GNHWPCA Partners with the Community to Protect the Environment
The West River Watershed Coalition recently applied for a greenway designation for the West River watershed and has been accepted as a designated greenway by the Connecticut Greenways Council. The West River Watershed Coalition was formed two years ago and is made up of individuals from many different organizations who envision safe, clean water with enhanced public access and recreation opportunities for the West River. See below for the list of organizations.
Once a site is designated as a greenway, the area will receive special signs to post at trailheads and road crossings and be included in future plans for greenway development. The greenway designation was supported by municipalities and organizations which have control in the watershed. They are New Haven, Hamden, Woodbridge, Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority and the South Central Regional Water Authority.
Along with the Greenway designation for the West River, a watershed management plan has also been developed by the coalition. The document is a watershed-based plan for the West River to guide future uses and protections. The watershed plan provides a blueprint to help groups within the watershed work across municipal boundaries to better protect and restore water resource conditions throughout the watershed.
Objectives of the watershed plan include identifying specific actions to protect and improve water quality, facilitate capacity-building and engage the watershed municipalities and other stake holder groups in the watershed planning process and future plan implementation, create a plan that satisfies EPA and CTDEEP requirements for watershed-based plans. This will better position the West River for future grant funding from State and Federal sources.
These important accomplishments show the value of everyone working together to protect the environment and make it a better community to live in. Learn more about the West River watershed management plan at: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/water/watershed_management/wm_plans/west/westriver_techmemo1.pdf
WEST RIVER WATERSHED COALITION PARTICIPANTS: Barnard Environmental Studies Magnet School, CARE (Community Alliance for Research and Engagement), Columbus House, Common Ground/New Haven Ecology Project, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Elm City Cycling, Friends of Beaver Pond Park, Friends of Edgewood Park, Greater New Haven BioRegional Group, Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority, Greater New Haven Water Works Coalition, Lehigh University, Menunkatuck Audubon Society, Mill River Watershed Association, NAACP, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, New Haven Department of Parks and Recreation and Trees, New Haven Environmental Justice Network, New Haven Land Trust, New Haven Health Department, Save the Sound/ CT Fund for the Environment, Solar Youth, South Central Regional Water Authority, Southwest Conservation District, Urban Resources Initiative, West River Neighborhood Services Corporation, West River Restoration & Flood Mitigation Committee (Woodbridge), West River Watershed Partnership, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance