Current Projects

Workshops for Area Professionals
FRCC has hired Sean Hayden of the Northwest Conservation District to provide several hands-on workshops for local Departments of Public Works, local Land Use Boards, and others to improve the areas effort to prevent degradation to our wetlands and waterways. For more information please contact us.

Flushing Flows
FRCC will have a study done by University of Connecticut to determine what level of flow is needed to move the sediments and rocks that make up the riverbed of the Farmington River. Why is this important? Sediment and rocks are the basis for fish and macroinvertebrate (bugs) habitat and the stability of the river in general.

Invasive Plant Study and Management
Bill Moorhead, a renowned botanist in Connecticut, has been working on a survey of invasive plant species in the 14-mile Wild and Scenic area for FRCC. This year he will provide management strategies for bringing what he finds in the survey under control. The Upper Farmington River is fortunate to have few invasive plant species.

Biodiversity and Vernal Pool Studies
FRCC has provided funding to FRWA to conduct vernal pool studies and biodiversity analysis in the upper Farmington watershed - this year's focus is primarily in Colebrook.

Farmington River Riverbank Work — Nepaug State Forest
The FRCC had an evaluation done of the stability and health of the riverbanks of the entire 14-mile Wild and Scenic stretch of the Farmington River. The study showed that there are not as many areas of erosion and instability as the FRCC had thought. Most of the areas that show signs of erosion and need for either restoration and/or bank stabilization are due to recreational use of the river or roadways and drainage problems adjacent to the river. This year FRCC is partnering with CT DEP and others to complete some road and bank work in Nepaug State Forest to improve and stabilize a river access site.

Upper Farmington River Water Quality Monitoring
FRCC in conjunction with Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA) continues to organize the effort - primarily with volunteers from surrounding towns - to conduct water quality monitoring of the river. There will be several monitoring locations, as well as stream walks to locate possible sources of water pollution. With this information, FRCC and FRWA will make plans to work with towns, landowners, and other interested parties to find collaborative ways to remediate the sources of pollution. See the results of the 2004 streamwalks in this PDF report. (File is 2.72 MB)

Land Protection
FRCC continuously works to support the protection of lands in the upper Farmington River watershed. Most recently, FRCC has contributed to New Hartford Land Trust and the town of New Hartford to purchase the Jones Mountain property. It is a 166-acre parcel that is prominent from the center of town and holds a significant amount of open forest. Last year, FRCC helped FRWA and the Barkhamsted Land Trust in their efforts to purchase and protect the island known locally as Sugar Meadow Island just north of the Pleasant Valley bridge on the Farmington River.

Ongoing Support to the Squires Restoration – FRCC Headquarters
FRCC continuously supports the efforts of the Barkhamsted Historical Society (BHS) to restore the beautiful Squires Tavern. The history of the area is one of the reasons the Wild and Scenic designation was given to the river. FRCC is grateful to BHS for the office space of our official headquarters.

Website Improvements
FRCC is working on a new and improved version of the website here at www.farmingtonriver.org - Mario Santoro of Barkhamsted and Liz Lacy, FRCC Director, are working to make our website more informative and user-friendly. The Farmington River Protection Overlay Zoning Districts and The Upper Farmington River Management Plan are now available on our website.

FRCC Grants Program
FRCC recently improved its grants program with a streamlined application (which is available on the website) and increased amount of funding that is available to relevant projects that further the wild and scenic values of the Farmington River in the FRCC towns. Grants are considered on a rolling basis - applications are accepted at any time.

Streamside Landowners' Guide
Landowners along the river's edge are some of the most important stewards of the river. What happens right next to the river can have a huge impact. FRCC will be creating a guide this year to be distributed to landowners along the river's edge.

Speakers Bureau
Members of FRCC will provide a presentation to groups in the area that discusses the Farmington and why it is a National Wild and Scenic River - and what needs to be done to keep it that way. Contact us at 860-379-0282 or Liz_Lacy@nps.gov.