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CRJC Hosts Program on New NH Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act - 11/12/08 Tri-state Watershed Initiative to Improve the Connecticut River Kicks Off - 7/29/08 River Subcommittee Members, CRJC Commissioners Receive President's Volunteer Service Award - 4/30/08 key news items from the CRJC archives... Tri-state Connecticut River Project Selected by EPA for Watershed Initiative - 8/20/07 New Public River Access at Stratford-Maidstone Bridge - 7/20/07 Invasive Diatom Discovered in the Connecticut River - 7/11/07 updated 7/19 and 7/20 Local River Subcommittees complete draft water resources plan - 5/9/07 CRJC and EPA Announce Results of Connecticut River Fish Tissue Toxin Study - 10/30/06 Flood Prevention Tips from the Connecticut River Joint Commissions - 5/16/06 Connecticut River Byway Named a National Scenic Byway - 9/23/05 Results in from Major River Water Quality Study - 2/4/05 Study Reveals Reasons for River Erosion - 11/5/04 Sharon Francis Wins EPA Lifetime Achievement Award - 4/23/04 Sedimentation and Erosion Control: It Sounds Dull, but It Keeps the Brooks Clean. - 7/25/03 Visit this web site - Connecticut River Byway! Tour ten Waypoint Communities, learn more about the valley's nature, history, culture, recreation, agriculture, railroad heritage, and local products. CRJC Hosts Program on New NH Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act - The public is invited to learn about changes to New Hampshire’s Shoreland Protection Act at the next meeting of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions (CRJC), Monday, Nov. 24, at 1:30 p.m. at the Howe Library in Hanover, N.H. Arlene Allen, shoreland outreach coordinator for the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, will make the presentation. The updated act applies to the Connecticut River, other fourth-order and larger streams and rivers, and lakes and ponds in New Hampshire. It includes easier-to-understand riparian buffer protection, a standard building setback, and incentives to help reduce stormwater runoff problems. Allen will detail the new rules, including , the permit system and activities that do not need a permit. CRJC supported the legislature’s updating the shoreland act. The new law includes better public outreach and education and eliminates confusion for towns about who should be enforcing the state law, which has been on the books since 1992 but was poorly enforced and publicized. CRJC also recommends adoption of similar laws in Vermont, still the only state in the Northeast that does not have statewide shoreland protection. More information on the Shoreland Protection Act may be found here.- 11/12/08   Tri-state Watershed Initiative to Improve the Connecticut River Kicks Off - This week, five partner organizations in three states, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, kicked off a multi-year $1.4 million project to improve the Connecticut River by addressing bacterial pollution problems, stormwater, combined sewer overflows, riverbank erosion, agricultural runoff, and pollution from growth and development. The project is funded under a $953,000 Targeted Watershed Initiative grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, matched by $458,000 in local funding commitments. The project is led by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and includes major partner organizations, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, University of Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center and US Geological Survey, as well as 18 other cooperating partners. The Connecticut River is New England's longest river, running 410 miles, and with a huge watershed that encompasses 11,260 square miles, including 38 major rivers and is home to about 2 million residents. The watershed also includes New England's most productive farmlands, a vital waterfowl migration route along the Atlantic flyway, and habitat for anadromous shad, Atlantic salmon and the endangered shortnose sturgeon. Project Need - The Connecticut River still has significant water quality problems, particularly combined sewer overflows (CSOs), which prevent the river from achieving federal Class B fishable/swimmable water quality standards. Clean-up costs are very high, estimated at $325 million for CSOs in Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke alone, but the benefits of cleaner water will also be enormous. Other water quality impairments include erosion, sedimentation, mercury and PCBs which render fish consumption unsafe, agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, malfunctioning septic systems, and runoff from forestry operations. - 7/29/08 for more information Public Invited to Presentation on River Restoration - The public is invited to a presentation sponsored by the Connecticut River Joint Commissions on Tuesday, July 15, 4 p.m. at the Colebrook Library, that will highlight scientific findings about erosion control in Colebrook and describe two major projects that will take place this summer. This is the fifth year of scientific research in this part of the Connecticut River watershed, aimed at restoring altered river confluences to reduce erosion. John Field, Ph.D., a specialist in river dynamics, will describe his findings on the Mohawk River and plans for reducing erosion at the Colebrook Business Park through creating sediment storage in the Mohawk River near its mouth. Dr. Field will also describe a second project to restore the eroding riverbank at the Colebrook Business Park just downstream from the Mohawk River. The presentation will be preceded by a site visit with local officials and members of CRJC’s advisory committee for this project. CRJC worked with Dr. Field in 2006 on the first phase of riverbank restoration at the Colebrook Business Park, and planted a riparian buffer of native trees and shrubs. In 2008, after several years of fund raising, CRJC will restore the second phase and plant more. Erosion at the business park is caused by a gravel bar of sediment dropped into the Connecticut River by the Mohawk River after its lower channel was altered years ago. CRJC’s 2008 project also aims to restore the Mohawk’s natural path to reduce its sediment contribution to the Connecticut. The Connecticut River Joint Commissions’ work has been funded by grants from the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund and the N.H. Department of Environmental Services Watershed Assistance and Restoration Program. Details on previous work at these sites can be found at www.crjc.org/erosion3.htm. The riparian buffer planting at the business park is funded by a Targeted Watershed Assistance Grant from EPA. - 