Friends of the Farm River and Estuary

Our Work

Science Guides Our Projects

FFRE works with volunteers and organizations to clean up the river using science-based activities to study the cause and strategies to solve the problems.

Finding and Fixing Bacteria Pollution
Years of bacteria pollution monitoring at beaches around the Sound documents that Clark Avenue or Johnson’s public neighborhood beach near the river is amongst the 4 most polluted with bacteria among over two dozen public beaches in Connecticut. Thanks to allies East Shore Health District and the Short Beach Civic Association and support from FFRE, DNA bacteria analysis revealed the culprit – dog poo. The Civic Association has already improved dog waste collection and helped the district start a neighborhood public awareness campaign. Science drives solution!

A Science-directed River Restoration Future!
Ally Southwest Conservation District collaborated with FFRE, Save the Sound and a host of other allies and created the Farm River Watershed Plan in 2021 based on sound science-based work of the firm Fuss & O’Neill. FFRE held a series of four Watershed Plan learning circles attended by over 50 citizens in 2023 and identified priority projects highlighted by the Plan designed to eliminate water pollution and improve the ecological health of the river.

• Read Farm River Watershed – Learning & Action (PDF)
• View Farm River Watershed – Learning & Action (slideshow)
• Farm River Watershed Plan (2021)

Controlling a River Choking Invasive Plant
Eurasian Water Chestnut (Trapa Natans, referred below as Trapa) is a persistent and pernicious invasive aquatic plant that has invaded the Farm River. Join FFRE’s multi-year campaign to eliminate this choking plant on the Farm River. Its thorny “nuts” can remain viable in river and pond bottoms and sprout new plants years after they drop. Trapa spreads rapidly creating dense mats of roots and vegetation transforming previously open water of the River into views more akin to a cabbage patch. Not only unsightly, but its thick mats also effectively evict the Farm River wildlife we love such as ducks, wading birds, fish, frogs and turtles.
 
FFRE successfully marshals hundreds of volunteer hours and professional contractors when needed aimed at eliminating 90% plus of Trapa from the watershed every year through at least 2029. Thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers and neighbors, and the support of DEEP, the Lippincott Family Foundation, and the Regional Water Authority this goal has been reached beginning in 2025. Join us on scenic ponds and the River itself for a restorative day of community fun and peaceful vistas. To volunteer email us at farmriverfriends@gmail.com.