MRWA Accomplishments

The Mattabesset River Watershed has been the focus of a broad range of water quality improvement activities by a variety of groups and individuals, many of them on a volunteer basis. A major milestone in this improvement effort was the development of the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed”, lead by the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District with the support of about 100 stakeholders from the watershed. This plan was approved by stakeholders, including officials from nine towns, at a ceremony at Paper Goods Pond in Berlin in September 2000. The plan is a comprehensive guide to improve the watershed quality, and is in the early stages of implementation. The Mattabesset Stakeholders Group actively promotes and supports the implementation of the many activities in the Plan, which is now in Phase 1 of three phases. This is a long-term effort, as the correction of water quality problems will require significant changes in public awareness, public knowledge and public behavior. Here’s a list of watershed accomplishments since 1998, grouped as they align with the goals of the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed”: GOAL #1: CREATE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE WATERSHED GOAL #2: EDUCATE ON THE LINKAGE BETWEEN LAND USE AND WATER POLLUTION GOAL #3: PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND USE PRACTICES GOAL #4: RESTORE AND MAINTAIN WILDLIFE HABITAT IN THE WATERSHED GOAL #5: PROTECT WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES FROM DEVELOPMENT GOAL #6: IDENTIFY AND CORRECT POLLUTION PROBLEMS GOAL #7: RESTORE IN-STREAM HABITAT FOR HEALTHY FISH AND AQUATIC LIFE GOAL #8: EVALUATE AND BALANCE STREAM FLOW NEEDS, INCLUDING CONSUMPTION GOAL #9: OBTAIN A CONSISTENT AND STABLE FUNDING STREAM TO ACCOMPLISH OBJECTIVES GOAL #1: CREATE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE WATERSHED •Six large “Mattabesset River” signs have been installed on major highways - Routes 91 and 9 by the CDOT in response to a request from the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District.. •Twelve “Mattabesset River” signs have been on other state highways in the watershed by the CDOT in response to a request from the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District. •Ten highway signs have been installed at tributary crossings on state highways in Berlin, by the CDOT in response to a request from Berlin’s Implementation Committee for the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed”. •Sixty five highway signs have been installed at tributary crossings on town roads in Berlin, by the Town of Berlin through Berlin’s Implementation Committee. •A “Mattabesset River” sign visible to boaters on the Connecticut River, purchased by the MRWA, has been installed by the CDOT on the bridge at the river’s mouth. •An educational library floor display, to aid public awareness on the river and its problems, has been placed in the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library, by the Town of Berlin through Berlin’s Implementation Committee with graphics/photos by the Hartford County Soil and Water Conservation District. •The MRWA produced an educational library floor display, to aid public awareness on the river and its problems, under a grant from Northeast Utilities with graphics/photos by the Hartford County Soil and Water Conservation District. •The MRWA produced a tabletop display with similar graphics, for use at schools, conventions and meetings. •Canoe/kayak trips have been sponsored by the MRWA to bring people to the river - 11 trips in 2001 and 9 trips in 2002. Most trips have been from the access point behind Sawmill Pub in Cromwell. The MRWA provides free use of its four canoes at these outings. •The MRWA developed the “Mattabesset River Canoe Guide” for canoeists and kayakers, printed by Northeast Utilities. The canoe trail starts near the Kensington Post Office and goes 12.6 miles to the river’s mouth at the Connecticut River. •The MRWA has guided hikes in headwater areas as part of its Mattabesset River Weeks for several years. •The MRWA has sponsored annual river cleanups during Mattabesset River Weeks since 1996, engaging scouts and other volunteers. The watershed towns have been most supportive, by hauling away trash piled at designated locations. •Friends of the River, with direct support of the MRWA, conducted several “heavy junk” cleanups. They removed an old riverbank dump and many items from the river banks and riverbed using a 38-foot boat with a jib crane. Tons of junk were removed, including countless tires, tanks, pipe, safes, stove, appliances, metal, car body and general trash . The Town of Cromwell disposed of the junk. · “Mattabesset Matters”, the MRWA’s quarterly newsletter, is regularly distributed through the mail (200 mailed) and at local drop areas. The Mattabassett District has printed some issues. •The MRWA website is in service at www.geocities.com/mrwact. •The media, including the Hartford Courant, Cromwell Chronicle, Berlin Citizen, and New Britain Herald have been regularly reporting on river news and events. •An access point to the lower Mattabesset River was established behind Sawmill Pub in Cromwell by The Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District, under agreement with the Town of Cromwell and the Pub. •The Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District developed the Mattabesset River Canoe/Kayak Trail, including brochures and an attractive/educational sign, accessed at Sawmill Pub. •The New York Times Connecticut Section featured the Mattabesset River Canoe/Kayak Trail in Spring 2001. •The Town of Berlin was recognized by the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District as the “Municipality of the Year” for 2001. GOAL #2: EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE LINKAGE BETWEEN LAND USE AND WATER POLLUTION •Storm drain markers provided by the USEPA, with a small message “Don’t dump - drains to river” have been installed by Berlin Upbeat Environmental House on some storm drains, guided by the Hartford County Soil and Water Conservation District and the USEPA. •Under a grant from Sam’s Club to the MRWA, 300 more storm drain markers have been purchased, to be installed by the Town of Berlin Youth Services and Berlin Upbeat. •Under a grant from the Cromwell Wal-Mart to the MRWA, 300 storm drain markers have been purchased, to be installed by the Town of Cromwell. •Discussions have been held with several Berlin river-side businesses by the Berlin Pilot Subcommittee/Mattabesset Stakeholders Group, to provide an understanding of the potential impact on the river presented by businesses. •The Berlin