Connecticut River Watershed Partnership

04/07/2026

The beautiful Farmington River: largest tributary to the Connecticut River, longest river in New England! Check out our friends at the Farmington River Watershed Association who steward this amazing waterway!

Did you know that the Farmington River flows in all four cardinal directions? Starting in its headwaters in Massachusetts, the River flows generally southeast with a big shift in Farmington, where it flows north through Avon and Simsbury. After about 81 miles the Farmington meets the Connecticut River in Windsor.

Learn more about our unique river and its Wild & Scenic destinations at FRWA.org and become a member today!

12/17/2025

Happy National Wildlife Refuge Day! To our friends at Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and other Refuges across the country: we see you and we appreciate all that you do for wildlife and people in our communities!
National Wildlife Refuge Association

11/21/2025

If you were to imagine a true bridge builder, connector, network weaver, listener, and someone you’d like to partner with on any kind of project, whether art or conservation related, Dave Rothstein, would instantly come to mind. A true One-of-a kind, he brought passion and enthusiasm to all of the endeavors he pursued in the Connecticut River Watershed. May we honor the spirit of Dave as we strive to connect the people and places we value - he’d want it to be so.

Dave Rothstein was known for small acts of creativity, like carving intricate designs on fresh snow in his driveway, as well as big and dramatic efforts, such as a backyard igloo he turned into a speakeasy.

10/27/2025

What a good day ~ we started with introductions and concluded with new partnerships formed and commitments to lead innovative initiatives on behalf of the watershed together!

Last Friday at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments meeting space in Greenfield, Massachusetts it was our privilege to host a gathering of Regional Planning Commissions, Councils of Government and state legislators working across the 4-state watershed who are committed to enhancing community resilience here.

Thank you to our state legislator champions of the watershed: State Representative MJ Shannon, Natalie Blais - State Representative, First Franklin District, Senator Jo Comerford, State Representative Cathryn Harvey (NH). And thank you to our partners at Regional Planning Commissions and COGs up and down the watershed who work on behalf of the resilience of our 402 communities every day.

And especially to our supporters who helped make this gathering possible and led our sessions: Brad Sperber and Helen Royal with Keystone Policy Center; Tom Webler with the Social and Environmental Research Institute; Senator Jo Comerford; Chris Campany with the Windham Regional Commission; Patty Gambarini with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; Dick Shriver with Estuary Magazine; Margot Burns with the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments; and Curtis Ogden with Interaction Institute for Social Change.

10/20/2025

Congratulations to Dick Shriver and Estuary Magazine!

10/15/2025

Honoring the Connecticut River watershed's first peoples today and every day. Watch for our upcoming story in the Winter issue about the creation of a mishoon (canoe) last August by members of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band with a tree donated by Norcross Wildlife Foundation.

Subscribe at Estuarymagazine.com to received the upcoming Winter 2025-2026 issue.

09/28/2025

Happy World Rivers Day! Today is the 20th anniversary of this event established by the UN in 2005 to increase public awareness and promote stewardship of our rivers.
Today and every day our 20-year old network of partners celebrates and stewards the Connecticut River, longest river in New England, connecting communities from northern New Hampshire and Vermont to the estuary in Connecticut on Long Island Sound!

"Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense." ~Mark Angelo

06/01/2025

Thank you for being a champion for communities in the Connecticut River watershed, Senator Jeanne Shaheen

05/29/2025

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, is leading the New England Senate delegation in reintroducing a bill that will promote and fund restoration and protection efforts in the five-state Connecticut River Watershed.

05/01/2025

Join the dedicated team at VINS Nature Center and transform your passion for nature into a rewarding career!

We're seeking motivated individuals for several exciting positions:
🌟Development Coordinator
🌟Avian Rehabilitator
🌟Accounting Assistant

At VINS, you'll work in a stunning natural setting where every day brings new challenges and opportunities to make a difference in wildlife conservation and environmental education. Your work will directly contribute to our mission of connecting people with the natural world.

Apply today and become part of a community dedicated to environmental stewardship and wildlife protection! https://vinsweb.org/careers/

03/04/2025

The Fort River Trail is featuring: “Something’s Wrong,” written by Jory John as a storybook walk for the month of March! Did you receive any interesting gifts this year? Our friend Jeff, the bear, got a unique gift from his grandma too! Can you guess what special gift Jeff received from his grandma? Take a walk at the Fort River trail to find out :-)

Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Fort River Birding and Nature Trail 69 Moody Bridge Road, Hadley MA 01035 (Bay Road, Entrance)

Drop-in Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Contact: [email protected] or 413-658-5403

Image of the children's book “Something’s Wrong,” written by Jory John, with an illustration of a young bear in the forest.