June 2019 / Issue 2

Work with a Sustainable CT Fellow to get certified!

Sustainable CT is a voluntary certification program which provides a menu of sustainable actions and recognizes municipalities which strive to build community, promote the local economy, ensure the well-being of residents and respect the natural environment. If your town is interested in becoming Bronze or Silver certified this summer, you can contact our two fellows who are working out of the CRCOG office in Hartford. They are here to help, so come to them with any questions about the program! Regina Harlig can be reached at rharlig@crcog.org and Harry Zehner can be reached at hzehner@crcog.org . Sustainable CT will be hosting a Q & A session at the CRCOG office on Friday, July 13 th , from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Register and learn more here .

OTHER CRCOG NEWS

CRCOG Holds Workshop on Invasive Aquatic Plants

CRCOG sponsored a workshop on June 19th on dealing with the growing problem of invasive aquatic plants in the Connecticut River. The workshop focused on Hydrilla which is among the most troublesome invasive aquatic plants and has become common in the Connecticut River, choking portions of the river and coves. Hydrilla grows rapidly and its thick mats can impede boat access, choke out native vegetation, and impact fish populations. Controlling Hydrilla and other invasive aquatic plants can be expensive but ignoring the problem can be even more costly . The featured speaker, Greg Bugbee, an aquatic scientist from the Connecticut Agricultural Extension Service (CAES), briefed local and state officials on the problem. He described his efforts to survey and document the extent of the infestation so that management options can be determined. Eric Trott, Coventry Town Planner, provided a local prospective on dealing with an Hydrilla infestation in Coventry Lake which is costing over $100,000 annually to manage. Jeanne Davies of Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development (CTRC&D) proposed an Environmental Team Review (ERT) approach to initiating efforts to come to terms with this issue. Presenters agreed that a collaborative approach is needed. CRCOG towns along the Connecticut River are encouraged to participate in filing an application for an ERT to bring greater attention to the problem, facilitiate collaboration, and look for funding opportunities to support further study and management of the issue. For more information on the ERT contact Jeanne Davies at jdavies@ctrcd.org . (Judy Preston Photo), Salmon Brook, Glastonbury, circa 2018

Upcoming CRCOG Meetings

July 18, 2019 CREPC 9:30am-11am @ CRCOG Offices, 3rd Floor, 241 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06106 United States July 22, 2019 Transportation Committee (Tentative) 12:00pm-1:30pm @ CRCOG Offices, 3rd Floor, 241 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06106 United States August 14, 2019 Executive Committee 12:00pm-1:30pm @ CRCOG Offices, 3rd Floor, 241 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06106 United States CRCOG Events