NAUGATUCK RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION


Conservationist At Work

Scout Life Project Completed--Recently Justin Zinko of Boy Scout Troop 5 in Middlebury completed his Boy Scout Life Project. Five of the Troop's Scouts and three adults assisted with the project. The following were erected: at Lake Elise one Wood Duck nesting box and two Bluebird/Tree Swallow houses and one Wood Duck house and a Bluebird/Tree Swallow house at Turtle Pond. Both areas were cleaned of litter making the nesting houses a welcome sight to wildlife.

The second part of the project will be monitoring of the Wood Duck and Bluebird/Tree Swallow nesting boxes at the end of the season to determine the breeding success, and then cleaning them out.

The project was a joint venture. It was completed on Middlebury Land Trust (MLT) property and with its approval. W. Scott Peterson, M.D. president MLT was the contact person. Bob Gregorski president of the Naugatuck River Watershed Association (NRWA) initiated the project. The wood duck houses were provided by the CT Department of Environmental Protection?s Wildlife Division biologist Peter Picone; they were constructed by members of the Central Connecticut Carpenters Union based out of Wallingford CT. The bluebird houses were built by NRWA volunteer Don Leveillee.

Every person involved with the project benefited and hopefully so will wildlife. It was a first time learning experience for the participating scouts and their adult leaders and volunteers. For more information about birdhouse projects, visit the NRWA website www.naugawatshed.org. or Email naugybob@hotmail.com.

Middlebury Troop 5 Boy Scouts. From left to right Justin Zinko, Joe Bannon, Stephen Dwyer, Tyler Zinko, Eli Pekovich, and Shaun Bannon.
Photo by Mike Zinko

2010 Kayak Race Festival in Beacon Falls-On May 8, Dave Leveillee, John Ploski and Bob Gregorski set up and manned the NRWA booth at the festival. NRWA business cards/web address and information about NRWA programs and events were discussed with a number of interested people.

Linden Park -Bird Nesting Houses, Erosion Control, Beautification Vegetation and Cleanup April 27, 2010

Recently a hard working group of Naugatuck High School, Air Force Junior ROTC cadets lead by Lieutenant Colonel Valerie Lofland, USAF (ret) and Master Sergeant Gary Morrone, USAF (ret) improved the quality of life in the Naugatuck River Valley. The Cadets have made Linden Park in Naugatuck a better place to spend time.

To attract song birds, including for blue birds and tree swallows, eight nesting houses were erected. Provide free comfortable housing, and they will come!

The first stage of planting for beautification, wildlife food and habitat was completed between the Naugatuck River and the Greenway. A water garden was started with cattails, blue flag water iris, tall grasses and bog bean. One hundred other flowering plants were planted including: yucca, iris, money plant and lilac. About 10,000 wild flower seeds (Cornflower, Forget Me Not, Sweet William, Baby's Breath and ten other varieties) should add to the park's beauty for years to come.

A short section of eroding riverbank received about 50 willow bush cuttings and several pounds of grass seed to abate erosion.

The view and sounds of rushing river water from most of the Greenway is blocked by the tall, Invasive and exotic Japanese knotweed. Several of the cadets knocked it down in one section along the Greenway; now one can see & hear the river.

Once a few cadets saw ugly debris which included: plastic lawn chairs, a burned out TV, metal pipes, plastic bottles and bags, they were relentless in their pursuit of getting out of an area they had just planted.

The project was organized by Joe Savarese and Bob Gregorski of the Naugatuck River Watershed Association (NRWA) and sponsored by the Borough of Naugatuck including the Mayor's office, Public Works and Recreation Departments. NRWA and the Naugatuck-Pomperaug Chapter of Trout Unlimited donated plants and seeds.

Contact person: Bob Gregorski


Cadets Sean Sagendorf, Joes Roman, Michael Sarkissian, Stuart Thompson


Cadets Austin Sactena, Chris Lampo, Michael Sarkissian, Chris Unander


Back Row/Standing: Msgt Gary Morrone, USAF (ret), Cadets Aimee Carignan, Alex Olbrys, Jose Roman, Chris Lampo, Ryan Lewis, Stuart Thompson, Dyllan Brouard, Adrianna Taylor, Grant Hale, Chris Unander, Lt Col Valerie Lofland, USAF (ret) Front row/Kneeling: Cadets Austin Scatena, Michael Sarkissian, Zoila Jurado

Naugatuck River Banks Cleaned

Recently a hard working group of Naugatuck High School, Air Force Junior ROTC cadets cleaned the riverbank of the Naugatuck River in Linden Park in Naugatuck. Master Sergeant Gary Morrone, USAF (ret) and Lieutenant Colonel Valerie Lofland, USAF (ret) lead the cadets in this effort to improve the quality of life in the Naugatuck River Valley.

More than twenty bags of debris, a barrel, and a bicycle and car transmission were removed. The project was organized by Joe Savarese and Bob Gregorski of the Naugatuck River Watershed Association and sponsored by the Borough of Naugatuck including the Mayor’s office, Public Works and Recreation Departments.

Here are the names of those who worked: AFJROTC Cadets: Corey Boulanger, Megan O'Connell, Ken Looby, Dylan Brouard, Nick Ritkowski Adrianna Taylor, Chris Lampo and Mr. Chris Ritkowski, MSgt Gary Morrone, USAF (ret) and Lt Col Valerie Lofland, USAF (ret).

Photo by Joe Savarese

This is the clean-up group—(From L to R):

MSgt Gary Morrone, USAF (ret) AFJROTC Aerospace Science Instructor and teacher, Naugatuck High School, Dylan Brouard, Ken Looby, Chris Lampo, Lt Col Valerie Lofland, USAF (ret), Senior Aerospace Science Instructor and teacher, Mr. Chris Retkowski (parent), Nick Retkoswki, Corey Boulanger, Megan O'Connell and Adrianna Taylor.

2010 Kayak/Canoe Race

The Naugatuck River is calling you!!

River clean-up April 24th in preparation of the 2010 river race and 5K road race. Meet at Linden Park Naugatuck at 9:00 am

A 100% Charitable Event! We are currently seeking sponsors at many support levels to help us continue the event each year. Please contact us if you would like to help.

Come join us and paddle down river 6.0 or 6.5 miles of great river winding down through the Naugatuck Valley through three towns and the Naugatuck State Forest, please help us support the "Naugy's" return to a recreational river

The race forms for the May 8th, 3rd annual Naugatuck Valley River Race, 5K and Music Festival are now available to be downloaded and printed off of our web-site www.4ctoutdoors.com and the official Race web-site www.thenaugatuckriverrace.com
Please join us for another great event this year.



Thanks for your continued support; The Naugatuck Valley River Race, 5K and festival committee.