Category: Uncategorized

We’ve seen the images and heard the stories: turtles caught and choked in the plastic rings from six packs; sixty pounds of plastic and other debris discovered in a deceased whale; massive islands of garbage floating in the ocean, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, estimated to be twice the size of Texas.

Plastic waste invades our planet, and the problem goes way beyond what meets the eye.

Our rivers and seas are teeming with microplastics — tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in length. They come from cosmetics, synthetic clothes, degraded plastics, and have been found in virtually every part of our planet, from tropical sand and coastal waters, to Alpine soil and arctic ice.

Microplastics’ diminutive size makes them less noticeable than larger plastic debris, but potentially more deadly. Once ingested or inhaled, the plastic particles — and the chemicals they may carry — can accumulate up the for chain, causing adverse health problems and impacting entire ecosystems.

Quinnipiac River Fund supports numerous projects focused on understanding microplastics in the Quinnipiac watershed, including a Southern Connecticut State University study of the seasonal variation of these microplastics at waste water treatment facilities in North Haven and Meriden, conducted by Anthony Vignola and Vincent Breslin of the Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as one of the primary sources of microplastic contamination. Vignola’s study notes that though many WWTPs, including North Haven and Meriden, may have high efficiency rates for removing contamination, these systems are not specifically designed to remove microplastics. Plastic particles, and the problems they create, are quite literally falling, or rather flowing, through the cracks. Furthermore, because of the tremendous volume of micro plastics introduced into these WWTP systems, even small percentages of unfiltered plastics can still have significant environmental consequences.

Within the 11.6 million gallons of wastewater treated each day in Meriden, 746,000 microplastics are discharged, leading to an annual impact of more than 272 million microplastics. In North Haven, only 3.1 million gallons are treated daily, and with it a release of 200,000 microplastics, and an annual total of 72 million.

That’s nearly 350 million microplastics deposited into the Quinnipiac River each year from these two facilities alone. There are three additional WWTP’s discharging into the Quinnipiac, which means many hundreds of millions of microplastics polluting her water.

Unfiltered microplastics are only part of the problem, Vignola explains. Even the filtered microplastics can become problematic. These particles get trapped and accumulate in biosolid sludge that is regularly removed from the facilities and often used as fertilizer for farms or forests. If this waste is spread in a watershed, the accumulated plastics have the potential to directly reenter the waterways.

Microplastics come in four main forms: films, fibers, fragments or beads. However, Vignola reports that 74% of all plastics found during his study were microfibers, which “supports the growing body of evidence that mechanical laundering of synthetic clothing is releasing many contaminant fibers.”

“Estimates have shown that a single article of synthetic clothing has the potential to release more than 1,900 fibers per wash (Browne et al., 2011) and a 5 kg load of household laundry may release more than 6,000,000 fibers in one wash cycle (De Falco et al., 2018).”

Vignola and Breslin conducted four seasonal samplings (May, July, November, February) of the wastewater discharge at each site during the course of 2019 – 2020. Microplastics were then extracted, identified, categorized and calculated using a variety of factors, including wastewater flow rate, seasonal temperature, as well as particle type, size and color.

The results at both sites revealed a trend between microplastic concentration and seasonal temperature. Though the trend was statistically significant in Meriden and slighter in North Haven, both showed increased concentrations during the winter and spring season — when fleece and other cozy synthetic favorites abound — supporting the hypothesis that the variation could be related to outerwear choices and laundering. However, Vignola noted, other international studies have produced contradictory results, with concentrations higher during warmer months, prompting consideration of the impact of other geographical factors — such as precipitation, evaporation, and flow rates.

Regardless of the extent of seasonal variations, microplastics, specifically fibers, are a growing problem. The annual production of synthetic fibers grew from 1.9 million tonnes in 1950 to 45.3 million tonnes in 2010 and the industry is still expanding. This study affirms the need for “increased accountability placed on apparel manufacturers who are responsible for using synthetic materials during production.”