Conservation Commission, acting for the Berlin Implementation Committee, mailed a brochure for streamside landowners, “The Backyard Stream Guide”, created by the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District, to about 500 streamside owners in Berlin. •Through the storm drain marker project, it is planned to have the Berlin Upbeat Environmental House lead educational sessions in Berlin’s elementary schools. •A kiosk at the Berlin Fair has been manned by the MRWA to promote water quality for the last three years, thanks to a free space provided by the Berlin Lions Club. •The MRWA has had a booth at the Cromwell Riverport Festival for the past five years. •Berlin’s Implementation Committee engaged Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) to televise a Berlin High School stream-side class on water quality of the river. •In its television review of the funding problems for river flow gauges, CPTV’s Connecticut Journal addressed the Mattabesset River with footage and an MRWA interview. •Berlin’s Implementation Committee was part of a CPTV “Connecticut Journal” production on stream flow gauges, an issue in the Management Plan. •The MRWA stenciled 212 storm drains have been with a “Don’t Dump” message, mostly in New Britain. •As part of its Mattabesset Rivers Weeks activities, the MRWA has annually conducted an educational session on benthic macroorganisms (streambed “bugs”). GOAL #3: PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND USE PRACTICES •An inventory of public access/recreation areas in watershed is currently under development. •Paper Goods Pond has been acquired by the town as a result of Berlin Conservation Commission efforts, and a waterfront park has been constructed by the Town of Berlin to improve access to and enjoyment of this Mattabesset River pond. •In watershed towns, the Plan of Conservation and Development makes wetland and open space acquisition priorities for the town. •The Hartford County Soil and Water Conservation District is working on stream bank protection with streamside neighborhoods in Berlin, under an MRWA grant from the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund. GOAL #4: RESTORE AND MAINTAIN WILDLIFE HABITAT IN THE WATERSHED •Thirteen wood duck nest boxes, some provided by the DEP, are maintained by the MRWA. •Three osprey nest platforms have been erected by the MRWA in Cromwell Meadows, funded by a grant from the Silvio O. Conte fund. •To inform boaters of a regulation related to narrow channels, the MRWA has obtained approval from the Middletown Harbor Improvement Agency to install a “No Wake Zone – Entire Waterway” sign on the lower river. The City of Middletown will provide the sign for the MRWA to install. GOAL #5: PROTECT WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES FROM DEVELOPMENT •Berlin’s Implementation Committee for the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed” met with the Berlin Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission on January 7, 2003 regarding the Plan’s task to establish a 100’ “regulatory review area” in its wetlands regulations. The IW&WC agreed to draft a change to the regulations to add a 100’ regulatory review area, similar to that in other watershed towns. GOAL #6: IDENTIFY AND CORRECT POLLUTION PROBLEMS •The Connecticut River Watch Program and the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District published “The Mattabesset River - A Study of Water Quality and Stream Health” in 2000. This comprehensive scientific study was funded by a grant from the DEP and USEPA and printed by Northeast Utilities. •Berlin’s Implementation Committee requested the DEP to identify the watershed’s enforcement contact, and Will Oris was identified (860-424-3823). •Berlin’s Implementation Committee obtained preservation of USGS gauge on the river in East Berlin while funding is pursued for its operation. •Signs to discourage feeding of waterfowl were installed at Paper Goods Pond, jointly by the MRWA and the Berlin Parks and the Berlin Recreation Commission. •Water quality monitoring has been performed by the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District since 1992, with sampling by volunteers. •Since 1992, the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District has conducted studies of benthic macroorganisms (streambed “bugs”) that have confirmed that pollution significantly damages the river’s health, using volunteers. •A study by the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District is underway to determine if septic failures are causing the river’s high bacteria problem, using Town of Berlin funds requested by Berlin’s Implementation Committee. GOAL #7: RESTORE IN-STREAM HABITAT FOR HEALTHY FISH AND AQUATIC LIFE •A study on the usage and control of road sand in Berlin has been conducted by the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District under a grant. •Stream walks have been documented by the Middlesex County Soil and Water Conservation District to define areas that need stream and stream bank improvements. GOAL #8: EVALUATE AND BALANCE STREAM FLOW NEEDS, INCLUDING CONSUMPTION •The MRWA petitioned the Connecticut Siting Council regarding the use of New Britain Water Commission drinking water for cooling power plants, which would significantly impact river flow and drinking water availability. With this input from several sources, the Connecticut Siting Council established a policy to not allow the use of drinking water supplies for cooling power plants. GOAL #9: OBTAIN A CONSISTENT AND STABLE FUNDING STREAM TO ACCOMPLISH OBJECTIVES •The Town of Berlin has budgeted to support activities, hopefully an ongoing source of funds. •The MRWA has demonstrated its ability to obtain grants by receiving five grants totaling over $12,000 in a one-year period. ALSO: •The Town of Berlin established an Implementation Committee in 2000 to carry out tasks in the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed”, and it continues to be active. •The Town of Cromwell established the Cromwell Watershed Conservation Committee in 2002 to carry out tasks in the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed” for the Mattabesset River and Connecticut River watersheds. •The Town of Rocky Hill established a Mattabesset Implementation Committee in 2002 to carry out tasks in the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed”. •The Town of Berlin incorporated the “Management Plan for the Mattabesset River Watershed” in its Plan of Conservation and Development, 2003. The Plan of Conservation and Development includes an implementation program with tasks assigned to the Mattabesset Implementation Committee, Conservation Commission, and Inland Wetlands Commission.