6/23/08   River Subcommittee Members, CRJC Commissioners Receive President's Volunteer Service Award -Members of the five local river subcommittees of CRJC and CRJC commissioners have been honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their work on water quality, recreation, and other issues regarding the river. CRJC's new president, Beverly Major of Westminster, Vermont, was also honored as Vermont's Volunteer. The awards were given by EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in a ceremony on Earth Day, April 22, held at Boston's Faneuil Hall. “Today we honor these New Hampshire leaders for answering President Bush’s call to serve a cause greater than themselves,” Johnson said at the Boston ceremony. “Dedicated volunteers like these are inspiring others to join them in delivering America a brighter, healthier future.” Mrs. Major, a long-time representative of agricultural interests on the Vermont river commission, was recognized for her many volunteer contributions to the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association and to many civic efforts in her community of Westminster, in addition to her work for the Connecticut River. Later that week, she was honored by Governor Douglas as Vermont's Community Volunteer of the Year. Mrs. Major and Adair Mulligan, CRJC Conservation Director, who manages the work of the 80 local subcommittee volunteers, accepted the honors in Boston on behalf of the subcommittees and commissioners. The subcommittee and commissioners recently completed work on the water resources and recreation sections of the Connecticut River Management Plan that will be published by CRJC. As the local voice for the Connecticut River, the subcommittees review river-related permits, advise CRJC on regional issues, and help shape work being done on the river by state and federal agencies. Members are appointed by town select boards and city councils in riverfront communities and include representatives of agriculture, business, conservation, recreation, government, and riverfront landowners. New members are welcome, and the meetings are always open to the public. 4/30/08 CRJC Proposes New Alternative for Conte Refuge - The Connecticut River Joint Commissions, Upper Valley Land Trust, and Connecticut River Watershed Council have proposed a new Alternative E as the way forward for the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The Conte Refuge is in the midst of preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan. Public comment is due to the Conte Refuge by January 30. Click here for the proposed new alternative. 1/16/08   New Public River Access at Stratford-Maidstone Bridge - The New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the Connecticut River Joint Commissions are pleased to announce the opening of a long-awaited new public river access in Stratford, NH at the recently restored Stratford-Maidstone Bridge. The access was jointly built by Ross Stevens and the Conservation Service Corps from the North Woods Stewardship Center in East Charleston, Vermont (known locally as the Kingdom Corps) and members of the NHDOT Groveton highway maintenance crew (District One). The Connecticut River Joint Commissions' Headwaters Subcommittee called for public access at the bridge in its 1997 Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, and the restoration of the bridge provided an opportunity to make it happen. Both the New Hampshire and Vermont transportation agencies lent support to the project during the decade it took to get it built, with NHDOT providing the funding for its construction. Recognizing the benefit to Vermont recreationists and also to the adjacent Vermont farm owner, VTRANS provided a feasibility study for the access. Mark Richardson of NHDOT's Bridge Design Bureau coordinated with the various parties constructing the access to schedule the work and to estimate the materials and costs needed for the final installation. The land is owned by the State of New Hampshire, purchased many years ago under a separate project specifically for river access. "CRJC is especially pleased that the project could provide an educational work experience for area youth members of the Kingdom Corps," observed Adair Mulligan, CRJC Conservation Director. She noted that construction costs for this river access were kept to a minimum by installing a very serviceable set of direct steps to the waterway, rather than other, much more expensive alternatives that at one time had been considered. "Ross and his crew did a great job," Richardson says, "and the District 1 Maintenance Crew provided equipment, materials, and labor support for this work. They also suggested and provided the large stone blocks next to the steps, which add a nice appearance as well as providing some protection during times of high water flow." The stones were part of the c. 1885 bridge abutment that had to be removed during the bridge restoration. Richardson notes that the water level was quite low when the work was done so the steps could extend well down the bank to the water, even if it is submerged at other times. In addition to the stone from the historic abutment, the project included plantings of native trees, shrubs, and ground covers to create shade and restore the natural appearance of the riverbank, and will partially screen the view of parked cars from the water. "The new access will be especially useful for the many paddlers who enjoy the seven-mile state-designated 'natural' segment of the Connecticut River," said Bill Schomburg of Columbia, Vice Chair of CRJC's Headwaters Subcommittee, who has devoted much effort to the project. The designated natural segment, which runs from North Stratford to the bridge, is a particularly beautiful (and shallow) part of the river set aside for non-motorized boating. "Until now, paddlers had to scramble up a steep bank on private land on the Vermont side, where the owner of Great Spirit Farm generously permitted access," he said. CRJC urges users of the new site to remember the rules of responsible paddling: respect riverfront landowners by asking permission if you hope to picnic or camp, and treat the land as if it were your own. Take special care before crossing the railroad tracks near the access parking area as the rail line is active. The Town of Stratford, NH was involved in the discussions and reviews of various concepts for the river access and concurred with the final proposal. The Town also hopes that users and residents will be good stewards of the site and keep it in a clean and attractive condition. The North Woods Stewardship Center is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality scientific, educational, and conservation