As with other areas of plastic consumption, consumer knowledge and choices are also paramount to reducing microplastic contamination. Small changes, implemented by many, can add up to make a big difference. The SCSU study provides some guidance, including:

Using cold water and fast wash cycles to reduce water volume
Washing synthetic clothes less often
Using products designed to capture microfibers while laundering, such as Cora Ball or Lint Luv-R, which were 26% and 87% effective respectively and removing microfibers
Purchasing products made from non-synthetic materials
“Results of this study confirm that treated municipal wastewater is a significant source of microplastics to the Quinnipiac River, and ultimately, Long Island Sound. Financial support provided by the Quinnipiac River Fund was critical for the conduct of this research and will lead to management actions to improve the water quality and reduce microplastic impacts to regional waterways.” – Vincent Breslin, co-coordinator of the Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies

North Haven WWTF

Meriden WWTF

Wet Peroxide Oxidation procedure to isolate micro plastics in the wastewater discharge.

Examples of the different types of microplastics identified in the SCSU study: microfibers, films, fragments, and beads.

Examples of the different types of microplastics identified in the SCSU study: microfibers, films, fragments, and beads.

Examples of the different types of microplastics identified in the SCSU study: microfibers, films, fragments, and beads.

Examples of the different types of microplastics identified in the SCSU study: microfibers, films, fragments, and beads.

A bygone community on the banks of the Quinnipiac

Weed-dappled asphalt, rusty vine-tangled fences, fragments of piers and retaining walls, stone stairs dipping toward the river. A hike through Quinnipiac River State Park, north of Banton Street, reveals remnants of a history much different from the quiet forest that greets us today.

In the 1920s, families flocked to the banks of the Quinnipiac in North Haven, drawn by the beauty and recreation of the woods and water: picnics, swimming, fishing and peaceful living. Called “Little Savin Rock,” it became a hub of summer activity, especially for those escaping the New Haven city heat. A bath house and refreshment stand were built; summer cottages constructed. Over the years, the seasonal retreat grew into a permanent neighborhood, boasting three dozen houses and more than a hundred close-knit neighbors.

For decades the riverside community thrived, but the tide was soon to turn. Upstream development, in particular the construction of I91, altered the watershed, increasing flooding to dangerous proportions. The river rapidly rising, at times up to five feet above its banks, destroyed property and left residents stranded on roofs and porches, requiring rescue by rowboat and rope.

The once cozy community had become a dangerous floodplain and, by 1973, it was clear that a more permanent rescue was in order for the people who called Banton Street home. The state appropriated funds, purchased the properties and relocated the families to higher and drier ground.

Banton Street was abandoned; homes boarded up or hauled away. Streets that once invited recreation, now drew vandals. The ghost town grew dangerous and unsanitary: suspicious fires, seeping septics tanks, weed-filled foundations filling with water.

Eventually, bulldozers dealt with the abandoned structures, and what remained was left to be reclaimed by nature.

Today, we hike among magnolia trees, marsh daisies, moss, and mud. The serenity of a forest-ensconced river mingles with the muffled hum of the nearby Merit Parkway, and, among it all, the vestiges of Banton Street still spark curiosity of the community that once called these Quinnipiac banks their home.

For more information on Banton Street, visit North Haven
https://www.northhaventrails.org/press

and to view trail information visit https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/connecticut/quinnipiac-river-loop?p=22423753

Marooned with chickens on rooftop. Overbook road. Earl Coughlin’s home.
Photo courtesy of North Haven Historical Society and Museums Archives

Funding to study microplastics and other pollutants, advocacy and organizations working to improve the water quality and enjoyment of the Quinnipiac River

April 22, 2020 (New Haven, CT) Once home to a thriving waterfront, the Quinnipiac River has suffered from pollution since the Industrial Revolution. Although the river has become cleaner in recent decades, most sections are classified by the State Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection as impaired, or not supporting aquatic life and recreation.

The Quinnipiac River Fund annually provides grant funding to projects working to improve the health of the river and its ecology. For 2020, the fund awarded 10 projects a total of $131,388. Funded projects include the identification and monitoring of known pollutants, the study of microplastics in the water and soils, and ecological research. The creation of a volunteer corps established to monitor inland/wetlands permits also received funding. See the full list below.

The Quinnipiac River Fund was established in 1990 at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven with a mission to improve the environmental quality of the river, New Haven Harbor and the surrounding watersheds. Since the fund’s inception, it has granted more than $2.7 million to support a variety of projects to benefit the river: scientific research of the river and its ecology; identifying and monitoring pollutants; pollution mitigation and control; permit monitoring; river advocacy; habitat restoration; public access; education; and other projects. See a full list on www.thequinnipiacriver.com.

