Save the Sound & Environmental Engineers, Fuss & O'Neill, Present the West River Watershed Plan

On Tuesday, August 18, NHS of New Haven was proud to host the West River Watershed Coalition, Save the Sound, and the environment engineers, Fuss & O'Neill, as they presented their draft of the West River Watershed Management Plan. 

Presentation at the Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven

For close to a year, Save the Sound has been working on behalf of the West River Watershed Coalition to gather information about the ecological challenges that the West River faces, and what is needed to make its whole watershed healthier. 

Photo Credit: West River Watershed Management Plan

The 25-mile long West River originates north of Lake Bethany near Route 42 and flows south through Bethany, Woodbridge, New Haven, and West Haven, eventually discharging into New Haven Harbor.

The presented West River Watershed Plan focused on five areas of improvement --

1. Capacity Building -- strengthening and building local capacity to implement the watershed management plan.
2. Water Quality -- improving the water quality of the impaired segments of the West River and its tributaries by reducing loadings of bacteria and other pollutants. Consistently meet water quality standards for creation and aquatic habitat. Protect and enhance high quality and unimpaired waterbodies.
3. Habitat Protection and Restoration -- protect and restore terrestrial, streamside, and aquatic habitat.
4. Sustainable Land Use and Open Space -- promote sustainable land use and appropriate development in the watershed while protecting and improving water quality and natural resources, enhancing public access to and connectivity of waterbodies and open space, and addressing current and future flooding problems.
5. Education and Stewardship -- promote stewardship of the watershed through education and outreach, improved access to the West River and its tributaries, and citizen involvement in science, conservation, and restoration activities.
   

If you would like to read the full West River Watershed Management Plan and/or offer any comments or suggestions, please contact Kendall Barbery, Green Infrastructure Program Manager, CFE/STS at kbarbery@savethesound.org by August 24th, 2015. 

Photo Credit: West River Watershed Management Plan