service programs in northeastern Vermont. The Kingdom Corps provides summer employment for young people to work on conservation projects throughout northern Vermont and New Hampshire. Their projects include trail building and maintenance, riparian restoration, stream bank stabilization, wildlife habitat improvement, invasive species control, and natural resource inventories. They built similar river access trails around the breached Wyoming Dam in Guildhall and at the Mt. Orne Bridge in Lunenburg, with grants from CRJC's Partnership Program. - 7/20/07 Invasive Diatom Discovered in the Connecticut River The states have issued an alert that the invasive diatom Didymosphenia geminate ("Didymo") has been found along the northern reaches of the Connecticut River as well as in the White River near Bethel, Vermont. A local fishing guide discovered the invasive alga in Bloomfield, Vermont, which was later confirmed by the Vermont Natural Resources Agency. This is the first positive identification of the alga in the eastern United States. Until now, Didymo has been known only from northwestern North America. NH DES reported on 7/20 that an algal mass observed by one of CRJC's Headwaters Subcommittee members near Indian Stream in Pittsburg is also Didymo. Because of the extremely invasive nature of this organism, scientists and experts from across the region are working together to address the threat of further spreading. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that this alga is the only freshwater diatom to exhibit large scale invasive behavior that alters food webs and affects the hydraulics of streams and rivers. In other rivers that have been invaded by Didymo, large blooms form thick mats of cottony material on stream and river bottoms. The mats can suffocate aquatic plants and obliterate fish habitat. Dense mats of didymo can harm populations of the aquatic insects that are an important source of food for trout and other fish. “Sadly,” said Adair Mulligan, CRJC Conservation Director, “This invasive organism has been discovered in the one section of the Connecticut River that is designated 'natural,' and where the states are working toward restoration of the wild brook trout population.” There is currently no way to control or eliminate didymo which is why the prevention of further spread of the alga is imperative. The following precautions must be adhered to by all recreationalists, such as anglers and paddlers, to help stop the spread of Didymo to other streams and rivers: CHECK - Remove all visible clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing, water shoes and sandals, canoes and kayaks, and anything else that has been in the water. CLEAN - Using HOT tap water and lots of soap: Scrub boats and other “hard” items thoroughly; soak clothes, felt-sole waders and other “soft” items for 30 minutes. Click here to be transferred to the official new web pages on Didymo, or here to visit CRJC's new web page on invasives. The state agencies are inviting observers to send in samples. For more information, click here. 7/17/07, updated 8/2/07   Local River Subcommittees complete draft water resources plan CRJC's five local river subcommittees have met from January, 2005 until April, 2007 to develop the new water resources chapter of the Connecticut River Management Plan for their sections of the river. Their membership is diverse, and includes citizens appointed by their selectmen. Members represent local government, local business, agriculture, riverfront landowners, recreation, and conservation. Meetings are always open to the public. All recommendations are the result of consensus among the members, and are aimed at town boards and committees, state and federal agencies, and other groups and organizations. In this new water resources chapter, an update of the 1997 water quality chapter of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, the Subcommittee members addressed a wider array of topics important to the river and the region. For each, the Subcommittees have tried to identify current and potential problems as well as opportunities, and have made recommendations which they believe represent a positive, consensus-based response to these problems. Creation of a river management plan has been the primary duty of the local subcommittees, delegated to them by the CRJC so that the plan could best respond to the local character of the river and the varying interests and needs of valley citizens. The local subcommittees will hold a public discussion of the draft at their next regular meeting. Meeting times and locations, and the draft plans, are posted here. Comments are welcome until June 15. Over the summer, CRJC's Water Resources Committee will also review the local draft chapters and develop a riverwide overview of Water Resource issues for the entire upper Connecticut River. - 5/9/07   EPA Finds Risks in Eating Connecticut River Fish -Samples of fish taken in the Connecticut River were high in mercury and other contaminants, posing a risk to anglers and others, including wildlife, who eat the fish, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported to the Connecticut River Joint Commissions. The Connecticut River Fish Tissue Contaminant Study focused on potential risks to human and wildlife of eating fish along the entire 410-mile river. It is the first time fish samples were analyzed on such a scale, and tested for mercury, PCBs, dioxins, DDT, and other chemicals. Fish sampled were smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and white suckers. The study was undertaken in 2000, a result of a recommendation contained in CRJC's Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan.  The study confirmed earlier findings that mercury levels in Connecticut River fish may pose a risk to human health. Those particularly at risk are anglers who live off the fish they catch, pregnant women, women of childbearing age who might become pregnant, nursing mothers, and children. Mercury was particularly high in fish taken from the northern reaches of the river, including in the Headwaters region and above Moore Dam.  