Note: Grant awards were made prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will delay some of the projects described below.

2020 QUINNIPIAC RIVER FUND RECOMMENDATONS FOR FUNDING
Organization	Award	Description
Canal Dock Boathouse, Inc.	$15,000	Recreation and engagement: Boating programs on the New Haven Harbor and on the Quinnipiac and Mill rivers for New Haven high school students, summer camp programs for youth, dragon boat competitions for adults and community boating events for adults.
New Haven Land Trust	$15,000	Conservation and education: The protection and care of the Quinnipiac Meadows and Long Wharf Nature Preserves along with outreach programming and volunteer events. Support will also benefit Schooner Camp and a new Preserves Intern training program.
Quinnipiac University	$20,000	Pollutant Monitoring and Research: Monitoring, identifying and quantifying known pollutants from industrial outflows along the Quinnipiac River, specifically industrial areas in Wallingford and North Haven.
River Advocates of South Central Connecticut	$15,769	Permit Monitoring: The recruitment and training of a permits observer corps to monitor local land use commissions and screen for testimony local land use permits, and to assist in monitoring of state level permits affecting water quality.
Southwest Conservation District	$3,650	Recreation and Engagement: Cleaning logs and debris from a blocked access for boats in the Quinnipiac River.
University of New Haven	$9,675	Scientific Research: Study of the prevalence of the ulvoid bloom in the New Haven Harbor.
University of New Haven	$13,859	Pollutant Monitoring and Research: Study the prevalence, concentration, and physical characteristics of microplastics in water and sediment samples throughout the lower Quinnipiac River and New Haven Harbor, and their fish communities.
University of New Haven	$13,822	Scientific Research: Study of the thermal profile of the Quinnipiac River in response to climate change.
Yale University	$4,856	Scientific Research: Monitoring marsh surface elevations as well as the salinity and vegetation in one lobe of the marsh, and to support measurement of soil salinity and vegetation cover in marsh-bordering areas at the Quinnipiac Meadows Preserve.
Yale University	$19,757	Pollutant Monitoring and Research: Study of microplastics in storm run-off to tributaries throughout the Quinnipiac River watershed.
Total:	$131,388

North Haven Tidal Marsh Trail reveals secrets of its railway past

photos by Ian Christmann

He tells hobo tales to captivate the audience gathered on the grassy slope, recounting fables of those who rode the rails in bygone days. Behind him, the Quinnipiac winds its way through the North Haven marshes, bearing its own unspoken stories of a railroad era as it passes the vine-wrapped light platforms and towers that once guided the freight cars of Cedar Hill.

Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk, and his hobo tales, are just one of the many events organized by the North Haven Trail Association to peek the public’s interest in the scenic Tidal Marsh Trail that stretches a half mile between portions of the abandoned rail yard and Quinnipiac’s marshy banks.

The trailhead begins behind Target on Universal Drive, offering sweeping views westward over the river and marsh grass, with East Rock’s Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument and Sleeping Giant’s dozing profile in the distance. Small fishing paths lead down eroded banks to the water’s edge, where you may find osprey, heron and even eagles hunting in the

To the east, the forest floor bears evidence of Cedar Hill rail yard’s former glory. Steel tracks curve through grasses, leaves and tree roots. Rusted light towers — now home to nesting ospreys — rise in the distance. At the trail’s end, unofficial and mostly-overgrown footpaths lead to more abandoned remnants: collapsed pump houses, derelict warehouses and eerie concrete tunnels.

At its hey-day, Cedar Hill was the largest rail depot east of the Mississippi, covering more than 880 acres and stretching seven miles from New Haven to North Haven. Built between 1910 – 1920, Cedar Hill served as a major terminal for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. It held 14 of New Haven’s 25 yards, and handled a record of 9,415 cars in a single day.

After WWII, with advancements in transportation methods, Cedar Hill grew quiet. By the 80s, most of the yards and tracks were abandoned. What remains today adds mystery and intrigue to the woodland trail, and reminds us of the complex history of development in New Haven and its impact on the watershed, whether through injury or apathy.

The latter still apparent on the trail today. Rather than rails and freight, rows of boxy retail stores and restaurants, built with their back to the river, and thousands of patrons who daily frequent the area, with no awareness of the beauty just behind them.

