Naugatuck River Watershed Association (NRWA)
now has their own website at: http://www.naugawatshed.org/
Click here to go there
Naugatuck River Watershed Association, Inc., P.O. Box 122, Middlebury, CT 06762-0122, (203)-758-9166

 Dam Good News! -- The Naugatuck River is a tremendous success story. Anglers, hunters, hikers, canoeists, kayakers, bird watchers, conservationists and state and city officials are excited about what is happening. It's an extensive, one of a kind project in the country that involves about 29 miles of the Naugatuck River, several miles of tributaries and 11 man-made dams in the Naugatuck River Watershed. When the project has been completed, three dams will have fish passage ways constructed, four dams will be removed fully, and four will be removed partially. Add more good news -- two projects have been completed, seven are scheduled for completion in 1999, and a fishway and the breaching of one dam should be finished in 2000.

 Let's take a peek at the river's history. Prior to the start of the industrial development in early 1700's in the Naugatuck River Valley, there was clean water which supported anadromous fish and riparian lands that were home to many species of wildlife. The first dam was completed in 1706 in Beacon Falls; by 1880 there was a score of dams in the mainstem and tributaries. Dams stopped fish migrations, and pollution killed most life in the river. By the 1950's, few living organisms were present in the Naugatuck's highly polluted water or lived along its banks. Many people called the river an open sewer.

Naugatuck Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited There was some improvement in water quality in the 1970's as result of the state and federal Clean Water Acts. But there was no effort by any conservation organization to restore the river. In 1985, Pomperaug River Chapter of Trout Unlimited changed its name to the Naugatuck Valley Chapter; since then it has dedicated much of its effort to restoring and enhancing the recreational use of Naugatuck River and its tributaries. Since the late 1980's, there has been a significant improvement in water quality and increases in the fish and wildlife populations and their habitats.

In 1987, the DEP's Fisheries Division began long-range planning for the river. The result is -- "Plan for the Restoration of Anadromous Fish to the Naugatuck River." American shad, blueback herring, river herring, eels, sea-run trout and lamprey are expected to migrate up-river by using the fishways. Striped bass may use the fishways to travel up-river. This plan involves more than fish restoration and has been linked to the plans for up-grading of the sewage plant in Waterbury and efforts of several conservation organizations to improve the river. The overall plan is a "watershed approach" to protect and enhance recreational and educational use of the waters and riparian environment of the Naugatuck River Watershed.

DEP COMPLIANCE REPORT

 The watershed encompasses 312 square miles of land, 39 miles of the Naugatuck River and many miles of tributaries. The work on the river and its tributaries includes: the significant improvement of water quality ( up-grading of municipal and industry discharges into the watershed), establishment of habitat and food sources for fish and wildlife, the construction of walking paths, watercraft launching sites and angler access locations, and archaeological assessment surveys of dam sites where construction and/or demolition work will be done. The construction of an in-stream by-pass channel for watercraft and fish at the Tingue Dam in Seymour may be one of a few of its kind in the country.

The most significant improvements will happen in the next few years. Hopefully all the waters in the watershed will be swimmable and fishable in 2001, and people, fish and wildlife will have clean air, water and land in which to live. The quality of the water that runs in the Naugatuck River is a key indicator of the quality of life in the lands through which it passes.


Naugatuck River Watershed Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 122
Middlebury, CT 06762-0122 (203)-758-9166


EXECUTIVE BOARD

Anita U. Gregorski
Robert S. Gregorski
David D. Leveillee
John K. McDonald, Esq.
Robert M. Perrella Jr.
John Ploski
Joseph Savarese
Dec, 2004

Communication With the Public

The NRWA's RIVERSCAPE newsletter was expensive to publish and mail and consumed a great deal of volunteer time. Presently, NRWA, Inc. needs financial support to maintain its communication with the public through its website.

**** Please help by making a donation. NRWA, Inc. is 501(C3) non-profit.
NRWA, Inc. P.O. Box 122 Middlebury, CT 06762

The Naugatuck River Watershed Association, Inc. welcomes donations from individuals, groups, clubs, businesses, civic organizations, foundations, manufacturing companies and any entity that is interested in maintaining and enhancing the quality of the life and environment for people and wildlife in the Naugatuck River Watershed. It's main expense is maintaining and enhancing its website. Naugatuck River Watershed Association, Inc. information is located at two websites. The most comprehensive and key site is www.naugawatshed.org. It's the main method of communication with the public. The second site Naugatuck River Watershed Association is being maintained by Lewis Mills High School students and staff.

At www.naugawatshed.org, note: At this time the only Active Buttons on the Homepage are:

The other references/topics/items printed in the left hand margin of the Homepage from "Problems on the Naugatuck River" down to "Links to Articles" will be added as time and finances permit. There are links to: Naugatuck-Pomperaug Chapter TU, Rivers Alliance of CT and NRWA's second website Naugatuck River Watershed Association.

NRWA's Mission Statement, Objectives and Action Plans and Board of Directors have been stated. Collectively, members of the Board have about 100 years of experience working to improve and protect the environment for everyone. In that process, they have donated thousands of hours of their time. Hundreds of other volunteers have volunteered 5 to 10 hours each in a number of ways including: cleaning up the river and its banks, planting trees, bushes, flowers and grasses and building and erecting bird houses.

 

Ansonia H.S.
St. Margaret's-McTernan H.S
Lewis Mills H.S. Thomaston H.S.
Torrington H.S. Kings Highway School
Westover School EAC Wilby H.S.
Holy Cross H.S. S.A.F.E. Naugatuck H.S.
Pomperaug H.S. Ecology Club Office of Urban Affairs (New Haven)
Boy Scout and Cub Scout Troop 140  
The following is a partial list of School Ecology Clubs and Scout Troops which NRWA has worked with in completing conservation related projects:

Note: The list of individual, corporate and foundation donators is too long to publish. NRWA has financially supported: Litchfield County Conservation District, Rivers Alliance of CT, Long Island Sound Fund and Trout Unlimited, has awarded several scholarships to deserving high school graduates and sponsored Eagle Scout projects.

This page created by students and staff of Lewis Mills HS Harwinton-Burlington CT