About Us
Caring for the river that connects us all
Today, FRWA still leads in addressing Farmington River issues such as water quality, water allocation, habitat restoration, recreation, open space, and wetland and floodplain protection. We work with federal, state and local governments, businesses, and with people in the watershed’s 33 communities to protect the river and its surrounding landscape.
With the help of members, supporters and partners, we look after the river that connects us all, with a wide range of Research, Education, and Advocacy programs. We invite you to join us in this important effort!
FRWA Offices
749 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06070
860-658-4442
Our Mission
FRWA is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring the Farmington River and its watershed through research, education, and advocacy.
Meet our team
As the Executive Director, Aimee is skilled in program coordination, project management, fundraising and education. She is always eager to add value to FRWA’s programming for offering tips and sometimes free tools for attendees so they can bring what they learned home including rain barrels and downspout diverter kits to reduce stormwater pollution.
Laura runs FRWA’s Water Quality Program, manages budgets and grant writing, manages the Frey Property, and works with partners on green infrastructure projects, such as Rain Gardens through our River Smart initiative. Laura works with the Farmington River Coordinating Committee, a group who protects the Upper Farmington River Wild & Scenic designated section, and runs the Wild & Scenic Film Festivals.
As the Water Quality Manager, Paige’s work involves assessing the health of our watershed throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut by conducting water quality monitoring and research projects. Paige manages the chloride monitoring program and various in-situ continuous data loggers for temperature, conductivity, water level, and dissolved oxygen. She is responsible for managing data, conducting data analysis, and ensuring that quality assurance and quality control align with data quality objectives. Additionally, Paige writes research reports and the annual water quality report.
As the Aquatic Habitat Manager, Heather manages the road-stream crossing program with a goal to upgrade culverts for aquatic passage and reduce flood risks for the community. She is a certified state coordinator and trainer for macroinvertebrate surveys to evaluate water quality, and she coordinates water chestnut removal efforts to combat the spread of this invasive plant in our waterways. Heather also produces the FRWA newsletter, organizes the annual river cleanup, and provides educational programs for the public.
As Watershed Programs Coordinator, Ciara is dedicated to preserving the river’s health through multiple programs at FRWA. Her responsibilities include organizing water monitoring programs that involve fieldwork, laboratory tasks, and data management. She utilizes ArcGIS Pro software to design maps to visualize data and information gathered through FRWA research. Ciara manages the development of informational and educational materials for River Smart and the FRWA social media pages, along with aiding in report writing, newsletters, and website updates.
As the Land Stewardship Coordinator, Kaitlin provides support to the Upper and Lower Wild and Scenic Committees on land conservation and stewardship projects, while assisting local land trusts with stewardship goals. She helps to maintain the health of the river and its watershed through the creation of educational and volunteer opportunities for the public, aids in FRWA’s field work, and participates in the management of the Frey property.
Meet our board of directors
FRWA is lucky to have a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors with representatives from many watershed towns. If you would like to be considered for a Board position, a task force, or an advisory committee, please contact us.
Officers
- John Laudati (Granby) President
- Tom Carpenter (Simsbury) Vice President
- Brian Freeman (Avon) Vice President
- Chris Whelan (Avon) Treasurer
- Robin Baran (Avon) Secretary
Directors
- Ginny Apple – Barkhamsted
- Susan Barney – Bloomfield
- Marrit Canino – New Hartford
- David Donaldson – Farmington
- Michael Feldman – Avon
- Joan Hofmann – Canton
- Andy Kuhlberg – Canton
Directors
- Deborah Leonard – Simsbury
- John E. Robinson – New Britain
- Paula Saaf – East Granby
- Beckie Sahl – Avon
- Scott Sharlow – West Hartford
- Marlene Snecinski – Simsbury
- Brian Toal – Avon
