New RiverChannel Takes Shape
The dredging and removal of Mill Pond sediments were completed in October and the shape of the new river channel and flood plain is clearly coming into view. River bed stone cobbles will be installed in November along with larger stone structures called cross vanes. The cross vanes will protect the banks from erosion by directing the force of the river away from the sides and toward the center of the channel. They lock the river in position so it does not move from side to side over time.

These rock structures also provide habitat for aquatic life and will help to define the series of pools that will make it easier for fish to climb upstream. These elements of the river channel design were the result of input provided to the Army Corps of Engineers by our design consultant team. In particular, Jeff Keller of Habitat by Design contributed to making the channel stable, aesthetically pleasing and as nature would have created it over time, with vegetation right down to the water rather than extensive “armoring” of the banks with rock. The river is expected to be in its new channel by the end of the year and construction completed. In the spring the planting that is included in the river restoration contract will occur.

Order Your Mill River Holiday Cards
We have produced a holiday card that communicates our collective excitement about the Restoration of Mill River. The front of the card is pictured here. The card is imprinted inside with the seasonal greeting “Wishing you a joyous holiday season."  It includes the following information on the back – “Hooded mergansers winter on Mill River.” Cards are available in packs of 10 for $15.  Call Marilyn Melfi 203-977-4713 to place an order before November 15th or mail your check payable to Mill River Collaborative by that date to Holiday Cards, Mill River Collaborative, Box 1401, Stamford, CT 06904-1401.  

Presentation on Restoring Fish Runs to Mill River - Thursday 11/19
Please join us on Thursday, November 19th to learn about the restoration of fish runs on the Mill River. Diadromous fish require both fresh and salt water to survive. Anadromous fish such as river herring (including alewife and blueback herring) are diadromous fish that live in salt water but return to fresh water to lay their eggs. Steve Gephard, Fisheries Biologist at the CT Department of Environmental Protection will show and explain the varieties of aquatic life that will respond to the restoration of the river and will share his success in restoring fish runs elsewhere in Connecticut. We look forward to his help stocking the river with alewife this spring, so their offspring will return to spawn here when they mature. Come to learn about it and how you can help.

Help the Rippowam Watershed Study
The City of Stamford and the Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority cordially invite you to a Community Workshop to discuss the health of the Rippowam/Mill River watershed, how to improve and protect it, and how to connect people to the river through education, programming, and more and better access.

Volunteers Shaped Things Up in 2009
Volunteers are playing a major role in restoring and maintaining the beauty of the river, park and playground. In June UBS interns shaped up the playground for the summer season. GenRe employees (pictured here) did a major river clean-up under I-95 and South State Street in areas that few people see. GenRe is moving to new headquarters upstream on the river and we look forward to working with GenRe employees on invasive removal and native plant restoration at their new location. The Collaborative thanks the following for their collective 1,600 hours of work in Mill River Park in 2009:

Hopefully, over time these survivors will spread to other areas and help restore the larger river environment. The Master Gardeners are working with Bartlett Arboretum to propagate some of them for transplanting along the river.

On October 30th, the master gardeners and youth volunteers planted 37 native serviceberry trees provided by Bartlett along the river bank.

Dumpsters in the Mill Pond? Remarkably, 5 dumpsters were found at the bottom of the Mill Pond when it was emptied. The presence of these thousand pound steel containers, lined up in an approach to the dam, is a strong indication of the power of the flood waters. It is also a reminder that all things man-made should be kept at a distance from the river and out of the known flood plain.

Otter vs. Mink Question
The answer to the mink vs. otter question in the last newsletter is – it’s a mink! To learn how to tell them apart, see this article from the Long Island Sound Study newsletter Sound UPDATE.

HelpBuild Mill River Park
After 360 years of being dammed, Mill River will soon run freely in its new channel setting the stage for the construction of Mill River Park in late2010.

We are on our way to creating a green oasis in the heart of Stamford Downtown. But we need your help. How well Mill River Park is built, maintained and programmed continues to depend on the people of Stamford. Please click here for details on membership in Mill River Collaborative.