Land trust, coalition to hold water resource forum

WOODBURY >> In keeping with a mission of providing education on environmental topics important to everyone, Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is collaborating with the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (PRWC) to present a program on water resources.

On Thursday evening March 30 at 7 p.m. the focus will be important topical issues including the recent state-wide drought and its resulting impact on local groundwater and stream flow conditions.

During the past twoplus years, there has been a precipitation deficit in Connecticut which has resulted in extreme drought conditions. What does this mean for the environmental health of our rivers and the water supply that we all depend on?

Len DeJong, executive director of the PRWC, will provide insight on these questions and discusses the coalition’s engagement in the development of Connecticut’s first State water plan. He will also share the results of a United States Geological Survey research project that studied the potential impacts from climate change within the Pomperaug River Watershed, a ninety square-mile area encompassing the towns of Southbury, Woodbury and Bethlehem and parts of neighboring communities. DeJong has a 40year career background in public water supply and environmental resource management, has served on numerous professional associations and boards and was recognized for his contributions with awards from the American Water Works Association, Water for People, and the New England Water Works Association. This free program will be held at the Woodbury Library, 269 Main Street South in Woodbury. For more information and to pre-register contact Flanders at (203) 263-3711, Ext. 10.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Above, the dry channel of the Weekeepeemee River taken at Three Rivers Park in Woodbury, in a photo taken in September 2015.