On December 9th, the West River Watershed Coalition (WRWC) held its fourth forum to identify priorities to guide the coalition’s work for the next three to five years. Actionable items in three areas were considered: People, Water, and Land. Some of the key takeaways were engaging more youth, addressing flood resilience and water quality, and connecting trails and greenways throughout the watershed.
Nicole Davis and Shauntasia Hicks of Save the Sound were joined by NHS of New Haven’s Director of Community Sustainability, Kathy Fay, to facilitate the conversation among community members, state and municipal officials, and organizational representatives.
If you – or your group – are interested in learning more, including viewing the many ideas raised, contributing further to the WRWC’s agenda, or engaging in activities that are both fun and beneficial to the environment, contact westriverwatershedcoalition@gmail.com.
NHS was among the founders of the Coalition in 2013, when individuals, organizations and representatives of the five watershed towns (Bethany, Woodbridge, Hamden, New Haven and West Haven) came together with the vision of restoring a safe, accessible and clean West River that connects people and places from source to (Long Island) Sound. NHS and our target neighborhoods, from Newhallville to the Hill, are located within the most environmentally impaired portions of the West River watershed, as are Beaver Pond Park, West River Memorial Park and Edgewood Park. Because of the WRWC’s relevance to the wellbeing of these communities, Coalition meetings were hosted at the NHS Lab before COVID safety concerns moved them online.
The West River Watershed Coalition’s mission is to connect the West River to its adjacent parks, towns and neighborhoods, add recreational opportunities, and improve the watershed’s ecological, physical and economic health.