The study also founds risks for some fish-eating wildlife, as contaminants move up the food chain from organic matter and plankton to fish and then fish eaters like eagles and kingfishers. In presenting the study, EPA scientist Greg Hellyer also noted that recent research by others is also revealing high levels of mercury in wildlife with no direct connection to fish. Examples include the Bicknell's thrush, an endangered species that breeds in the high peaks of the White Mountains. Mercury reaches New England mainly on the wind, carried from the smokestacks of Midwest coal-burning power plants. Hellyer noted that local municipal waste incinerators had been a major source of pollutants, but emission controls have cut mercury by 55 percent. New Hampshire, Vermont, and other New England states have adopted strict smokestack emissions standards. "The magic is starting to leave the North Woods when you can't eat the fish, and the landscape is starting to die," said Hank Swan, speaking for the joint commissioners. Swan, a commissioner from Lyme, N.H., is the former general partner of Wagner Woodlands, and chaired The Nature Conservancy's New Hampshire chapter. "Where is the federal leadership [on emissions]? That's the problem," he said. Swan also raised the question of comparing the cost of installing emissions controls to the costs of greater public health problems, the loss of tourism revenue, and the loss of people's enjoyment of the outdoors. David Deen, a Vermont legislator from Westminster and river steward for the Connecticut River Watershed Council, called for an update of the study in five years. He noted the persistence of DDT, a pesticide banned more than 30 years ago, that still shows up is fish tissue. He also called on people to stop backyard burning of trash and other debris. Such burning, though illegal, is a source of dioxin, another toxic substance found in the fish studied. CRJC issued a fact sheet on how residents can identify sources of mercury in their homes and steps they can take to keep mercury from entering the environment. Vermont and New Hampshire state advisories on fish consumption are also on the CRJC Web site. The EPA noted weaknesses in the study design that it recommends be addressed in future studies. These include larger sample sizes and more species tested, particularly in the Headwaters, and that individual fish samples be tracked so specific sources of pollutants may be pursued. This study only addressed the main stem of the Connecticut; subsequent analyses should include the tributaries, both the EPA and CRJC commissioners said. "EPA and the many partners who sponsored the Connecticut River Fish Tissue Contaminant Study have done a real service in helping us understand the level of toxins in Connecticut River fish, and in turn improved our understanding of the sources of those toxins and the ways by which they can be curbed, " said CRJC Executive Director Sharon Francis. The idea for the study came originally from CRJC's Mt. Ascutney Region River Subcommittee. Proposed by the representative from Springfield, VT, who was an avid fisherman, the idea made its way into the 1997 Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan as a riverwide recommendation. "The impetus for this study is a prime example of why we believe volunteer citizen-based planning is essential to the future of the river," said Francis. All four Connecticut River states - New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut - plus the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission joined EPA in sponsoring the study. - 10/30/06 For further information:  Download the entire study from EPA's web site Q&A sheet describing the study Fact sheet for homeowners and citizens New Hampshire fish consumption advisories Vermont fish consumption advisories FLOOD PREVENTION TIPS FROM THE CONNECTICUT RIVER JOINT COMMISSIONS With the forecast for more frequent, heavy storms as global warming proceeds, it's becoming even more important to stay safely out of the way of rivers and streams. While we can't do much about what comes out of the sky, we can affect what happens to the buckets of rain when they arrive. Yes, we have flood control dams and large impoundments, but dealing effectively with the natural and often messy habits of rivers and streams also takes the cooperation of local governments and landowners. Here's the good news - we can do something to lessen the chances of destructive flooding. •Slow it down and soak it up. Make your yard a sponge. Landowners everywhere can keep brooks from flash flooding by helping rain to soak into the ground instead of rushing off to create trouble. Instead of paving, use porous materials such as stones set in gravel for patios and other places where hard surfaces are desired. Direct downspouts toward flat, well-vegetated areas, rather than toward pavement. •Let native plants help. Landowners along every stream, large or small, can protect their property from flood damage by using nature's own armor. If you have trees and shrubs along your streambank, leave them alone to do the job of absorbing water and protecting the bank against erosion. Cutting down trees and shrubs to clear a view invites damage to the shoreline when the water rises. If you have a lawn or crops close to the bank, allow a riparian buffer (natural stream side vegetation, at least 50 feet wide) to grow back, or consider planting one. A buffer on your piece of streambank will save wear and tear on your property. Some riverfront properties may qualify for cost sharing for riparian buffer planting. Call your county conservation district for information. •Let wetlands do their job. One of the reasons we're experiencing such severe effects of heavy storms is that so many wetlands, nature's sponges, have been filled for development and can no longer absorb water. The hundreds of small wetlands eliminated over the last 50-75 years add up to a lot of water that now runs off to create flooding rather than slowly sinking into the ground. Acres of forests and fields which also once helped absorb water are now paved over with parking lots, warehouse stores, and roads. Urge your town to keep development away from wetlands. •Check those culverts. A blocked culvert can act as a dam. Clean out any blockages on your property and call your town road agent if you notice a problem on a road. Many towns have found out the hard way that culverts and bridges may be under-sized and unable to handle all the water that comes their way in a very heavy rain storm. A failed and flooded culvert becomes an immediate public safety hazard. Your regional planning commission can help with a bridge and culvert survey to identify potential problem spots. •Stay out of the way. Many people assume that it is illegal to build in a flood plain, the place a river visits during high water. Surprisingly, most towns still allow building here as long as certain construction practices are followed. Flood plains may look pretty tame most of the year, or even for many years, but they are dangerous places to be when the water finally comes. Water prevented from spreading out on one flood plain – because it's been developed – will pay a more destructive visit downstream, often ripping up the riverbank on its way. The solution is to avoid investing