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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. 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. Sign up for Email & Newsletters with the form below For questions about our newsletters or programs, contact us at crc - at - ctriver.org or 413-772-2020.

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

The Connecticut River Conservancy restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. River Restoration Healthy riverbanks, floodplains, and forests throughout the Connecticut River watershed are essential to supporting clean water and thriving habitats in our rivers. That’s why CRC regularly plants native trees and shrubs along riparian zones of the main stem river and tributaries, restores floodplain forests and wetlands to their natural conditions, and conducts related projects to filter pollution, slow fast-moving waters, and provide a buffer zone between our streams and other land uses. CRC and partners have planted 102,362 TREES spanning approximately 313.8 acres throughout the watershed (since 2012) Here are some of the ways CRC restores healthy rivers: Forested Riparian Buffers Buffer planting involves planting native trees and shrubs to create a vegetation zone between developed land and waterways, thereby helping protect water quality by filtering sediments and nutrients, controlling erosion, and slowing water flow during floods. This often comes with a benefit of supporting native biodiversity, including birds, pollinating insects, fish, and other wildlife. CRC’s riparian buffer planting projects in 2024 alone resulted in 7,331 native trees and shrubs planted, restoring roughly 13.8 acres of riparian land along the Connecticut River and several tributary streams. To date, CRC and partners have planted over 100,000 native trees and shrubs throughout the Connecticut River watershed. Floodplain Forest and Wetland Restoration Restoring floodplains includes removing artificial berms, planting or seeding in native trees and shrubs, and converting former farm fields back into natural floodplain forests. These restoration activities increase flood storage capacity during storm events, reduce potential damage to infrastructure, help limit sedimentation of aquatic habitat, improve natural river functions, and store carbon. Additionally, CRC's Conservation Scientist, Fritz Gerhardt, is conducting research on restoration strategies with regional partners to inform future projects. One example is this Riparian Restoration Experiment in Vermont. Strategic Wood Additions Strategic wood addition projects use felled trees to add roughness in small headwater streams by securing them in place at defined intervals. These projects help reduce nitrogen inputs into the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound for improved water quality; increase habitat for native brook trout and other aquatic organisms; increase aquatic biomass; lower stream temperatures; and help slow runoff from headwater streams, which can reduce flooding downstream. To date, CRC and Redstart have restored 17 miles of river habitat in 50 streams with 13 different landowners. Biostabilization These projects help stabilize banks with large woody material known as rootwads to provide natural protection from erosion during high flow events or water quality impairments. Rootwads help trap sediment and debris, reduce nitrogen loading, and allow the stream bank to revegetate over time. They also add complexity to the river channel, slowing flows and providing cover for fish and other aquatic organisms. CRC's Tree Planting History (Through 2024) Dam Removal + River Restoration CRC’s riverbank plantings are often done in connection with a recently removed dam to ensure long-term stability and ecological health. The Connecticut River watershed includes over 3,000 dams and over 44,000 stream crossings such as culverts – many of which are obsolete and no longer serving a useful purpose. Here's an example of a tree planting following a dam removal in Wilmington, VT. Removing old dams restores vital stream access for migratory fish, supports flood resilience, and improves water quality. Our restoration teams usually plant trees, shrubs, and other plants in the area surrounding the removed dams during the following spring season. To date, CRC and partners have removed 24 defunct dams, upgraded 6 culverts, and restored over 427 miles of river habitat. Learn More About Dam Removal Why Floodplain Forests and Wetlands are Important In addition to being oxygen-producers, trees provide a range of other important benefits to rivers, people, and wildlife in our watershed. Including the following: Slowing rainwater runoff to reduce flooding, erosion, and pollution, and recharging aquifers. Providing important habitat for all kinds of animals, including those that fly, swim and crawl. Keeping our rivers cool helping fish and other river life. They do the same thing for our cities and homes. Capturing carbon dioxide locking it away in its roots, leaves, wood, and soil. Improving water quality as well as absorbing and filtering pollution from our soil and air. Creating beautiful places providing spots to gather, reflect, and enjoy nature. Restoration News Biostabilization Project to Address Erosion on Jacobs Brook in Orford, NH The goal of this river restoration project is to address severe erosion and use natural materials (rootwads and native vegetation) to dissipate the river’s energy during storms, reducing the potential for future erosion and improving instream and riparian habitats in this part of the Connecticut River watershed. How to Support Turtles and Their Habitats in the Connecticut River Watershed Learn about the 7 species of turtles in the Connecticut River watershed, CRC's current project for turtle habitat restoration, and how to help injured turtles you may encounter. Connecticut River Conservancy to Plant 100,000th Tree with Ceremony in Bellows Falls 🌳 Since launching the restoration program in 2012 after the environmental impacts of hurricane Irene the year prior, CRC has worked to plant native trees and shrubs throughout the Connecticut River watershed in NH, VT, MA, and CT. For questions about river restoration with Connecticut River Conservancy, contact Ron at rrhodes - at - ctriver.org.

