The Mianus Chapter's history of restoring the Norwalk River, which runs through the towns of Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and Norwalk, is relatively short, starting in the mid-1990s. But the efforts in this short amount of time have yielded incredible results.
In 1996, the Mianus Chapter became a founding member of the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative, a partnership of local governments, state agencies and other environmentally oriented nonprofit organizations.
At that time, the state DEP had made a surprising discovery on the Norwalk River. While conducting an electro-shocking study of trout numbers, state employees found several areas where juvenile wild brown trout were captured - a clear sign that wild fish were spawning in the river.
This discovery spurred more than a decade of efforts to restore the river's habitat to protect and grow this wild trout population, headed primarily by the Mianus Chapter.
At the chapter's first restoration project location, completed in 1996 in Wilton, the state found wild brown trout numbers more than doubled in the following year.
Since that time, projects to shore up river banks, plant native vegetation and build in-stream habitat for trout have continued.
Many challenges continue to face the Norwalk River. In the summer months, the river becomes extremely low - a result of development and the reduction of groundwater reserves - making it difficult for wild trout to survive. But some still do.
Another threat facing the Norwalk is pollution. In recent years, water quality testing has shown the Norwalk to have high levels of bacteria pollutants from failing septic systems and other sources, and also high levels of fertilizers and other chemicals.
While restoration efforts continue, one of the major goals of the chapter is to increase awareness of the delicate balance of the Norwalk River and the need to protect it from further harm.
To help with future restoration projects, contact Jeff Yates to be added to the list of volunteers.
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