Connecticut River Conservancy

06/17/2026

There's nothing more satisfying than a weekend dam removal project! Started last Friday, done by Sunday evening, 2 miles of brook trout habitat restored 🎉🐟

This small, privately-owned dam on Richmond Brook (a tributary to the Ottauquechee River) in Barnard, VT, was originally built to create a pond. It was blocking fish passage for native brook trout and no longer needed, so the Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited led an effort to remove it along with the Connecticut River Conservancy, Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District - ONRCD, and a local contractor.

A concrete saw and hydraulic hammer attached to a small excavator were used to break apart the 4’ high by 15’ long dam. The concrete was carried out by project partners and community volunteers using 5-gallon buckets and wheelbarrows to remove these materials with minimal damage to the surrounding landscape.

Funding was provided by a private foundation and a VT Watershed Grant from Vermont Fish & Wildlife, which is supported by Vermont Conservation License Plates purchased by nature-loving residents like you!

Here are the before, during, and after photos.
More about dam removal can be found at ctriver.org/dam-removal

06/16/2026

🔔 Action Alert for Massachusetts from our advocacy partners at Massachusetts Rivers Alliance!

TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY, 6/17) AT 1PM, the MA House of Representatives will vote on the Environmental Bond Bill, and we are asking residents to contact your state representative asking them to co-sponsor and vote in support of Amendment 22. This amendment will ensure that Mass Ready includes measures on drought management. Without this amendment, the Environmental Bond Bill will fail to feature any dedicated language on the most serious, pressing climate threat that is undermining the health of our natural environment, our communities, and our economy.

More details—including a prewritten email you can customize and send to your representatives—at the link below.

Please take two minutes to send one email asking your state legislators to to remove “anti” measures that threaten clean water.

06/16/2026

Experimental Floodplain Forest Restoration Update!🌲

As part of our efforts to restore floodplain and riparian habitats, CRC's Conservation Scientist Fritz Gerhardt is testing different restoration strategies with partners from Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Intervale Center Conservation Nursery, NorthWoods Stewardship Center, and The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire.

Previously, we observed that former corn fields often seed in and grow back to forest on their own. For example, this forest (photo #1) regrew over the past ten years on an abandoned corn field that was conserved as part of the Johnson Farm Wildlife Management Area in Canaan, VT.

In contrast, former hay fields rarely or only very slowly revert to floodplain forest. Thus, we undertook a project to mimic the conditions found in former corn fields by mowing the non-native grasses, plowing the turf to create bare soil, and sometimes applying herbicides to kill any surviving vegetation that may stifle native plant growth. To improve the probability of regrowth, we also collect and disperse native woody seeds collected from the surrounding forests.

This spring, we have been working to restore 12 acres of former hay field on a recently-conserved farm along the Connecticut River in Northumberland, NH. After mowing last fall, local farmers Chris and Allie Fay plowed the sod to expose bare soil substrate in late May (photo #2).

Then last week we spread by hand more than 85,000 seeds of native silver maple, slippery elm, and Bebb’s willow across the site (photo #3). We were delighted that recent rains may help the seeds to germinate and begin their growth towards restoring floodplain forest on this site! We look forward to returning to the site in future years and watching the forests once again regrow along the Connecticut River.

You can see a summary of CRC's river restoration strategies at ctriver.org/restoration 🌳💧🐟

06/15/2026

An excellent article by The Shoestring summarizing the efforts of the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership, including CRC. Federal cuts in staff and conservation funding have come with many challenges, but we are continuing to advocate for the resources and legislative leadership necessary to support healthy rivers, habitats, and communities!

After the Trump administration slashed federal staff and funding for conservation work, the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership is working with federal lawmakers to try to turn the tide.

06/15/2026

Thanks to all those who joined us in East Hartford on Saturday for CRC's Annual Meeting, River Cruise, brunch, and guest speaker presentation! 🎉

We enjoyed two boat rides aboard the Navigator with Captain Bill and explored Hartford from the Connecticut River with numerous wildlife sightings, honored a beloved partner - Ken Sprankle - with the Bud Foster Award, and celebrated three of our long-time volunteers with the Ripple Effect Awards - Cathy Malin, Joan Plummer, and Jeffrey Schrauf. We capped the day with an insightful talk on the environmental benefits of beavers by Leila Philip, author of Beaverland, and got a sneak peek into a new book she’s writing about hidden rivers. What a delight!

Special thanks to CRC's Board of Trustees for their support of this event, and to Goodwin University for hosting us.

06/12/2026

Join us this Sunday, 6/14, at 9am for another fun morning of Angling & Donuts! 🍩🎣

This event will be held at Bellows Falls at the site of the former Blake Higgins dam which CRC and partners removed in 2024, planted a riparian buffer in 2025, and the Vermont River Conservancy has since made additional improvements to for river access.

This is a family-friendly event! We will provide some fishing poles (or bring your own) and delicious local donuts, and will offer casting instructions, information about our rivers/migratory fish, and even sell fishing licenses to anyone who needs one. Please read the full details at the link below and RSVP if you plan to be there.

Another year of Angling and Donuts in Vermont is BACK! We will provide some fishing poles (or bring your own) and delicious donuts. You come for the fun!

06/11/2026

🔔 Last chance to get your tickets for a special presentation by Connecticut-based author of Beaverland, Leila Philip. Leila will be giving an in-person talk titled Hidden Hydrology: How Beavers, Rivers, and Wetlands Form Watersheds this Saturday, 6/13, at Goodwin University in East Hartford, CT. Leila is currently working on a new book about rivers and we can't wait to hear how different ecological systems combine to create the waterscapes all around us. The talk will begin promptly at 12:30pm!

This presentation is part of the Connecticut River Conservancy's Annual Meeting. You can select your ticket just for Leila's talk, or other activities as well. Details and RSVP at https://ctriver.org/annual-meeting.

06/11/2026

'Tis the season for water chestnut removal, and there are LOTS of opportunities to sign up for volunteer events coming up soon! 🌿

Visit ctriver.vomo.org/ to see all opportunities listed in Longmeadow and Hadley, MA, and in Middletown and Glastonbury, CT.

You can bring your own boat or borrow one of ours, this is also a GREAT activity for service hours for all the teenagers out there (with parent or guardian signup).

And did we mention how FUN this activity is? While we wish aquatic invasive species were not a major issue in our waterways, the silver lining is that it brings community together for a truly memorable, enjoyable, and satisfying experience as we work to support clean water together.

See all the upcoming opportunities at ctriver.vomo.org/ and be sure to click the location of your choice to see all date options beyond the most upcoming one.

THANK YOU to all the amazing volunteers that have already participated this year and in the past 👏🏽

06/09/2026

The deadline for the watershed-wide community survey has been extended through Friday, 6/12. If you have not already taken this survey, and you live, work, or have experience in the Connecticut River watershed, please take a few minutes to submit your input!

The information will be reviewed and analyzed as part of the creation of the State of the Watershed Report to be released next year. Take the survey here: https://qualtrics.uvm.edu/jfe/form/SV_5gT6irYzR8woWrA