Naugatuck River Forum 2011

Naugatuck River Forum
February 24, 2011

Celebrating the river’s revival and planning a green, prosperous

future for the river and its communities

Naugatuck Valley—the river flows through it
By Bob Gregorski, Naugatuck River Watershed Association

I was one of the 135 Naugatuck River advocates who attended the first Naugatuck River Forum held recently at the Mattatuck Museum. It was a project of the Connecticut Community Foundation and co-hosted by Rivers Alliance of Connecticut. “Celebrating the river’s revival and planning a green, prosperous future for the river and its communities” was the Forum’s title. The agenda of the Forum’s speakers and panelists was impressive.

It was a successful gathering of people to learn about the past, present and future of the river and its valley communities. I came away with renewed hope that many of the dreams of greenways and utilization of this natural resource would come to fruition in my lifetime.

Some Forum attendees did not realize how long and how much work has been done. In 1984 when the Naugatuck Valley Trout Unlimited began its focus on restoring the river, it was fortunate if 20 people attended a “River Awareness” program. That’s when some of us Trout Unlimited old timers started working to restore a waterway that was one of the most polluted in the country and its restoration efforts has been ongoing since.

Back in those early years, people shunned having any thing to do with the polluted rivers and its riverbanks. Many times I heard ‘why are you doing this work; it will never happen’. Our response was and still is—“If we don’t, who will?”

Having 42 species of fish now living in the 39 miles of its main stem and having eagles, osprey, mergansers, mink, muskrat, otter and many other wildlife species using the river and its riparian habitat for housing and food is a testimony for some restoration accomplishments. Anglers, canoers, kayakers and wildlife observers have been enjoying the river for about the last fifteen years and there is much to be done to improve access to the river and to keep it clean. All are invited to join us. Contact information will be provided soon.

9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.	Introduction Continental Breakfast Welcomes: Ann Burton, Connecticut Community Foundation, Chairman, Environment Committee M. Catherine Smith, Mattatuck Museum, President U.S. Representative Chris Murphy, 5^th Congressional District	15 min.
9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.	Overview / History / Vision Presenter: Laura Wildman, P.E., Princeton Hydro	PPT Presentation
9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.	What Is Happening Along the River? Presenter: Samuel Gold, AICP, Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley	PPT Presentation
10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.	The Role of the New Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: What Will Be Different? Presenter: Daniel Esty, Commissioner Designate of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.	Break
10:40 a.m. – Noon	Panel: Sustainable Development Along the Naugatuck River Valley Moderator: Gary O’Connor, Chairman, Waterbury Regional Chamber; Co-Chair, Environment, Gov. Malloy’s Transition Team Sustainable Riverfront Development in Connecticut and Rhode Island Presenter: Alex Conroy, President, The Conroy Development Company *Panelists:* State of Connecticut’s Perspective on Sustainable Economic Development: Joseph McGee, Co-Chair, Public Policy, Gov. Malloy’s Transition Team; Vice-President, Public Policy & Programs, The Business Council of Fairfield County Sustainability, Federal Legislation, and Funding: Louis Mangini, Legislative Aide to Congress- woman Rosa DeLauro Connecticut Department of Transportation and Plans for Sustainable Transit: Tom Maziarz, Bureau Chief, Policy and Planning Redevelopment, Smart Growth, and Brownfields: Gary O’Connor Q & A: All Speakers	PPT Presentation 45 min., 15 min. Q & A
Noon – 12:30 p.m.	Lunch
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Ongoing Restoration Efforts in the Naugatuck River Watershed: Recreation/ Conservation/Education Activities Moderator: Laura Wildman, P.E., Princeton Hydro *Panelists:* Communication and River Access Projects: Bob Gregorski, President, Naugatuck River Watershed Association River Day / Recreational Projects: Kevin Zak, Naugatuck River Revival Group Thomaston Clock Walk: Peter Kisselburgh, Chairman, Thomaston Greenway Committee Steele Brook Greenway: Chuck Berger, P.E., Town of Watertown Fish Bypass and Tingue Dam: James MacBroom, P.E., Milone & MacBroom Other Projects (i.e. National Heritage Corridor Project) Q & A: All Speakers	PPT Presentation
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.	Panel: Where Do We Go from Here? Moderator: Robert Mezzo, Mayor, Borough of Naugatuck *Panelists:* Michael J. Jarjura, Mayor, City of Waterbury Frank Chiaramonte, First Selectman, Harwinton Susan Cable, First Selectman, Beacon Falls Paul Roy, First Selectman, Seymour Jim Della Volpe, Mayor, Ansonia Anthony Staffieri, Mayor, Derby Q & A: All Speakers	PPT Presentation
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Wrap-up Laura Wildman, P.E., Princeton Hydro

9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Introduction

15 min.

9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Overview / History / Vision

PPT Presentation

9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.

What Is Happening Along the River?

Presenter: Samuel Gold, AICP, Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley

PPT Presentation

10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.

Presenter: Daniel Esty, Commissioner Designate of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.

Break

10:40 a.m. – Noon

Panel: Sustainable Development Along the Naugatuck River Valley

Sustainable Riverfront Development in Connecticut and Rhode Island

45 min., 15 min. Q & A

Noon – 12:30 p.m.

Lunch

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Ongoing Restoration Efforts in the Naugatuck River Watershed: Recreation/ Conservation/Education Activities

PPT Presentation

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Panel: Where Do We Go from Here?

PPT Presentation

2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Wrap-up