Welcome

"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."

Register now to reserve a space at our 2024 Annual Meeting and Environmental Conference on Saturday, November 16, 2024 to celebrate CACIWC's 50th Anniversary at the Bristol Event Center!

CACIWC Conference Registration Forms

Click here to download the printable form

Click here for our convenient online form

Click here for more information

Our Keynote Speaker Panel will include: CT Superior Court Judge Marshall K. Berger, Jr. (retired) , CT State Representative & Deputy Speaker Mary M. Mushinsky, and Jason C. White, PhD, Director, Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station

Marshall K. Berger, Jr. CT Superior Court Judge (retired)

Mary M. Mushinsky CT State Representative & Deputy Speaker

Jason C. White, PhD. Director, Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station

ALERT
Please report sightings of Spotted Lanternfly  Lycorma delictula

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) renewed its Notice of Order of Quarantine on January 1, 2023, to help prevent and slow spread of the Spotted Lanternfly first identified in Fairfield and New Haven Counties. This imported insect pest can feed on more than 70 species of plants and has the potential to threaten half of Connecticut trees. For more information on identifying and reporting sightings of this insect species, please see:

Spotted Lanternfly - CAES

Spotted Lanternfly - CT DEEP

ALERT
Report Sightings of Invasive Mile-A-Minute

Vine Mile-a-minute vine is a highly invasive annual plant from eastern Asia that can quickly cover, outcompete and replace native vegetation, damaging habitat for native plants and animals. Early detection and rapid response are essential for control. Mile-a-minute was first found in Connecticut in Fairfield County in 1997. Since then, it has spread to 20 Connecticut towns, as far east as Stonington and as far north as Simsbury. Mile-a-minute spreads by seed and quickly grows into dense stands. Seeds are spread by wind and water.

For more information please read: Cheah, Carole and Ellis, Donna 2022. Biological Control of Mile-a-Minute Weed in Connecticut. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 1083. June 2022, available at: Click here

Other Conferences and Workshops

CIPWG Invasive Plant Symposium, October 29, 2024

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) 2024 symposium Real Talk: Making an Impact in Invasive Plant Management will be in person at UConn Student Union, Storrs, CT on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. Sessions include a variety of techniques for management of terrestrial and aquatic invasives, as well as restoration with native alternatives. CEU's for organizations and Pesticide Recertification Credits are available.

For an agenda, early registration link, and other information, see: cipwg.uconn.edu/2024-symposium

Environmental Job Postings

Town of Greenwich, Department of Environmental Affairs seeks part-time Intern through June 2025. Click here for more information.

Town of Ashford is offering a part-time employment opportunity for an agent to provide assistance to the Ashford Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission.
This position provides support to the commission by meeting with potential applicants, conducting field reviews of applications and potential enforcement actions, issuing agent approvals and notices of violation, maintaining records, providing advice to the Commission and the public with regard to Inland Wetland and Watercourse rules and regulations, attending meetings and field walks, and other help as needed.

For additional information contact the Ashford First Selectman's office at 860-487-4400 or cabikoff@ashfordtownhall.org.

The Town of Thompson is hiring an Inland Wetlands Officer & Conservation Agent
The ideal candidate will provide staff assistance and perform field inspections for the Inland Wetland and Conservation Commissions. Acts as the Inland Wetland Officer for the Town of Thompson, reviews development, permits, and wetland permit applications, and serves as the enforcement officer for the IW Commission and Conservation Commission. Assists the ZEO, Building Office and the Director of Planning & Development on an as needed basis.

Please see additional information on this position and the application procedure at:

Thompson Inland Wetlands Officer & Conservation Agent position & application info

 A more detailed job description can be found at:

Thompson Inland Wetlands Officer & Conservation Agent detailed description

Conservation Commission Role in Climate Change Resilience:

 CACIWC encourages all Conservation Commissions to review this Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) fact sheet on how to advocate for increasing climate change resiliency within their municipality:
Conservation Commission Fact Sheet

For additional information on Inland Wetlands and Watercourses in Connecticut, including training and regulations, please see this State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) website: Inland Wetlands and Watercourses home page (ct.gov)

Please also see the DEEP Inland Wetlands Agency Directory at: AgentTownStaffDirectorypdf.pdf

For additional information on Connecticut Wildlife including CT species, the National Diversity Data Base, and Reporting a Wildlife Sighting, please see this CT DEEP website: Wildlife in Connecticut

Planning for Agriculture:
A Guide for Connecticut Municipalities

American Farmland Trust and Connecticut Conference of Municipalities are pleased to announce the release of the updated Planning for Agriculture: A Guide for Connecticut Municipalities. The 63-page guide is a tool to assist town boards, local elected officials and citizen advocates in finding ways to support local farms and farm businesses and to retain and protect farmland. An electronic version of the guide is available online at:

Click here for Planning for Agriculture: A Guide for Connecticut Municipalities - FIC (farmlandinfo.org)

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.

Historical find in Haddam

Yellow groove running bamboo has naturalized by rhizomes washing downstream. Naturalized colony documented on 7-28-2013 in Pine Brook Preserve - Haddam, CT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvmyqeKn2N0