Connecticut Association of Conservation & Inland Wetlands Commissions, Inc. (CACIWC) Annual 2024 Conference

“CACIWC's 50th Anniversary”

 Was held Saturday, November 16, 2024

Our keynote speakers, retired Judge Marshall Berger, Jr., State Representative Mary Mushinsky, and Director of the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station, Jason White, PhD, will help us review the five decades of progress in environmental regulation, conservation, and habitat protection since CACIWC was first organized. Information from their presentations will also help CACIWC and our member commissions prepare for future efforts impacted by climate change and other challenges. 

 Thank you to our sponsors!

PATRON
GREAT HORNED OWL
BARRED OWL
SCREECH OWL

Conference Schedule & Workshop Descriptions:  

(Four Tracks, Three Sessions, 12 Workshops)

Session 1 (11:00 am-12:00 pm):

A1. “Update on Invasive Aquatic Plants in CT including Hydrilla”
Gregory J. Bugbee, Associate Scientist & Head, Office of Aquatic Invasive Species, Department of Environmental Science and Forestry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES)
Invasive aquatic plants crowd out native vegetation, harm fisheries, degrade recreation, impede navigation, and reduce property values. A unique strain of hydrilla now occurs in the Connecticut River with many areas choked with the weed. Led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), demonstration projects involving dye tests and herbicide use are underway. Management efforts entail many complications including river flow, tidal action, suspended sediment, numerous protected species, and large numbers of stakeholders. In 2023, CAES documented the spread of the CT River strain of hydrilla to East Twin Lake. In 2024, the number of lakes increased to nine with the locations associated with public boat launches.

B1. “All Things Vegetative Considered: Enforcement & Regulation”
Janet Brooks, Attorney at Law, LLC, with Darcy Winther, State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
In this workshop we will discuss: (1) how to regulate the removal of vegetation (by permit), (2) how to add vegetation plantings to a permit, i.e. a vegetated buffer (by specific permit condition or by adopting a regulation), (3) how to take enforcement for unpermitted removal of vegetation (cutting/clearing of brush and trees), and (4) how to regulate the beneficial removal of invasive vegetation. This workshop is appropriate for new and experienced commission members. Bring your questions!

C1 “A Roadmap for Connecticut Climate Resilience”
John Truscinski, Director of Resilience Planning, Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)
In this workshop John Truscinski of UConn’s Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) will discuss how CIRCA’s work with Connecticut Coastal communities on climate resilience strategies has led to the development of a roadmap for Connecticut policy makers. Understanding climate vulnerabilities, and the actions towns can take to prepare, mitigate and adapt will require planning for future hazards, budgeting and coordination between municipal commissions, boards and authorities.

D1. “Conducting Natural Resource Inventories”
Hank Gruner, Herpetologist, Member of the Andover Conservation Commission, Erik Keller, Vice Chairman, Ridgefield Conservation Commission & others
While some conservation commissions have already completed a Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) for their town and others have been working to gather initial information and develop local information and databases, many commissions lack the resources or understanding of the steps needed to go beyond their initial stages of planning. Even when their NRI completed, a commission should recognize the additional steps and resources needed to best utilize the information obtained in their NRI to effectively carry out their conservation mandate. By presenting information on successful examples of new and revised NRI projects, attendees will gain useful information and insight on how to efficiently conduct their own NRI. 

 Session 2 (11:30 am-12:30 pm): 

A2. “Sharing the Landscape with Amphibians and Reptiles”
Hank Gruner, Herpetologist, Member of the Andover Conservation Commission & Dennis Quinn, Owner of Quinn Ecological, LLC
Connecticut has a long-held public trust in the stewardship of natural resources, including, biological diversity. The long-term persistence of many populations of amphibians and reptiles will rely on a renewed commitment to this public trust. But what do we mean by stewardship? This session will explore the importance of stewardship at multiple scales, putting stewardship in action, and how stewardship of the land relates to changing environmental conditions and amphibian and reptile conservation. 

B2. “2024 Wetlands Law & Regulations Update with Question & Answer Session”
Janet Brooks, Attorney at Law, LLC, Mark Branse, Halloran & Sage, LLP,* with Darcy Winther & Kristen O’Neill, State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) *invited
This always popular inland wetlands session has been brought back again to keep you current with the law. Bring your questions and any new suggestions of improvements to the Connecticut Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act (IWWA) following our 2022 celebration of the Act’s 50th Anniversary. There is still much to discuss! Come ready to pose questions as you try to stump the team! 

C2. “Climate Change Impact on Rural and Urban Areas”
Louanne Cooley & Kayla Vargas from the Connecticut Institute of Resilience and Climate Adaptation (UConn CIRCA), and Bill Gleason, West Hartford Tree Action Group (TAG)
Climate change continues to impact Connecticut, and rural and urban areas face both similar and distinctly different challenges. In this workshop we will discuss how heat and flooding can be addressed using the tools municipalities currently have and might need in the future with a focus on Zoning, Inland Wetlands Agency and Conservation Commission authority. The workshop will also review how West Hartford uses a combination of the town Tree Action Group, citizen volunteer action, and unique educational outreach programs to improve environmental resilience, diversity, and conservation.

