At the annual HW/RW Gratitude Dinner our dedicated volunteers and invited guests were treated to an evening celebration to recognize all their efforts to move the HW/RW Program forward. 

Trustee Matthew Mandell presented his great presentation on how municipalities can and should plan for “Smart Growth Development of Land Resources” in order to more efficiently use infrastructure resources. This type of development planning can often lead to avoiding future water quality impairment issues.

HW/RW Director Dick Harris gave the audience an illustrated year-in-review that highlighted the many research activities and projects undertaken in the Saugatuck, Norwalk, and Aspetuck River Watersheds.

A Special Recognition Award was given to members of US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 72 for their monitoring participation in the outer Norwalk Harbor. Their data showed good dissolved oxygen levels exist there throughout the summer months.  Ralph Fields, Staff Officer for Marine Safety and Environmental Protect and several participating auxiliary members were present to accept the recognition certificate.

Also receiving a Special Recognition Award was the Westport League of Women Voters (LWV). During summer after participating in a four week training session a number of LWV worked with the HW/RW Program to monitor water quality conditions at seven sampling location along the Aspetuck River, a tributary of the Saugatuck River. Two members of the League’s Environmental Committee, Jane Eyes and Katie Goldschmidt accepted the certificate on behalf of the League and stated that members wish to continue the monitoring effort again next year. The data that these ladies collected showed that high levels of indicator bacteria are still present in the upper part of the river. Large flocks of waterfowl (i.e. Canada geese) as well as non-point runoff are the major contributors of the problem. The Nature Conservancy provided funds for this 2007 summer research.