in a dangerous place by not building there. •End the temptation for flood plain development. Towns have the ability to forbid construction in flood plains. Groveton voters made this smart choice at town meeting a few years ago, following recommendations of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, and the examples of other towns along the river. Towns that still allow building in the flood plain should take a fresh look at this policy and take greater responsibility for flood control, and for the safety and welfare of their own citizens and those down river. While many towns have now adopted building setbacks from waterways, this may not do the whole job – rivers don't use measuring tapes. Local planning boards can help by limiting impervious surfaces and requiring stormwater management features in construction projects they review. But what about those dams that are supposed to protect us? Following the 1936 flood, Congress sent the U.S. Army Corps out to build flood control dams in our watershed. Seven dams and $43 million dollars later, the Corps is now able to curb flood levels on 13 percent of the over 7,000 square miles of the Connecticut River's watershed in New Hampshire and Vermont. However, rivers and streams will be up to the same old tricks on the remaining 87 percent. Many people believe that Comerford and Moore, the massive hydro dams at Fifteen Mile Falls, will provide flood control. Indeed, they offer substantial water storage: huge Moore Reservoir can be raised 40 feet. However, heavy rains last fall exceeded even this capacity, and floodwaters spilled over Comerford Dam, inundating the Newbury-Haverhill area. These dams, which were not built for flood control, also can't help communities upstream such as Lancaster. Below Comerford, there is very little storage capacity because the river flattens out and the dams are much smaller. The Connecticut River Joint Commissions offer free guidance for landowners on ways to manage their property to protect against flooding. Look for our Homeowner's Guide to Nonpoint Source Pollution and our riparian buffer guidance on the web at www.crjc.org/managingland.htm. For more information, call CRJC at 603-826-4800. Cast your vote for natural flood protection by keeping a buffer on your property, and by supporting your town in keeping flood plains open and ready to do their job. When the Big One comes, you'll be glad you did.   Connecticut River Byway Named a National Scenic Byway - The Connecticut River Byway, running from Brattleboro, Vt. to Pittsburg, N.H. has been named a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). A delegation of New Hampshire and Vermont officials representing the Connecticut River Byway Council accepted the award at a ceremony Thursday, Sept. 22 in Washington, D.C. On Friday, Sept. 23, Vermont Commissioner of Tourism Bruce Hyde, New Hampshire Director of Travel and Tourism Alice DeSouza, and commissioners and staff of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions (CRJC) met at the historic Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge, the longest two-lane covered bridge in the world, to celebrate the announcement. "I commend the Connecticut River Joint Commissions for its efforts in making this federal designation a reality," said New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch in a statement from his office. "Working in collaboration with Vermont to promote the cultural, historic and natural assets along the Connecticut River will increase economic vitality in both of our states." “This is very exciting news and will be enormously important for both tourism and economic development in this region,” said Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas from his office. “In August, Governor Lynch and I toured cultural heritage sites along the byway on both sides of the Connecticut River and renewed our commitment that our two great states would work together to promote the entire Connecticut River Byway. The National Scenic Byway designation will give those efforts an enormous boost.” The awarding of national designation follows a long and competitive application process, according to Sharon Francis, executive director of CRJC, which oversees the Connecticut River Byway Council. “We know we have a river valley with outstanding scenery and impressive history, but it is sweet news to hear that we are among the winners in a national competition. I’m sure that our waypoint interpretive centers helped give the Connecticut River Byway an edge.” The Connecticut River Byway, which stretches from the Canadian border to Massachusetts, follows 500 miles of state highways in 53 communities along the river valley in Vermont and New Hampshire. The byway embraces traditional New England historic and cultural sites which tell the story of the nation’s first explorations into the wilderness, first transportation corridor, and the initial expansion of American culture. The Connecticut River Byway includes nine waypoint centers where visitors may learn about the river valley’s history, culture, arts, and recreational opportunities, as well as local lodging, dining, and entertainment. The waypoint centers are in Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Windsor, St. Johnsbury, and White River Junction, Vt., and Claremont, Lancaster, and Colebrook, N.H. Wells River, Vt. and Woodsville, N.H. share a waypoint center located in Wells River. America’s Byways, of which the Connecticut River Byway is now a part, is a distinct collection of American roads and treasured places recognized for their scenic, historic, natural, recreational, cultural and archeological qualities. Congress created the National Scenic Byways Program in 1991 to meet widespread demand that the nation’s unique places should be preserved and shared while at the same time promoting tourism and economic development by bringing tourists to rural America and much-needed dollars to small communities. Since its inception, the Americas Byways has provided $206 million for 1,495 projects in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. In New Hampshire, the program also recognizes the White Mountain Trail and Kancamagus Scenic Byway. The Connecticut River Byway is the first national scenic byway in Vermont. The Connecticut River Byway Council represents both states as well as regional planning commissions, communities, businesses, and groups interested in recreation, natural resources, cultural resources, and agriculture. Its purpose is to balance the preservation, promotion, enjoyment, and stewardship of the Connecticut River Valley. Results in from Major River Water Quality Study - Results of the most comprehensive river water quality