Quinnipiac River Watershed Association
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Environmental Education & Stewardship

The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association has received over $70,000 in grant funding from 3M to enhance its Biodiversity and Ecology Education Programs for the Quinnipiac River. QRWA and 3M continue their long standing relationship by adding the Aquatic Science Awareness Program (ASAP) which now includes students in grades K- 12.  Video from Ms. Robles 5th Grade Class

Both the 3M/QRWA High School Environmental Education Program and the 3M/QRWA/Aquatic Science Awareness Program (ASAP) provide environmental education programs where students in the watershed and beyond will be able to participate in field trips, classroom activities, hands on projects, and independent studies, that will connect them to the environment, the community and the river.

The programs are offered during regular school hours utilizing the schools buses to transport students to site locations. With these educational programs students are able to participate in experiments to support theories and concepts explained in the classroom. The QRWA Headquarters, located on the shore of Hanover Pond, the Quinnipiac River and the Meriden Linear Trail provides the perfect staging area for field trips, hands-on projects and water quality studies. High school students receive lessons in kayaking, fishing and tie-fly instructions. Selected schools participate in Trout in the Classroom programs whereby student raise trout in the classroom and release them on the day of the their trips. The trout are released into the river at the Red Bridge location in Meriden. 



From the New Haven area, students from Solar Youths after school and summer camp visit QRWA for paddling and "hands on" experiments.  The 3M ASAP grant provides aquatic science to the Meriden Public School 5th grade students with field trips to the QRWA facility to learn how to collect macroinvertbrates and ID them in the classroom.

3M Purification Inc. is located in Meriden, CT at 400 Research Parkway.  For more information about 3Mgives visit www.3Mgives.com    On behalf of the QRWA board of directors we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Joe Struble at 3M Purification Inc. in Meriden for his continued encouragement and support of the QRWA and its mission.

Student Training Programs

QRWA Paddle Committee provides a two day water safety course to Quinnipiac University Students with instruction on canoeing and kayaking 

Landowner Education

QRWA published an abbreviated Quinnipiac Greenway Landowner's Guide to help landowners reduce pollution and use tax credits to conserve watershed land. We also prepared a full-length guide for muncipal officials.

Outreach Project    

Students and volunteers marked storm drains throughout the watershed and distributed educational flyers. QRWA volunteers briefed municipal officials on streamwalk findings and recommendations.

Riparian Buffer Zones

A demonstration riparian buffer has been established via a student project by Maloney High School Students, made possible via a 3M grant. The riparian buffer has over 242 plantings and when fully mature will serve as an educational program for members and the general public. The riparian buffer is located behind the QRWA building along the shore (75'). Until the area is fully established there are orange cones marking the location. We urge communities to implement more protective buffers in land developments to protect water quality and wildlife.

Public Education

Working in cooperation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) the QRWA organized "lunch and learn" sessions with the North Haven and Wallingford Public Works Departments. CT DEEP speakers focused on an overview of the various storm water permits and minimum measures for low impact development.

These meetings were funded through a grant from the Greater New Haven Green Fund, whose mission is to support initiatives that help reduce exposure to air, water, and land pollution, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Special thanks to Lynn Sadosky, Director of the North Haven DPW, Randy Snow, Chris Stone, Chris Malik and MaryAnn Nusom Haverstock of the CT DEEP, and Mary Heffernon, Wallingford Conservation for their support and coordination of these training session.  Funding made possible through the Greater New Haven Green Fund.