Deep Brook and the Pootatuck River converge near downtown Newtown, CT. Favorable geology and good vegetative cover allow these streams to support a wild trout fishery. Unfortunately, the streams are affected by many of the problems associated with the semi-urban environment.

Invasive plants in the riparian zone, oil spills in the watershed, pollutants in stormwater runoff, poaching, and eroding streambanks are just a few of the challenges that the wild trout must overcome. As James Belden puts it, the streams are at risk of “death by a thousand cuts.”

James is the President of the local Candlewood Valley Chapter of TU (CVTU) as well as the Pootatuck Watershed Association. Thanks to the hard work of these two groups, the future looks bright for both Deep Brook and the Pootatuck.

In the last few years, CVTU has used funds from Embrace-A-Stream and other sources to restore hundreds of feet of streambank, plant thousands of trees, and remove non-native plants. These projects aim to stabilize eroding streambanks and restore a riparian buffer zone between the stream and developed land.

From what I saw, their efforts are working marvelously. Logs protect the banks and offer trout habitat and the new trees are taking hold. Over 200 school kids and scouts have assisted the chapter with invasive plants removal and tree plantings.

In addition to teaching the next generation about conservation through on-the-ground work, CVTU supports Trout in the Classroom programs in half a dozen towns. If you haven’t read about my visit with Trout in the Classroom in New York, CLICK HERE.

Now that the chapter has completed the habitat work on Deep Brook, they are turning their focus towards watershed level water quality issues. Two oil spills in the last few years have been a detriment to water quality. The daily input of fertilizer and chemicals from fields, yards, and roads is less dramatic, but arguably more detrimental in the long run.

CVTU cooperates with the town and the state to collect water and soil samples as well as monitor water temperature and aquatic macroinvertebrates. The monitoring effort is the first step towards a watershed-wide effort to improve water quality.

These achievements are entirely due to the hard work of James and the chapter’s other active volunteers. If you live near Danbury, CT, get involved! You’ll meet nice people like James and you will help improve your community.

CLICK HERE to see my photos of CVTU project sites.

CLICK HERE to visit CVTU’s website.

If you are a TUer elsewhere in the country, ’tis the season to apply for Embrace-A-Stream grants. CLICK HERE to find out more.