Watershed education and advisories
The Lake Waramaug watershed (i.e., the geographic area from which water eventually drains into the lake) consists of about 9,200 acres in the towns of Warren (82% of the acreage), Washington (16%) and Kent (2%).
The watershed area is of vital significance to the quality of the lake's water. Housing development, the use of fertilizers by farms and in homes, commercial waste, the purchase and planting of invasive aquatic species and other activities can be seriously detrimental to the lake, even miles away from the shoreline. Consequently, our initiatives have never stopped at the water's edge. They have always focused on the entire area.
These initiatives include:
education about the use of phosphorus in household products and the consequences of farm waste run-off
advisories concerning invasive plants and
the encouragement of voluntary and zoning restrictions on the percentage of impervious surface (i.e., driveways, walkways, etc. in addition to roof areas) of developed properties.
We have also been active in encouraging the preservation of land through gifts and conservation easements.