assessment undertaken in New Hampshire were delivered to the Connecticut River Joint Commissions by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services in Lebanon on January 31st. Ted Walsh, Coordinator of DES' Volunteer River Assessment Program, presented the results of this major study, undertaken last summer at forty five sampling locations. A summary of results for each of the 45 assessment units is posted here. (please be patient; pdf file) Under the microscope was the safety of the Connecticut River for recreation, including swimming, and the conditions for aquatic life. Results indicate a river that is largely in fine condition, especially for dissolved oxygen, although there are several areas of concern for harmful bacteria in some of the most popular canoeing waters in the North Country. DES undertook this ambitious study at the request of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, who are engaged with their five local river subcommittees in updating the Connecticut River Management Plan. CRJC learned that the state had little or no information about the safety of swimming and other river recreation, or about the quality of aquatic habitat, for over 100 of the 275 miles of river in New Hampshire, and asked for help in filling this knowledge gap. DES responded with a well-organized and intensive effort during the summer of 2004, sampling five times at each of 45 different locations for the presence of E. coli bacteria, and testing 12 times at each site for dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and conductivity. Walsh noted that the study collected 50,000 data points, all of which had to be double checked for accuracy. Because bacteria samples had to be rushed within six hours to the DES lab in Concord, the handling of water collected from Fourth Connecticut Lake at the end of a trail on the Canadian border, for example, required some careful advance planning. "This effort has been quite a demonstration of choreography, including arranging for quality control, sampling timing, and transport to the lab," observed Sharon Francis, CRJC Executive Director. "CRJC is very grateful for this work." Swimming safe in most of the river In most places, and at most times, the river today is clean enough for swimming, but there are still areas and weather conditions where swimming is not advised. Bacteria can reach rivers through poorly functioning septic systems or drainage from areas where animals are concentrated, whether they are moose or cows, especially where they have direct access to a tributary or the river itself. Bacteria can also reach rivers through runoff, such as stormwater washing over a city street where dog walkers do not pick up after their pets, and especially through combined sewer overflows, where runoff from heavy storms can overwhelm a wastewater treatment plant and send untreated sewage into the river. Bacteria counts are likely to be higher in the river after a heavy storm. On the Connecticut River in 2004, researchers found high bacteria levels in undeveloped parts of the Connecticut Lakes region on a single day, just after a heavy rain. Walsh guesses that these results reflect the flushing of wetlands and other wildlife habitat areas after a long dry spell. However, consistent bacteria problems appeared a few miles downstream, from Bishop Brook to Canaan Dam in Stewartstown and in the Colebrook area. The Commissions are especially concerned at dangerous bacteria levels found in the 19 miles from Bloomfield to Groveton, a particularly beautiful stretch popular with canoeists, kayakers, and swimmers that includes the state-designated "Natural Segment." CRJC will be conferring with both states and investigating possible causes for this unexpected contamination. Elsewhere, the river is safe for swimming and other recreation, except at times in the 14 miles from the White River to Cornish and Windsor. This stretch of river passed the bacteria tests this year but still may receive untreated sewage during and right after big storms, due to Lebanon's remaining combined sewer overflows. "For thirty years, wastewater treatment plants have been key to the return of the river's health," notes River Commissioner Henry Swan of Lyme. "We must be certain that, as they age, these plants continue to operate effectively and that the funds are there for maintenance and improvements." Water quality variable for aquatic life The river demonstrated its ability to hold enough oxygen for fish and other aquatic life throughout its length. Dissolved oxygen never dropped below the state standard anywhere during the study, even at the very bottom of 100' deep Comerford Reservoir. Acidity was a different story, with a number of readings in the river's first hundred miles showing pH below the state standards. Walsh pointed out that where the river is smaller, it has less ability to bounce back from the damaging effects of acid rain that regularly falls in its watershed. Surprisingly the opposite result was found at the North Stratford Bridge, where the river's pH threatens aquatic life because it is so high. The cause is unknown, but Walsh guessed that new riprap placed just upstream might have come from a limestone area, and suggested looking into this. Otherwise, pH was within accepted limits. DES also measured "specific conductance," a test that indicates various kinds of pollution, such as road salt runoff. Researchers found a clear increase in specific conductance of river water as they traveled downstream. For unknown reasons, a few sites also tested high for aluminum, a metal that is leached from soil subjected to acid rain. At one station at the confluence of the Black River in Springfield, aquatic habitat is considered impaired due to the presence of milfoil. The study's results are generally encouraging news for aquatic life, but they shed light on just four aspects of the underwater world, notes Adair Mulligan, CRJC Communications Director. "Mercury and other metals, automotive oils, and pesticides can lurk in the sediments or the bodies of fish and their food, and never appear in a bucket of river water." An extensive study of Connecticut River sediments by EPA in 2000 found contaminants from parking lot and road runoff at a number of locations as far north as Pittsburg village, and traces of copper from the mines high in the Waits and Ompompanoosuc watersheds of Vermont. At some sites, the contaminants were in levels high enough to threaten aquatic life. Funds for the water quality study came primarily from DES and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Connecticut River Joint Commissions helped pay for the cost of processing bacteria samples. DES hired four interns to conduct the