"Dedicated to constant vigilance, judicious management and conservation of our precious natural resources."

Mission Statement: "To promote the statutory responsibilities of Connecticut Conservation Commissions and Inland Wetland Commissions and to foster environmental quality through education and through the conservation and protection of wetlands and other natural resources."

No Increase in CACIWC Membership Fees!

At their May 26, 2010 meeting, the CACIWC Board of Directors voted to hold membership fees for the July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011 year at the 2009-2010 level:

• One Commission $50
• One Commission (Sustaining) $75
• Two Commissions $100
• Two Commissions (Sustaining) $150

Please watch www.caciwc.org for the new membership form and other information.

The Board continues to encourage individuals and corporations to consider making a donation to CACIWC or joining in one of the supporting membership categories. Please click here for more information.

CACIWC’s 32nd Annual Meeting and Environmental Conference Highlights

< click here >

CT Based Natural Resource Guides and Tools for making Land Use Decisions

Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CT ECO) The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) have launched a new website, Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online (CT ECO) that includes the latest and most accessible online maps and tools for viewing Connecticut's environmental and natural resource information. The CT ECO website can be found at cteco.uconn.edu/

Connecticut’s Forest Fragmentation The University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) has made available on the web their statewide forest fragmentation analysis. The forest fragmentation maps allows you to pick out the general pattern of how the green forested areas of your town or watershed have been changed by development and be able to describe those patterns objectively, and in some detail.

CT DEP Watershed Based Plans and Watershed Management Plans On-line information on developing Plans including links to guides and completed Plans. Excellent resource.

Introduction: Connecticut's Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act The wetlands training DVD is now available on the DEP Wetlands Management Section’s web page as streaming video. Please see the following link: DEP Educational Videos

Search the CACIWC website

New Publications and Links

Your Environmental Toolkit for Properly Assessing Development Proposals

CACIWC is pleased to provide Conservation Commissions with a new environmental toolkit pamphlet to help commissioners properly assess development proposals that may come before their town. Click here to download pamphlet.

" The Habitat "

Fall 2009 Issue

• Mapping Groundwater Recharge for Landuse Planning and Storm Water Management
• Annual Meeting/Conference & Election Wrap-Up
• Proposed Stream Flow Regulations

Riparian Buffer Resources

Potential Economic Benefits of Riparian Buffers
Niev Duffy, Ph.D., Eastern Economic Research, Inc. 2010; updated article plus the full set of citations for the supporting research.

Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors and Greenways
National Agroforestry Center 2008

Planners Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments
Environmental Law Institute March 08. 25 pages

Coastal Riparian Buffer Analysis A study by the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR)

Other Resources

Smart Growth Guide for Coastal and Waterfront Communities The guide includes an overview of the unique development challenges and opportunities along the water and provides specific approaches to development that include a description of the issues, tools and techniques, and case studies. For more information and a PDF version of the publication, visit the web site.

The Conservation Program Handbook; A Guide for Local Government Land Acquisition A manual providing all the information – on a broad spectrum of topics—that conservation professionals and commissioners are likely to encounter; includes a list of “best practices” for the most critical issues.

Watershed Forestry Resource Guide Website Website is a central clearinghouse for all things related to forests and watersheds. Recent efforts towards managing urban forests for watershed health have resulted in a variety of highly useful tools and training materials. This site compiles these resources into a format that can be easily accessed and downloaded.