Current day photos by Ian Christmann

Once home to a thriving oyster industry, the community along the banks of the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, Connecticut still reflects its rich heritage. Though much has changed since its peak in the mid 1800s, thanks to the preservation efforts of residents, non-profit organizations, and city and state agencies, its charm and character remains. Strolling the neighborhood, homes, buildings and bridges speak of its heritage, and invoke wonder of days gone by. This photo series provides a glimpse of the landscapes of today and how they looked in yesteryears, a reminiscence that is especially important as one of the community’s iconic bridges, the Grand Avenue bridge, closes for a two-year rehabilitation, aimed at restoring its infrastructure, while retaining its historic form.

*click on a photo to view fullscreen

Eco-art makes a splash for New Haven waterways

Photos by Ian Christmann

“It’s incredible how a little bit of art can change a space,” a passerby observed of the empty lot between two abandoned buildings on Grand Avenue. Once bland and crumbling concrete walls now burst with colorful murals of sea-swirls, waves, fish and aquatic creatures — and eclectic art installations fill the parcel with intrigue.

The transformation was accomplished by a summer-long environmental program called Lots of Fish, aptly named for the creature featured most often throughout the art. The multi-faceted program was the vision of JoAnn Moran, founder of Art25, and made possible by a grant from the Quinnipiac River Fund.

JoAnn’s aim was to engage youth and community members in art and impact projects that encourage thought and care for the Quinnipiac and New Haven’s other waterways.

Her mission took many forms, most of which involved brushes and bright paints. Working with teens from Youth At Work, and community volunteers of all ages, Lots of Fish used color to make a scene.

Street banners from City festivals and events were re-purposed with witty and thought-provoking environmental themes. A banner advertising a midsummer night’s dream became midsummer night’s fish, and poised the question “Do Fish Sleep?”

Storm Drains were adorned with sea creatures and reminders that “all water leads to the sea” to raise citizen awareness of the direct connection between rainwater runoff and the health of our waterways.

Tires, boots and other refuse collected from Quinnipiac’s banks and other dumping sites turned into sculptures and installation art. For volunteer Ricky, an abandoned boat became a canvas to stretch his creativity.

“I wanted to be a part of this so bad,” he described seeing the activity in the lot early in the summer. Though he had often passed by the area, joining Lots of Fish inspired him to consider the river in a new light. “I feel like people should utilize [the Quinnipiac] rather than destroy it with litter.”

Of all the projects created by Lots of Fish, one of the most popular and practical were one-of-a-kind rain barrels, featuring art hand-painted by children and community members. The barrels were given for free, and in high demand. Attached to a gutter’s downspout, rain barrels catch and store rainwater that can be later used to water gardens or potted plants, wash windows or even the car, thus reducing city water consumption.

“It’s amazing how many people want rain barrels now. How would that be exciting any other way,” JoAnn expressed.

On August 1, Lots of Fish showcased their eclectic creations with an Eco-Art festival in the lot they had transformed. The event featured live music, organic produce, art, and lots of creatively-named kids games, such as “yes, we can strike out litter” bowling and pin the fin on the fish.

Building on the success of the summer program and the state-mandated sustainability goals it fulfills, Lots Of Fish is launching Run-off Art, a storm water impact and education program for New Haven’s schools. This city-wide model will engage schools, community groups, artists and even musicians who will write ballads and songs dedicated to storm drains and rain barrels!

“But it’s not all songs and paint” Jo Ann explains that the initiative will undertake mapping the watershed storm drains neighborhood by neighborhood.

So when you see the bright art on storm drains, take notice, and remember, we’re all connected, especially by our waterways.

For more information on Lots of Fish, and continued opportunities for creative involvement, visit: https://lotsoffish.info.
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Pipe and dam removal restore Quinnipiac’s current

In early April 2019, backhoes and excavators descended on the River in Meriden, dismantling an exposed but obsolete water line. The pipe was the last barrier preventing migratory fish from swimming upstream to their spawning grounds of days gone by. Its removal was part of a multi-year collaborative effort that included dismantling two dams in 2016: the Carpenters Dam in Meriden and the Clark Brothers Dam in Southington. The result: 16 miles of river opened for unimpeded travel, a benefit for herrings and humans alike.