D2. “Invasive Plant Updates and Prioritizing Management"
Lauren Kurtz, PhD, Invasive Species Outreach Specialist, UConn Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture
This presentation will review recent updates to the Connecticut Invasive Plant List including identification and control methods. The recent additions are the first updates to the list since 2018. Additionally, the task of managing invasive plants can quickly become overwhelming due to the time, money, and persistence required for positive results. One practical approach is to use triage, an assessment practice that prioritizes invasive species management based on the degree of ecological damage to the site and economic criteria. 

 Session 3 (2:45-3:45 pm):

A3. “Connecticut’s Second Bird Atlas”
Min T. Huang, PhD, Migratory Bird Program Leader, State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
The second Connecticut Bird Atlas is complete and with its completion ushers the bird conservation community into the next phase of this vision for restoring our cherished birds. The Atlas provides Towns, Land Trusts, NGOs, and State and Federal Agencies with the information on the status of our birds to inform land management actions to benefit declining populations on both local and regional scales. However, as is often the case, funding to implement necessary conservation actions is lacking. The second objective of the CT Bird Atlas, after the data were collected and analyzed, was to galvanize the conservation community to develop a dedicated source of funding to implement the findings of the Atlas. We are now at that critical juncture.

B3. “River Systems: Riparian Corridors & Stormwater Management”
Alicea Charamut, Executive Director, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, Christopher R. Field, PhD, Director Office of Planning and Resilience, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), & Bianca Beland, DEEP Land and Water Resources Division
Protecting riparian zones is important in maintaining the health and water quality of our rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies and is essential for source water protection. This workshop will focus on the functions and value of riparian zones in protecting water quality and aquatic habitats, along with helping to mitigate the impact of storms. The workshop will compare buffers and upland review areas and discuss the role of local land use agencies in protection of these critical areas. This workshop will also explore how Connecticut state agencies are continuing their efforts to improve management of stormwater as our state experiences increasing numbers of extreme rainfall events driven by climate change and other factors. The impacts of the catastrophic flooding event observed in southwestern Connecticut towns this past August will also be discussed along with opportunities for towns to access federal climate resilience funding to keep communities safe from these events.

C3. “Light Pollution: Its Impact on Wildlife & Climate Change”
Leo Smith, Chair Connecticut Chapter, DarkSky International, Craig Repasz, Chair & Co-Founder, Lights Out Connecticut, and Margery C. B Winters, Chair, Simsbury Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, President, Simsbury Land Trust & Assistant Director, Roaring Brook Nature Center
Light pollution adversely affects the health and quality of life of plants, animals and people. Discussion will focus on efforts to provide outdoor light when and where it's needed, while, to the highest degree reasonably possible, minimizing harm from light pollution. Discussion will include the Model Outdoor Lighting Regulations for Connecticut, intended to guide municipalities in reducing light pollution through their zoning amendment process. Using Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-approved streetlight technologies, such as adaptive lighting, to reduce lighting levels from 11 PM until 5 AM will also be included in this discussion.

D3. “Identifying Potential Vernal Pools”
Edward Pawlak, MS, Registered Soil Scientist & Certified Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS)
Many municipalities are interested in mapping potential vernal pools as a first step in protecting and conserving these critical habitats. Challenges to these efforts will be discussed. Two strategies for remotely identifying potential vernal pools will be presented. Tools available within Google Earth can be used to identify small, isolated water bodies on the landscape with varying degrees of reliability, depending largely on forest composition (deciduous versus coniferous). Several examples of how confirmed vernal pools appear on Google Earth aerial photos will be presented, along with examples of "false positive" vernal pool identifications on Google Earth. A resource for identifying property lines and ownership on Google Earth will be shared. Additionally, the strategy of using spring time evening "road running" as a clue to the location of vernal pools on the landscape will also be discussed.

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

Registration & Breakfast     8:00 – 8:45 am

Welcome & Business Meeting  8:45 – 9:00 am

Keynote Speaker Panel     9:00 – 10:45 am

Break 1     10:45 – 11:00 am

Session 1 Workshops   11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Break 2     12:00 – 12:15 pm

Lunch   12:15 – 1:15 pm

Break 3     1:15 – 1:30 pm

Session 2 Workshops   1:30 – 2:30 pm

Break 4     2:30 – 2:45 pm

Session 3 Workshops    2:45 – 3:45 pm

Exhibits close    4:00 pm

Conference ends    4:30 pm

SUPPORT CACIWC and promote your brand to an audience of passionate conservation/wetland professionals:

• SPONSOR the Annual Meeting (many sponsor tiers and benefits)
  
  
• EXHIBIT at the Annual Meeting (make an impression through the day – reduced rates for NONPROFITS!)
  
  
• ADVERTISE in the Annual Report & Conference Brochure (distributed the day of the Annual Meeting then posted online)

For information on our Annual Meeting,
please email us at: AnnualMtg@caciwc.org