation of construction work. Funding for Design Secure funding to move ahead with the design phase - which usually involves grants and regional partnerships. Construction Implement site access, water and sediment management, dam removal, channel and flood bench construction. Project Design Engineers conduct field investigations, surveys, and modeling to create a design plan & cost estimate. Restoration Plant native trees, shrubs and grasses along the riverbank to ensure long-term stability and ecological health. This process can take 3-7 years! After project management and completion, we also monitor the site for several years to document the long-term impact and share results with regional partners and the public. CRC is currently pursuing multiple dam removal projects throughout the watershed, as well as several culvert replacement projects. Grant applications and funding proposals are being submitted to federal and state agencies and many Foundations. This multi-year campaign is focused on tributaries to the Connecticut River watershed where native fish and other organisms are prevented from moving upstream to spawn. CRC's Dam Removal History Dam Removal News CRC Celebrates Trout Unlimited’s Northeast Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program as Restoration Partner of the Year The Restoration Partner of the Year award is a celebration of collaboration for positive ecological impact within the Connecticut River watershed. Greenfield Electric Light & Power Dam Improvements to Begin Engineering Design CRC is collaborating with the City of Greenfield and the Nature Conservancy to advance Green River restoration projects including partial removal of the Greenfield Electric Light and Power Dam and full removal of the Wiley Russell Dam. Valley Street Dam Removal in Springfield VT The Mount Ascutney Regional Commission (MARC) and Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC), in partnership with the Town of Springfield, will begin the process of removing an old dam on Valley Street on September 3rd. For questions about dam removal with Connecticut River Conservancy, contact Ron at rrhodes - at - ctriver.org .

Connecticut River Conservancy invites you to join us for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Enjoy an evening of short films about environmental stewardship, adventure, and fellowship in the natural world at the Bellows Falls Opera House. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Bellows Falls Opera House Hosted by the Connecticut River Conservancy on May 8th, 2025 Enjoy an evening of short films about environmental stewardship, adventure, and fellowship in the natural world at the Bellows Falls Opera House in Vermont on Thursday, May 8th. Festival-goers can expect family-friendly films handpicked by CRC and featuring people working around the globe to promote cleaner water, healthier habitats, and more resilient communities. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. There will also be refreshments, raffle prizes, and guest speakers! Proceeds from the event will benefit CRC’s programs in VT & NH. Raffle prizes have been generously donated by: Blake Hill Preserves, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Burrows Sports, Byway Books, and King Arthur Baking Company. Bellows Falls Opera House 7 Village Square, Bellows Falls, VT 05101 Doors will open at 6:30pm and films will begin at 7pm Here are some of the films you'll see! Mother River Devin pursues her dream to become the first Black woman to kayak the entire Mississippi River, listening to the river and following her guidance to navigate challenges such as the realities of being a minority in the paddling community and the nuances of being a single Mother. Reconnected Subtitle: Restoring the Rivers of Long Island Sound. This film highlights the importance of stream barrier removal through interviews with community members, environmental experts (including CRC), & river advocates. Rivers Cannot Defend Themselves 30 Years ago, the Farmington River became the first partnership wild and scenic river, setting a new precedent and path for rivers to be protected. David Sinish, one of the principal activists who led the fight, looks back at the events that made this unique designation possible. Judy’s Creek Subtitle: Discovering the Secret Life of the Streambed. Follow ecologist, educator, and author, Dr. Judy Li, into the world of caddisflies. Judy shares how her childhood curiosity led to a career in freshwater science, and how she has found ways to share the joys of science with audiences of all ages. Paddle Tribal Waters When the largest dam removal project in history begins, a group of indigenous youth learns to whitewater kayak, hoping to become the first people to paddle the restored Klamath River from source to sea. Healing Hiłsyaqƛis Hiłsyaqƛis (Tranquil Creek) is located within the traditional territory of the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla‐o‐qui‐aht) First Nation in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. A desire to understand sharp declines in wild Pacific salmonoids sparked research, monitoring, and habitat restoration in hopes of helping wild fish populations recover. Mussel Grubbing Subtitle: A Citizen Science Treasure Hunt. Following a citizen scientist's journey of discovery, the film explores the treasure hunt for freshwater mussels in the upper Sangamon River. Finding a diverse collection of healthy mussels means a healthy river and a healthy community. On, In & Under the Sava Armed with a raft, snorkels, and flippers, this film follows the journey of four friends as they drift down Slovenia’s Sava River with one mission: find the elusive finned-monsters that dwell in the deep to help protect the river from dams. River Cowboys: Keepin’ it Wild This short film showcases the stunning landscapes of the internationally recognized Red River Gorge, and Kentucky’s only Wild & Scenic Red River. It highlights an ongoing environmental challenge: removing trash from our waterways. Get Your Tickets! Special Thanks to our Local Sponsors Presenting Sponsors: Watershed Sponsor: River Sponsors: GPI Construction The Richards Group Terrigenous Landscape Architecture Vermont River Conservancy Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association Stream Sponsors: Bobolink Communications Brattleboro Area Realty Brattleboro Communiy Television Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center Connecticut River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Vermont Country Deli Interested in sponsoring this event? We'd love to add your business to the list above! See our sponsorship opportunities and get in touch today. Become a Sponsor Parking & Accessibility The Bellows Falls Opera House is ADA accessible. The wheelchair ramp into the building is on the side, not through the main doors out front. Once in the theater, there is seating available that is wheelchair accessible. Aisles in the theater are long ramps. Bathrooms are gendered & have wheelchair accessible stalls. There is some street parking directly outside of the Bellows Falls Opera House. You can also find plenty of free parking in nearby municipal lots. Here is an area map with parking options.

lzielinski at ctriver.org 603 325-7022 She/Her < Back Lauren Zielinski Stream Restoration Specialist Lauren joined the CRC staff as a Stream Restoration Specialist in July 2024. She has a BSc in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University and an MSc in Ecohydrology from UNESCO-IHE (now IHE Delft) in The Netherlands. She has worked in river science, watershed management, and environmental flows since 2010 and collaborated on projects across the United States and Africa. Some of her highlights include conducting environmental monitoring for stream restoration projects in Lake Tahoe, completing field work in Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park to determine environmental flows in the Mara River in Kenya and Tanzania, leading the first ever environmental flow assessment in the Ouémé River Delta in Benin, and coordinating training courses on water accounting in several countries in Northern Africa and the Near East. Lauren grew up in New Hampshire admiring the beautiful landscapes and waterways, but it wasn’t until she discovered stream restoration during an AmeriCorps internship did her appreciation for water really blossom. Now she works on all aspects of stream restoration, from grant funding and project management to engineering and construction oversight. When she’s not in the water, you can usually find Lauren hiking and camping in the woods or traveling the globe in search of adventure. lzielinski at ctriver.org 603 325-7022 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

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