How Are We Protecting the Watershed?
Establishing A Salmon River Watershed Partnership...
In 2007, the Watershed Towns assisted by The Nature Conservancy launched the Salmon River Watershed Partnership (SRWP). The SRWP has, with the the input of river stakeholders, developed a regional action plan to collaboratively conserve the Salmon River system, while supporting the long term social and economic vitality of the communities in the watershed.
Signing A Conservation Compact....
In 2008, the leaders of the Watershed Towns met to sign The Salmon River Watershed Conservation Compact. The compact signifies the intent of all the watershed communities to work togetehr to protect the resources of the watershed.
Addressing Impacts of Development....
In 2009, the Horsley Witten Group, Inc. was contracted by The Nature Conservancy to assess municipal land use practices in the Watershed Towns. With the input of the town planners and SRWP an Assessment Report was released in 2010 entitled Salmon River Watershed Municipal Land Use Evaluation Project. The report provided guidance and recommendations to each of the towns on topics including riparian setbacks, stormwater management, road design options, forest management, open space acquisition and development review standards. Since then each of the towns have reviewed its procedures and standards and implemented changes as time and circumstances allow. The town planners continue to meet periodically to share updates and set new goals to protect the watershed.
Monitoring Water Quality ...
- River Bioassessments
Available Water Quality Results and Reports
- Salmon River Watershed-Rapid Bioassessment Survey Report-2008
- 2008-CT-DEEP-Rapid Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and Rivers by Volunteers
- 2009-CT-DEEP-Rapid Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and Rivers by Volunteers
- 2010-CT-DEEP-Rapid Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and Rivers by Volunteers
- 2011-CT-DEEP-Rapid Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and Rivers by Volunteers
- 2012-CT-DEEP-Rapid Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and Rivers by Volunteers
- 2013-CT-DEEP-River Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and Rivers by Volunteers
- 2014-CT-DEEP-River Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and Rivers by Volunteers
- 2015-CT-DEEP-Riffle Bioassessment by Volunteers
- Baseline Water Quality Monitoring
In the summer of 2013, the SRWP initiated baseline water quality monitoring in the watershed. Due to the size of the watershed, a northern route and southern route were each laid out and sampled for 10 consecutive weeks. Data was collected for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, total dissolved solids and salinity. Monitoring was conducted again in 2014 which provides some basis for comparison and trends between segments.