The newly opened upstream gives the river’s fin-bearing residents — such as shad, herring and other migratory fish — access to habitat critical for growing their population. And for those voyagers wielding paddles, it means an end to tricky portages during canoe or kayak excursions of the upper Quinnipiac. And as an added bonus, the work was complete just in time for QRWA’s annual Downriver Classic boat race.

New England is replete with dams, and Connecticut waterways have more than 5,000. According to a dam inventory in 1983, 109 dams have been constructed on the Quinnipiac River and its tributaries. Many of Connecticut’s dams no longer provide economic benefit and have fallen into disrepair. These outdated dams prevent fish movement, impede recreational access, pose flooding risks, and block natural sediment from flowing downstream to replenish estuaries and beaches.

In recent years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound have targeted the removal of dams in New Haven and Mystic, joining a trend across the nation to remove dams that cause environmental damage.

A 2011 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assessment showed that every mile of river opened can contribute more than $500,000 annually in social and economic benefits once fish populations are at their full productivity.

Such progress is especially important for a river like the Quinnipiac, whose history is replete with mistreatment. In fact, the project itself was funded by a settlement with the Solvents Recovery Service and Old Southington Landfill Superfund sites, both located in Southington, CT, and both contaminators of the river. When active, these sites leached hazardous wastes including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals into the river. Later remediation efforts further injured the river and its wetlands, destroying foraging habitat for fish and birds and rendered millions of gallons of water in the watershed undrinkable.

In the 1980s, a five-year legal battle against the polluters resulted in a damages settlement of approximately $800,000 to restore impacted natural resources. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified dam and barrier removals as an efficient use of the funds.

With the project’s completion, all but three of Quinnipiac’s 38 miles flow freely for the first time in more than two centuries. And while this unhindered current won’t wash away all the abuses the River’s endured, it’s indeed a positive course of action for the Quinnipiac.

Read more:
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/Barrier-removed-from-Quinnipiac-River-in-Meriden-in-last-phase-of-restoration-project.html

https://www.apnews.com/1eca50c79e2b41abaeee3387494c034b

https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-quinnipiac-river-barriers-removed-20190425-r5krrvyrzfacrdmzooswccmt3i-story.html

Canal Dock Boathouse opens doors for New Haven to engage its waterfront

Photos by Ian Christmann (may not be reused without permission)

We’ve watched the walls rise and the architecture emerge on the striking new building on Long Wharf. Passing by on I95, or after a trip to the food trucks or Ikea, we’ve navigated construction fencing and closed sidewalks. But on September 22, 2018, all traces of hard hats and machinery disappeared, and the doors to New Haven’s newest landmark — the Canal Dock Boathouse — opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that drew hundreds (see photos from the ribbon-cutting ceremony below). As guests toured the gleaming halls and spacious rooms, the building buzzed with salty possibilities, yet the excitement would have to wait just a little while longer, as final occupancy details kept the boathouse shuttered for the fall.

Today, warmer weather beckons us outside and sea-side, and the Canal Dock Boathouse is ready to greet us, “opening New Haven’s waterfront for adventure, discovery and growth” with opportunities that include rowing lessons, rowing-based fitness, paddling excursions, boat storage, youth programs, interpretive displays, and event-ready meeting rooms with breath-taking views.

So if you’re ready to engage the sea, here are ways you can do it at Canal Dock.

1. Visit. Visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Guests can explore the building’s unique architecture, which blends modern design with historic elements from the original Adee Memorial Boathouse. History buffs will also appreciate the many interpretive displays chronicling New Haven’s harbor and rowing history, the Adee Boathouse, as well as the Connecticut Freedom Trail. And no visit would be complete without a stroll along the water on the community plaza, where views and breezes abound.

