Farm wins

'Farm Partner

Award'

WOODSTOCK — Several awards were made at the recent Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, Inc. (ECCD) annual meeting including the Farm Partner Award to Valleyside Farm of Woodstock for being soil health champions and implementing innovative conservation practices,

Other winners include:

- Project Support Award to Prides Corner of Lebanon for its support of the annual ECCD plant sale,

- Technology Support Award to Chris Peltier of Tier Technology Services for his technological expertise for maintaining ECCD’s computers,

- Watershed Workhorse Award to Dennis Latchum of Lebanon for his relentless efforts volunteering for The Last Green Valley water quality monitoring program,

- Municipal Partner Award to the Town of East Lyme for their ongoing efforts to reduce polluted stormwater from impacting the Niantic River,

- Special Recognition Award to Denise Savageau of the Connecticut Association of Conservation Districts for her tireless efforts to support all five state conservation districts and her efforts to assure funding to allow the districts to fulfill their mission of soil and water conservation in Connecticut.

- The program started with ECCD’s, “Year in Review”, a PowerPoint presentation highlighting current projects and recent accomplishments.  The recently completed French River Watershed-based Plan, a 350 page document providing guidance to restore polluted streams in the French River watershed in Thompson, was a very visible example of the passion and effort district staff put into their projects.  Other projects highlighted included working with farms to reduce polluted runoff, installing low impact development retrofits to reduce urban runoff and public education and outreach efforts.  The staff of ECCD includes Executive Director Dan Mullins, Office Manager Kate Johnson, Watershed Conservation Project Manager Jean Pillo, Natural Resource Specialist Judy Rondeau and Conservation Technicians Michael Soares and Maura Robie. 

- The current slate of officers of the Board of Directors was reelected to serve an additional term, including William Jorsz of Sprague as Board chair; Anne-Roberts Pierson of Ledyard as vice chair; Warren Swanson of Waterford as treasurer; and Leonora Szruba of Lisbon as secretary.