dchaplin at ctriver.org 413-834-0079 She/Her < Back Diana Chaplin Director of Communications Diana brings over 15 years of experience in communications strategy and marketing for both nonprofit and startup organizations with a distinct passion for conservation and uplifting storytelling. Her background also includes publishing, leadership development, and graphic design. Prior to joining CRC in 2022, Diana was the Marketing Director at global reforestation nonprofit One Tree Planted during 5 years of its early critical growth, establishing the organization as a media-savvy environmental brand and growing a robust internal team while funding the planting of over 40 million trees – including being a funding partner of CRC! Diana currently oversees CRC's content throughout this website, email, social media, and custom distribution channels in partnership with programs staff. When she’s not working, Diana enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her family in Massachusetts. dchaplin at ctriver.org 413-834-0079 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

mharrisvincent at ctriver.org 603-503-0419 She/Her < Back Marilla Harris-Vincent River Steward in New Hampshire Marilla joined CRC as the NH River Steward in January 2025. Prior to joining CRC, she worked as a research assistant helping develop an environmental health literacy and water education program on the Crow Reservation in Montana. Marilla holds a M.S. in Water Resource Policy and Management from East Central University. During this program she traveled to Lake Victoria in Kenya to participate in an intensive Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) program, deepening her knowledge in water and wastewater infrastructure systems, indigenous water technology, sustainable water practices, and international water law. She also received a B.A in Psychology and Environmental Science & Policy from Smith College. When not working, you can find Marilla outside hiking, skiing, gardening, and experimenting with fermentation. She lives in New Hampshire's Upper Valley with her husband, Jack, and their two dogs, Apple and Smokey mharrisvincent at ctriver.org 603-503-0419 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

rrhodes at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 214 He/Him < Back Ron Rhodes Director of Programs Ron joined CRC in 2011 as the northern NH & VT River Steward, before transitioning in 2020 to leading our Restoration Program where he spent most of his time removing old dams, planting trees, and working with landowners and partners to implement river restoration projects. Ron has served as the project manager for 29 aquatic organism passage projects, opening more than 425 miles of habitat. Now, Ron is the Director of Programs where he leads CRC’s various aquatic and riparian habitat programs (Aquatic Invasive Species, Migratory Fish, Recreation & Access, Restoration, and Water Quality Monitoring) throughout the watershed in NH, VT, MA and CT. rrhodes at ctriver.org 413-772-2020 ext. 214 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. Finance & Policies Financial Statements Fiscal year ending June 30th, 2024 Audited Financial Statement IRS Form 990 2023 - IRS Form 990 and Financial Statement 2022 - IRS Form 990 and Financial Statement Policies Easement Monitoring & Enforcement Policy Affirmative Action Plan Non-Discrimination Policy By Laws Fiscal Sponsorship Policy Sexual Harassment Policy Delegation of Signature Authority to E.D. CRC Investment Policy Statement Sick & Medical Leave Policy CRC Endowment Spending Policy Whistleblower Policy Document Management & WISP Policy Gift Acceptance Policy Procurement policy (Executive Director issued) 2024 Annual Report 2023 Restoration Summary 2022 Annual Report for Programs 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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kurffer at ctriver.org 802-258-0413 She/Her < Back Kathy Urffer Director of Policy and Advocacy Kathy joined CRC in 2017. Prior to moving to Vermont, Kathy was Special Projects Manager and Operations Director for Hackensack Riverkeeper in New Jersey. In addition to managing the staff and day to day finances of the organization, she developed and ran their river cleanup program, assisted with their canoe and pontoon boat eco-cruise programs, managed stream restoration projects, and fish advisory, outreach and education projects. More recently she has served on the Board of the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Association, the Windham Regional Commission, and has worked on education projects related to wastewater treatment. Kathy holds a M.S. in Natural Resource Management from Antioch New England University, a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers, and is a former Vermont Leadership Institute Fellow from the Snelling Center for Government. She is a self-taught amateur botanist and herbalist and enjoys re-learning about the natural world through the eyes of her two children. kurffer at ctriver.org 802-258-0413 Our Mission Get to Know Our Mission, Vision, & Values Upcoming Events Register to Learn & Connect Get Involved Volunteer, Participate, or Donate

Support the Connecticut River by making a contribution for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities. Support the Connecticut River Every contribution supports our mission of clean water, healthy habitats, and thriving communities. Together, we can restore free-flowing rivers for fish passage and recreation in the Connecticut River and tributaries for years to come. 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.