Reconnected: Restoring the Rivers of Long Island Sound

In Connecticut alone, there are more than 5,000 dams, most no longer serving their original purpose. Many of these structures disconnect access for fish and wildlife to up and downstream habitat for breeding, feeding, and nursery grounds. They can also disrupt water flows and trap natural sediments that Connecticut’s remaining coastal marshes – already hemmed in by development – desperately need to keep pace with sea-level rise. And as precipitation patterns change and storms become more intense, the risk of failure in aging or inadequately sized dams increases. Removing dams will help reconnect and create more climate resilient river systems, unblock critical habitats, and reduce risk to communities.

Emily Hadzopulos is the Freshwater Restoration Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut, working alongside partner groups like the Long Island Sound River Restoration Network to advance collaborative stream connectivity and restoration projects across Connecticut.

Aimee Petras is the Executive Director for the Farmington River Watershed Association, a non-profit working in Connecticut and Massachusetts to protect and restore the Farmington River and its Watershed through research, education, and advocacy. The FRWA team is actively working on barrier removals across the Farmington River Watershed to improve connectivity within the watershed and to Long Island Sound.

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