2. Learn.  Are you captivated by the allure of rowing, but never held an oar? Canal Dock provides opportunities for all ages to learn the sport. Private or small-group lessons are available at $75 per hour or $325 for five (one-hour) sessions. For youth (8^th – 10^th grade) Canal Dock will offer an “Intro to Rowing” camp this summer with four, one-week sessions (June 24 – June 28, July 8 – July 12, July 22 – July 26, August 5 – August 9). Hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. No prior rowing experience is necessary. Participants will learn to scull in single shells, learn plyometric & stretching exercises, row on Concept2 ergometers, and have fun exploring the New Haven Harbor and Quinnipiac & Mill Rivers in New Haven. Space is limited to nine youth per session. Cost: $575 for a one-week session. Contact Nicole for more information. (nicole@canaldock.org)

3. Join. If you’re ready to dive in and make rowing or paddling a regular part of your fitness and recreation routine, Canal Dock membership provides access to equipment, outings, social events and more. Contact Jan for more information. (jan@canaldock.org)
   1. Basic Membership: $100 annually
      – fitness classes (when available)
      – social events
      – locker room access
      – boat storage program (additional fees apply for boat storage)
   2. Paddling Membership: $250 annually (over age 30), $200 annually (under age 30)
      – fitness classes  (when available)
      – social events
      – locker room access
      – boat storage program (additional fees apply for boat storage)
      – use of Canal Dock paddling equipment
      – group paddling outings 2 – 4 times per week
   3. Rowing Membership (rowing competency must be demonstrated prior to activation of membership): $250 annually (over age 30), $200 annually (under age 30)
      – fitness classes (when available)
      – social events
      – locker room access
      – boat storage program (additional fees apply for boat storage)
      – group rowing outings 2 – 4 times per week
      – use of Canal Dock rowing equipment
   4. Paddling and Rowing combined: $300 annually (over age 30), $250 annually (under age 30)
      – fitness classes (when available)
      – social events
      – locker room access
      – boat storage program (additional fees apply for boat storage)
      – group rowing or paddling outings 2 – 4 times per week
      – use of Canal Dock rowing and paddling equipment

4. Celebrate. Have an event and need a venue? Consider treating your guests to Canal Dock’s waterfront beauty. The Boathouse has two rooms available for private meetings or events: the Canal Dock Room (just over 3600 square feet) and the Adee Room (just shy of 1300 square feet). Both rooms offer direct access to a large outdoor balcony with expansive views of New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound. Click here for more information and pricing. Contact Erika for more information. (erika@canaldock.org).

5. Race. Ready for a fun, high-spirited, team-building experience? Canal Dock’s annual Dragon Boat Regatta promotes camaraderie, community-building, and light-hearted competition. On Saturday, June 1, 2019, participants of all sizes and ages will paddle in unison to the beat of their very own drummer as they propel 41-foot dragon boats over a 200-meter racecourse. After the races, the festivities will continue with Long Wharf’s annual Food Truck Festival. So grab your friends, co-workers, or colleagues and get on board for a unique dragon boat adventure. Canal Dock supplies all boats and equipment. Space is limited and registration ends on May 20, 2019.  Click here for more information.

6. Contribute. Canal Dock Boathouse aims to give all New Haven residents opportunities to experience New Haven’s waterfront, and they could use your help. Although Canal Dock operates in a shiny new building, the organization itself is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, leasing the City-owned boathouse building. Canal Dock runs Metro Boating, a free weekly program for students from Metropolitan Business Academy. Your support of Canal Dock enables them to continue low-cost community rowing, as well as expand opportunities to introduce more New Haven youth to the physical and social benefits of paddling and rowing. Click here to donate.

New Haven, CT (April 22, 2019) – The Quinnipiac River Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven has awarded $138,000 in grants to study, improve, and reduce the pollution in the Quinnipiac River and its surrounding watershed. The competitive grants were awarded to eleven organizations working in Greater New Haven.

The Quinnipiac River starts west of New Britain and flows through Wallingford and North Haven before spilling into New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound. The river has long history pollution from heavy industry and urban development.

The Quinnipiac River Fund was established in 1990 and has a mission is to improve the environmental quality of the river, New Haven Harbor and the surrounding watershed. It is a permanent fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and its grants and distributions are recommended each spring by an Advisory Committee and approved by The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. The grants support studies of the ecology, studies of pollution, public access to the river, land use planning, land acquisition around the river, habitat restoration, advocacy, education, and other relevant projects.

2019 Grant Awards

$4,500 to ART 25, a New Haven arts group, to support a summer employment program for New Haven youth that will help reduce pollution entering in the Quinnipiac River. The employed youth will stencil messages at stormwater drains warning not to dump polluting materials.

$16,800 to Canal Dock Boathouse, Inc. to support boating events, club boating programs, and vendor-operated rentals of kayaks and paddle boards on the New Haven Harbor and on the Quinnipiac and Mill rivers.

