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Research
Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project
The Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project is a partnership effort initiated by FRWA, the Metropolitan Conservation
Alliance/Wildlife Conservation Society, and 7 towns in the Farmington Valley (Avon, Canton, East Granby, Farmington,
Granby, Simsbury, and Suffield) with technical support from the CT DEP and others. The goal of this project is to collect
information on the species richness (a.k.a., biodiversity) of the region, to map it, and to provide tools to town leaders
and land use commissions on how to conserve their unique natural resources. The Biodiversity Project has tripled the
amount of species information available for the region, and its products have been incorporated (or are being
incorporated) into 6 of the town Plans of Conservation and Development.
Read more about the project and download the official report and maps at the official FVBP page.
Farmington Water Quality Project
In 2002, a 19.6 mile stretch of the Lower Farmington River (between Farmington and Windsor) was added to the state’s
"impaired waters" list for elevated bacteria levels for the first time ever. FRWA is working to uncover the sources
of this problem and address the growing threats to the River’s water quality. There are 5 elements to FRWA’s Water
Quality protection efforts: 1) FRWA completed a "State of the Watershed Report" which evaluated 10 years of data
and provided analysis of water quality, impediments to flow, and other stressors on the River and its tributaries;
2) FRWA conducts water quality sampling monthly for bacteria and quarterly for heavy metals and other pollutants
at several sites in the Upper Farmington River watershed with lab analysis generously provided by the MDC and
funding support from the FRCC. View a list of sampling sites; 3) FRWA is working with the Farmington
Valley Health District to measure levels of bacteria in public recreation sites in the River. 3) FRWA, with support from the USDA NRCS is training volunteers to conduct annual Streamwalks.
So far, Streamwalks have covered over 300 miles of river and stream in the watershed. Read the results
from Streamwalks 2004.; and 4) FRWA, with support from the CT DEP, is training volunteers to conduct
aquatic insect surveys in key areas in the watershed. Results from these fall surveys are posted by the CT DEP
in the late winter.
Read last year’s statewide survey results.
Education
Watershed Education
FRWA has developed a place-based environmental curriculum consisting of 30 lessons for teachers to use at the
elementary, secondary, and
high school levels to communicate about the cultural, historical, wildlife, and water resources
of the Farmington River Watershed. The lessons, training, and a cross-walk to current state curriculum standards are
available for teachers in the watershed. In addition, the FRWA conducts annual educational canoe trips and makes
presentations to municipalities, school groups, garden clubs, and other community organizations.
Contact Aimee
Petras if you have any education questions or curriculum requests.
Advocacy
Wild & Scenic
A 14-mile stretch of the Upper Farmington River (between Colebrook and Canton) was added to the national Wild & Scenic
Rivers system in 1994. The Farmington River Coordinating Committee, upon which FRWA sits as a
permanent member, was established with the Wild & Scenic designation and meets monthly to oversee management and conservation
issues.
Because of the successes of Wild & Scenic on the Upper Farmington River, FRWA has proposed legislation (sponsored by
Senators Christopher Dodd & Joseph Lieberman and Congressional Representatives Nancy Johnson and John Larson) to begin a
study to consider conferring Wild & Scenic status on the Lower Farmington River (from Canton to the river’s mouth in
Windsor) and on Salmon Brook (in East Granby, Granby, and Hartland). In September, 2005, FRWA was the only organization
invited to testify on "The Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild & Scenic Study Act" before the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee. Read bill S435.
FRWA is working to keep federal funding flowing in support of the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. This program supports many local conservation efforts in 8 states on the East Coast
stretching from New Hampshire to Florida. In addition, of course, FRWA is working at the local, state, and federal level
to support and protect strong environmental laws, and is assisting municipalities in complying with resource protection
mandates (e.g., increased obligations to perform stormwater management).
Land Use
With leading support from the Gackstatter Foundation, FRWA is working with local towns, regional organizations and other non-profit organizations to implement land use changes that will protect the Farmington Valley’s unique and important natural legacy. Read more about the program and browse resources for protecting the Farmington Valley’s important natural areas on the Land Use Program page.
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