ABOUT US

Overview | Committee Members | Subcommittees

The management framework for the Eightmile River watershed is based on a cooperative effort of all stakeholders to oversee the long-term protection of the watershed. An “Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Coordinating Committee” was established after completion of the Study and as part of the designation process (see description below). This committee provides oversight and guidance in the implementation of the Eightmile Watershed Management Plan. The Committee works with and largely depend on landowners, town boards, commissions and their associated local communities, the state, user groups, and federal agencies to all have active roles in the implementation of the management plan and the protection of the outstanding resource values.

The strength of the Coordinating Committee lies in its broad base of membership (as detailed below) from the community as well as members representing non-governmental and state agencies.

The purpose of the Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Coordinating Committee, which is advisory, is to:

• Coordinate and champion implementation of the Watershed Management Plan.
• Bring the stakeholders in watershed management together on a regular and ongoing basis to facilitate continued cooperation and coordination.
• Provide a forum for all watershed interests to discuss and resolve watershed related issues.
• Monitor the outstanding resource values with respect to the degree they are protected, degraded or enhanced during implementation of the plan.
• Assist in securing additional funding to facilitate implementation of the watershed management plan

Membership

The following entities constitute the core voting membership of the ERWSCC. Each municipality has two representatives and one alternate, all other entities have one representative and one alternate. There can be no additional core members.

Town of East Haddam
Town of Lyme
Town of Salem
East Haddam Land Trust
Lyme Land Conservation Trust
Salem Land Trust
The Nature Conservancy
State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
U.S. Department of the Interior - National Park Service

Additional detail on the Coordinating Committee can be found in the Watershed Management Plan Chapter 5.

Committee Members

• Anthony Irving - Town of Lyme
• Bernie Gillis - East Haddam/ Planning & Zoning
• David B. Bingham - Salem Land Trust
• Eric Belt - Town of Salem/ Inland Wetlands & Conservation Commission
• Eric Thomas - CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Management
• Gloria Fogarty - Town of Salem
• Jamie Fosburgh - National Park Service
• Linda Bireley - Lyme Land Conservation Trust
• Linda Schroeder - Salem Land Trust
• Nathan M. Frohling - Lower CT River Program Director, The Nature Conservancy
• Parker Lord - Town of Lyme
• Ralph Lewis - Lyme Land Conservation Trust
• Randy Dill - Town of East Haddam / Selectman and Chair IWC
• Rob Smith- East Haddam Land Trust
• Erik Block -Town of Lyme
• Susan Merrow - Town of East Haddam

Staff

• Patricia Young- Program Director

Subcommittees

Project Review and Comment

Mission: To work with all watershed stakeholders to protect the Outstanding Resource Values of the Eightmile Watershed from degradation due to new and existing use projects.

Primary Duties: This committee will monitor, review and comment on development and land use applications and projects that may effect the ORV’s of the watershed.

Public Outreach and Education

Mission: To increase protection and long term stewardship of the Eightmile River Watershed by working with all watershed stakeholders to increase awareness of and involvement in the Outstanding Resource Values of the Eightmile River Watershed.

Primary Duties: To engage the public, including landowners, recreational users, towns and the state to be continually aware, involved and active in protecting and enhancing the outstanding resource values of the Eightmile River Watershed.

Monitoring and Research

Mission: 1) To monitor the Outstanding Resource Values of the watershed in order to determine the effectiveness of the management and to identify new or changing threats to the ORVs. 2) To increase scientific and social knowledge of the Eightmile River watershed in order to maintain a current and relevant Watershed Management Plan.

Primary Duties: Work with staff, volunteers and consulting entities to monitor outstanding resource values with respect to the degree they are protected, degraded or enhanced during implementation of the plan. Identify areas of need and implement new or continuing research as necessary to supplement the Committee’s current knowledge of the watershed

Tool Implementation

Mission: To protect the Outstanding Resource Values of the Eightmile River Watershed by facilitating implementation and adoption of the Tier One and Tier Two Tools as recommended by the Watershed Management Plan.

Primary Duties: Work with all stakeholders to prioritize and implement the ORV protection tools recommended in the Watershed Management Plan.