$3000 to the City of Meriden, to support a Public Works Department pilot program to retrofit hooded outlet protection on ten existing storm water catch basins that are in storm water systems that discharge into the Quinnipiac River or one of its tributaries.

$13,000 to Land Use Leadership Alliance (LULA), to support policy, planning and regulatory training for natural resource protection, stormwater runoff, watershed protection, and shoreline resiliency to municipalities in the Quinnipiac River Watershed.

$10,000 to New Haven Land Trust, to support the protection and care of the Quinnipiac Meadows and Long Wharf Nature Preserves, as well as to support efforts  to acquire additional preserve property and increase outreach programming, volunteer events, and Schooner programs that engage the local community with the Quinnipiac River and its surrounding environments.

$17,000 to Quinnipiac University, to support monitoring, identifying and quantifying known pollutants from industrial outflows along the Quinnipiac River, specifically industrial areas in Wallingford and North Haven.

$15,000 to River Advocates of South Central CT to support the recruitment and training of a permits observer corps to monitor local land use commissions and screen for testimony local land use permits, as well as assist in monitoring of state level permits affecting water quality.

$16,000 to Southern Connecticut State University, to support an examination of the seasonal variation in the composition and quantity of microplastic particles from wastewater treatment facilities discharging treated wastewater into the Quinnipiac River.

$17,300 to University of New Haven, to support the sampling of cyanobacterial communities in the Quinnipiac River in order to identify and monitor known bloom-forming species that may also produce toxins.

$8,400 to Yale University to support the monitoring of marsh surface elevations as well as the salinity and vegetation in one lobe of the marsh, and to support measurement of soil salinity and vegetation cover in marsh-bordering areas at the Quinnipiac Meadows Preserve.

$17,000 to Yale University to support to support the measurement of mercury in bottom sediments and in fish from ponds spanning the Quinnipiac River watershed to determine where it exceeds safety thresholds.

About The Community Foundation

Thanks to the generosity of three generations of donors, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven gave out $34.6 Million in grants and distributions in 2018. The endowment, valued at approximately $570 million at year-end, is composed of hundreds of individually-named funds. In addition to its grantmaking, The Community Foundation helps build a stronger community by leading on issues and supporting donors and nonprofits in creating a community of opportunity for all. The Foundation’s 20-town service area includes: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge. For more information about The Community Foundation, visit www.cfgnh.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.org/cfgnh or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cfgnh

Quinnipiac-River

If you’re keen to explore the upper passages of the Quinnipiac River by canoe or kayak, be prepared to duck, climb and carry. Downed trees and woody debris form frequent obstacles, requiring clever craft maneuvering or an occasional short portage. The Quinnipiac River Fund estimates that 30 – 40 newly fallen trees impact the river each year. That’s a significant nuisance for boat navigation, so why not remove them?

While they may be inconvenient, the most eco-sensitive solution is not to extract them, the Fund explains, but rather address the root of the problem, which happens to involve the roots. Trees along the Quinnipiac are uprooted more often than those along less-developed waterways due to the high-levels of impervious cover in Quinnipiac’s watershed. Hard surfaces — such as driveways, roads and parking lots — carry stormwater at greater amounts and velocities than natural surfaces, leading to increased bank erosion and more frequent tree falls.

To help mitigate the erosion, the Fund supports efforts aimed at educating landowners and municipalities on the importance of low-impact development, including encouraging towns to require vegetative buffers — strips of land with permanent vegetation designed to intercept rapid stormwater runoff.

In the meantime, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection suggest that most wood and downed trees should be allowed to remain in the river, as they help reduce the erosion problem by dissipating energy and stabilizing the banks. Likewise, DEP fisheries say that fallen trees provide important habitat for fish and wildlife.

Although removal of the downed trees is discouraged, minimal clearing and cutting is permissible, and often critical, to provide safe passage for water activities. Organizations like the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association organize clean-up activities and train volunteers to address the fallen trees in a manner sensitive to both environment and recreational access.

So when you encounter a maze of trunks and branches on your next Quinnipiac adventure, remember the river’s many challenges, and let the inconvenience propel you to action for a healthier Quinnipiac. Visit our conservation page to see how simple household actions — from lawn care to composting — can make a difference.