News Feed
To Municipal Inland Wetlands Agencies and Staff:
I am happy to announce the DEEP’s Municipal Inland Wetlands Agency Comprehensive Training Program has been reactivated after a long recess!
This free, online training program was custom built to allow municipal inland wetlands agencies and their staff to carry out the regulatory and training requirements of the Connecticut Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act (IWWA). The course examines several important subjects including: key sections of the IWWA, important procedures and critical legal concepts for conducting agency business, stream crossing guidelines and habitat restoration and enhancement techniques, maps and site plans, and more!
The training program consists of 8 modules and is designed with text and video content, interactive activities, and module assessments to allow you to review and digest the material at your own pace. A generic program certificate is available from the course platform, however, this is not an official certificate of completion. DEEP will mail an official certificate approximately 4-6 weeks following successful conclusion of the program.
It is strongly recommended that all new municipal inland wetlands agency members and staff complete the training program. Veteran members and staff can benefit from taking this course as it provides a good review of fundamental subject matter. The DEEP encourages participation by anyone interested in learning about the IWWA and the roles and responsibilities of municipal inland wetlands agencies. Please feel free to share this announcement.
The training program is being offered through a partnership with UConn CLEAR. To register, please see “CT DEEP Municipal Inland Wetlands Agency Comprehensive Training Program” posted under the “Training” section on CLEAR’s web page. Please contact
Darcy Withers (darcy.winther@ct.gov) if you have questions.
Celebrate 50 years of the CT Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act (1972 – 2022) and register for this important training program!
clear.uconn.edu/training/DEEP_IWA_training.htm
River runner: follow the path of a drop of water anywhere in the world ~
www.fastcompany.com/90710546/this-mesmerizing-map-lets-you-follow-the-path-of-a-drop-of-water-any...
This mesmerizing map lets you follow the path of a drop of water anywhere in the world
Click to drop a raindrop anywhere in the world, and River Runner shows you where it ends up. It’s an illustration of how connected our waterways are—and how far pollution that enters our rivers or...You are invited to the winter meeting of the Thames River Basin Partnership.
When: Jan 18, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Time
Donna Merrill will be our guest presenter. Donna is a member of the Connecticut Pollinator Pathway Steering Committee. She will give an overview of the Connecticut Pollinator Pathway initiative. The Pollinator Pathway is a voluntary program for private landowners to take actions that will support native pollinators on their property. Learn how municipalities that support the Pollinator Pathway initiative are qualified to earn points for their Sustainable CT certification.
Following Donna’s presentation, the Partners on their TRBP workplan related activities.
Register to attend the meeting at this Zoom link. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkf-qurzgjE9SjPP4TZ2-hc0IrycWn08E5
If you are interested in learning about the monitoring that MassDEP’s Division of Watershed Management conducted in 2021, their Annual Monitoring Review is available here: The 2021 Monitoring Overview has been posted at the following website:
Annual Monitoring Summaries | Mass.gov www.mass.gov/lists/annual-monitoring-summaries
From the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Attention Agricultural Land Owners:
Sign-up NOW for FY2022 Conservation Easement Funding
If you’re an agricultural landowner or eligible entity interested in protecting the future of the nation’s food supply, why not consider protecting your land with a conservation easement through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)? NRCS accepts applications year round; however, the time to sign-up for FY2022 funding is fast approaching and must be submitted by January 28, 2022.
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) has two components, one for Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and one for Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE).
• Under the ALE component, funds are provided to eligible entities that use ACEP funding to purchase permanent agricultural land easements that not only protect the future of the nation's food supply, but also support environmental quality, wildlife habitat, and historic preservation and protection of open spaces. Landowner applicants who are interested must apply through an eligible entity – such as a land trust, municipality, or the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. NRCS will prioritize applications that protect agricultural uses and related conservation values of the land and those that maximize the protection of contiguous acres devoted to agricultural use.
• Under the WRE component, funding is provided directly to landowners for the purchase of an easement and for restoration. Wetland reserve easements allow landowners to successfully restore, enhance, and protect habitat for wildlife on their lands, reduce damage from flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. Eligible landowners may choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement; tribal landowners also have the option of enrolling in 30-year contracts. Eligible lands include farmed or converted wetlands that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored.
Land eligible for agricultural easements includes cropland, grassland, and pastureland; non-industrial private forest land may be enrolled when associated with active agricultural land. Native American Tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase conservation easements.
Enrolling agricultural land helps secure the future of the nation’s food supply, prevents it from being developed or going to a non-agricultural use, and provides public benefits including environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat, and protection of open space.
Applications must be submitted by January 28, 2022, to:
Carol Grasis
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
344 Merrow Road, Suite A
Tolland, CT 06084-3917
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our offices are not currently open to the public. However, we can assist you remotely. Please call your local USDA Service Center (listed below) for assistance in completing applications.
Not sure how to begin? Visit the ACEP section on our website where you will find information on benefits, how to apply, all the forms you will need, and more.
To speak to someone about filling out eligibility forms with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), or to obtain an application, contact your local USDA Service Center: Danielson – (860) 779-0557; Hamden – (203) 287-8038; Norwich – (860) 887-3604; Torrington – (860) 626-8852; Windsor – (860) 688-7725; Connecticut State Office, Tolland – (860) 871-4028.