study, who went through a detailed training program before their work began. Vermont Commissioner of Environmental Conservation Jeffrey Wennberg, who attended the presentation, said he would like to have Vermont's water quality program coordinate with New Hampshire's to help answer questions on the shared river. CRJC's web site carries information on the safety of various parts of the river for swimming and has updated this page with the preliminary new data.. Complete results of the river assessment will be posted on the DES Volunteer River Assessment Program web page. - 2/2/05 Study Reveals Reasons for River Erosion -The Connecticut River has more than a few secrets, and some of them were shared on November 4 in Lancaster by a fluvial geomorphologist working with the Connecticut River Joint Commissions. Dr. John Field spoke to an audience of thirty that included riverfront landowners, current and former legislators, and local officials from Pittsburg to Bath, NH and also from Vermont. He was reporting on his study of the river’s behavior in the 85 miles from Murphy Dam to Gilman. Field explained that he had compared historical and current maps of the river’s course before going out onto the river and making hundreds of exacting measurements of river cross sections, bank erosion, the size of particles in the river bed, and the width of riparian buffers on the riverbanks, among other features. He found that only one third of the 166 miles of riverbanks he studied are stable. River straightened for log drives: The first surprising discovery was that a third of the river here was likely straightened by humans before 1925. The New Hampshire General Court incorporated the Upper Connecticut River and Lake Improvement Company in 1863 and allowed it to "remove the boulders and rocks and all other obstructions from, and enlarge the channel of " the river from First Lake in Pittsburg to Stewartstown. The company could "erect and maintain across said river and upon said lake, dams, piers, and side or branch booms as may facilitate rafting, driving, floating and securing lumber upon said river." In 1867 the Legislature amended the act to extend down river to Fifteen Mile Falls. The very next year, lumber baron George Van Dyke ran the first log drive through this area. Dr. Field commented that 150 years ago, river managers traded log drives and flood control for a legacy of erosion problems. Long straight stretches of river, such as through Canaan and Stratford, are not natural, and the river is now shaping the resulting sharp corners back into smoother, more natural curves. Straightening the channel has also caused it to cut down 3 to 4 feet within its bed. The river is now trying to widen and slow as it recovers from these dramatic changes. Feeder streams can bring problems: Tributaries are also changing the main stem of the Connecticut. Dr. Field showed how sediment dropped in the mainstem by Bolter Brook in Canaan has shifted the river current to erode the New Hampshire side. The sediment may be coming from heavy land clearing in the brook’s watershed in Canaan and Lemington, and from sand spread on nearby roads. Sediment coming from the Mohawk River in Colebrook is causing erosion downstream at the Colebrook Industrial Park. Steep, high banks such as at Brunswick Springs are also a troublesome source of sediment that creates gravel bars and erosion. Maidstone farmer Louis Lamoureaux asked whether such gravel bars could be dredged, but Dr. Field said that the tributaries would continue to deposit sediment in the mainstem, and the bars would be back. Lawrence Underhill, a retired NRCS Soil Conservationist, said that the Mohawk’s gravel bars were dredged in the 1970s and reappeared not long afterward. He added that it would now be difficult to get the necessary permit for such dredging. Dr. Field said that a better alternative would be to keep sediment from entering the tributary. Riprap failure: Dr. Field also discovered that stone riprap, long trusted by many for erosion control, is not foolproof on the upper Connecticut. He showed a number of photos of older failed riprap, where the river had simply eroded behind the stone, and he said that armoring with riprap can also move the river’s energy and erosive power somewhere else. The study also helped confirm the value of riparian buffers. On the upper Connecticut River, Dr. Field observed a 67% greater chance of finding erosion where there is no riparian buffer, and that a forested buffer at least 25 feet wide is associated with greater bank stability. After hearing of the expense and problems involved in stabilizing riverbanks and removing sediment deposits, several in the audience asked whether it would be more cost effective to prevent actions that make the situation worse. Dr. Field agreed, and advised against building levees close to the river, and said that bank armoring prevents the river from natural widening and slowing down. Heavy land clearing sends sediment into tributaries to build bars that cause erosion. Buildings and other infrastructure should be kept away from the river, perhaps with the help of conservation agreements, to avoid conflicts as the river moves back into a more natural path. Project Proposed at Colebrook Industrial Park: Part of the River Commissions’ project with Dr. Field is to create a design for restoring a priority riverbank. CRJC and Dr. Field selected an erosion site on the Colebrook Industrial Park, where there is erosion around a drain pipe and the park is threatened. Detailed surveying revealed that the site is directly affected by gravel deposited in the mainstem by the Mohawk River, a short distance upstream. The energy the river retains due to riprap along Route 102 upstream is transporting sediment down to the Colebrook Industrial Park. Kevin McKinnon, Colebrook’s public works director and representative to CRJC’s Headwaters Subcommittee, confirmed that the Mohawk was straightened and riprapped in the 1960s by the Army Corps of Engineers because of ice build-up in downtown Colebrook. Dr. Field discussed the pros and cons of a wide variety of alternatives for dealing with erosion at the Colebrook Industrial Park, from "do nothing" to moving the river away from the site and into its old channel, now in Vermont. Dr. Field pointed out that the river here is popular with fishermen, and that the riverbank restoration could be designed to help improve the fishing. He and CRJC had dismissed most alternatives as politically and economically unviable. Instead, they recommend a combination of bioengineering with root wads to improve fish cover, planting a riparian buffer, and creating a conservation agreement for the buffer area, while looking further