DRAFT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN

WE CONTINUE TO WELCOME YOUR INPUT
Post your comments online, or contact the project team.

July 14 DRAFT Watershed Management Plan
open per the following sections:
Introduction and Section 2 – (not yet edited by mvrp)
Section  3.a Recommendations: Action Item Table and Descriptions of the Goals
Section  3.b  Site Specific Concepts with Cost Estimates (pp 64-76)
Section  3.c  Site Specific Concepts with Cost Estimates (pp 77-89)
Sections 4 Pollutant Load Reductions; 5 Schedule; and 6 References (pp 90-99)

Appendices:
Appendix A: Baseline Assessment
Appendix B: Field Assessment
Appendix C: Land Use Regulatory Review
Appendix D: Map of Targeted Recommendations
Appendix E: Open Space Priority Parcel
Appendix F: Cost Estimates
Appendix G: Load Reductions Data
Appendix H: Implementation Schedule
Appendix I: Funding Sources

July 13 Public Presentation (pdf of powerpoint)
a summary of plan findings and recommendations

WE CONTINUE TO WELCOME YOUR INPUT
Post your comments online, or contact the project team.

Through July 23rd the project team will be working to confirm the overall management goals for the watershed, translate these goals into specific objectives, and identify recommended action items to achieve those goals and objectives. We continue to welcome input from municipalities, campus managers, private property owners, neighborhood groups and citizens. The completed plan will be submitted to Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection on Friday afternoon, July 30th.

DRAFT GOALS:

A.    Watershed Management Goals:

·    Goal 1: Develop an affordable and effective watershed management plan that can be implemented by the watershed municipalities, institutions, residents, and other stakeholders.

·    Goal 2: Improve water quality in the impaired segments of the North Branch Park River to meet state water quality standards such that it supports its designated uses, as well as maintain and enhance water quality of its tributaries. Water quality is essential to the economic well-being, environmental and public health, recreational opportunities, and quality of life for the residents, local governments, and visitors of the North Branch Park River watershed.

·    Goal 3: Protect and enhance habitat features, including terrestrial wildlife habitat, aquatic habitat, wetlands, and riparian vegetation, to increase the diversity of floral and faunal species in the watershed.

·    Goal 4: Promote balanced, sustainable growth, economic development, and cultural vitality, without adversely impacting the watershed and by preserving and enhancing the watershed’s natural resources for future generations.

·    Goal 5: Educate citizens about the North Branch Park River watershed and the benefits of a healthy watershed to individuals and communities. Increase citizen stewardship by expanding community involvement in scientific research, history and arts cultural programming and urban ecological conservation. Connecting people to local landscapes inspires a sense of appreciation, which is needed to establish sustainable environmental stewardship practices.

B.    Watershed Management Objectives and Action Items

Proposed objectives and action items to achieve the watershed management goals are summarized in the attached table. The proposed objectives and action items will be refined based upon input from the Steering Committee members. Additional details of the recommended action items, including implementation priority, schedule, costs, funding sources, and implementation responsibilities, will be documented in the Watershed Management Plan.

Specific watershed management recommendations will be selected and refined in conjunction with CT DEP, the project Steering Committee and public input. The recommendations will be organized according to priority, scale, and geographic location. The watershed plan will include watershed-wide recommendations that can be implemented throughout the North Branch Park River watershed, targeted recommendations that are tailored to issues within specific subwatersheds or areas, and site-specific recommendations to address issues at selected sites that were identified during the watershed field inventories. The plan recommendations will also be classified according to their implementation priority as short-term, mid-term, and long-term actions.