into the Mohawk River’s role in causing the erosion. With the support of the town and the landowner, CRJC has applied for grants to restore the site. CRJC Executive Director Sharon Francis explained that the Colebrook site was selected because the project could help protect an economically important area for the community, and that Colebrook is already wisely planning for its future, having protected its drinking water supplies and conserved riverfront land. Peter Riviere, Executive Director of the Coos Economic Development Corporation, said that the Colebrook Industrial Park is the best site for industry that is critical for the North Country’s future. Colebrook Development Corporation President Benoit Lamontagne said after the meeting that he is enthusiastic about the idea of a conservation agreement and riverbank restoration. He added that the value of Dr. Field’s study became apparent as he realized he had never associated the Mohawk River with the problems at the industrial park. Mrs. Francis announced that CRJC has also applied for grants, with the support of the Town of Northumberland, to further examine the complex and difficult erosion problems at the Groveton Cemetery. This study would include the Upper Ammonoosuc River and eroding farmland across the river in Maidstone and Guildhall. CRJC plans to post a summary of Dr. Field’s report on this site. For a color copy of the full report, send a check for $10 to cover copying, postage, and handling to CRJC at PO Box 1182, Charlestown, NH 03603. Funds for the Northern River Assessment study have come from a NOAA appropriation to the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, and from a grant from the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund associated with the Fifteen Mile Falls hydro development. For more on erosion in the Connecticut River watershed, click here.   Sharon Francis Wins EPA Lifetime Achievement Award: At an Earth Day ceremony in Boston’s Faneuil Hall on April 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Office recognized Sharon F. Francis with its Lifetime Achievement Award, the only such award given to an individual from New Hampshire or Vermont. Francis is Executive Director of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, headquartered in Charlestown, NH, and active throughout the bi-state watershed. EPA’s merit awards honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the region's environment. This year's competition drew nearly 100 nominations from across New England. "I can of mine own self do nothing," Francis observed, "and whatever I do has been possible because of the remarkable team of talented people we have on CRJC and work with in the river valley. We are so fortunate to have our river, our valley, and much to accomplish as we continue to learn how to be good neighbors to a great river." EPA’s citation notes that Sharon Francis "can show like few others a lifetime of thoughtfully considered, articulate and effective advocacy on behalf of the environment." Beginning as a 15-year-old volunteer for the Seattle Mountaineers fighting against illegal logging in Olympic National Park, her career has led her to Washington DC, working for Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and for President and Lady Bird Johnson in the White House, to Boston, working with the New England Natural Resource Center and, most recently, to Charlestown, NH where for the last 15 years she has led the Connecticut River Joint Commissions. Among her many successes over her 44-year career are helping to prevent a new dam proposed for the Grand Canyon, developing public participation measures under the federal Clean Water Act, and leading a people-to-people dialogue between New Hampshire and Ohio over acid rain. In addition to her work with the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, Francis has found the time to serve on the Charlestown Planning Board and the boards of numerous environmental organizations. She enjoys the respect and admiration of friends and colleagues far beyond the Connecticut River Valley for an impressive span of achievements and a lifetime of service to the environment. "These individuals, organizations and businesses deserve our thanks for their extraordinary contributions in protecting the environment," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA’s New England Office, speaking of the 14 NH awardees. "They have shown us that anyone can make a big difference, whether at work, at home, or in their neighborhood." Contributing to Sharon's nomination were testimonial letters from Lady Bird Johnson, who relied upon Sharon as her chief conservation assistant, and also from U.S. Senators Judd Gregg and Patrick Leahy. "Nature forms such an interconnected world," wrote Mrs. Johnson. "Caring citizens like Sharon increase our understanding of this living planet and nurture it in great degree." Cheston Newbold of Cornish, NH, Chair of the NH Connecticut River Commission, assisted in presenting the award to Sharon at the ceremony. back to top Sedimentation and Erosion Control: It Sounds Dull, but It Keeps the Brooks Clean - The Connecticut River Valley acquired a lot of water in a hurry over the last days and weeks. Do you know what your neighborhood brook looks like today? Is it still running clear, or has it suddenly turned a muddy brown? Smart landowners, whether they’re homeowners tending a garden, forestland owners harvesting lumber, farmers tilling their fields and managing their herds, or developers breaking ground for new housing, always keep bare ground covered. When the skies suddenly open and unprotected soil is exposed to the pounding of moving water, it’s too late to stop it from heading down hill. Once soil gets into streams, it settles onto the bottom, smothering aquatic life and, in the long run, ruining the fishing. It usually brings other problems with it, such as heavy metals or other pollutants. Heavy rain is the reason for silt fences, those black curtains carefully tucked around construction sites. It’s the reason for hay bales staked firmly in place to catch sediment before it reaches a brook. It’s the reason for mulch, thick grass cover, and above all, a deep buffer of native vegetation along every stream, to catch sediment before it can enter the waterway. Make a point of touring your property as soon as possible after a heavy rain. Look for signs that soil has recently moved under the power of water. Contact your county conservation district, regional planning commission, or Cooperative Extension Service office to find out what you can do to keep your soil where it belongs, or see the Connecticut River Joint Commissions’ page on best land management practices.