Save The Date - Sunday, May 20th, 32nd Annual Downriver Classic - Starting Time 11:00 a.m.
Race Day Registration will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the "Start" location on Route 322 at the DOT parking lot. Entrance Fee is $18.00 per person. There will be a post race cook out for ALL participants at the QRWA Headquarters located at 540 Oregon Road, Meriden, CT For directions to "Start" and registration, take I 691 West Exit 4 onto Route 322 West. Travel 2 miles to Cheshire/Southington Line. Parking at the DOT Lot. Canoes available FREE of charge - Please contact QRWA Office at (203) 237-2237 to reserve a canoe.
If you would like to pre register for the race, click here and be sure to print a copy of your registration form and pay pal receipt to bring along the day of the race. Or, if you prefer to pay by check send a completed copy of the registration form along with your payment to QRWA, POB 2825, Meriden, CT 06450. Please be sure to make a copy of your registration form to bring with you the day of the race. Click here for course map.
How We Protect the Quinnipiac River and Its Watershed
QRWA carries out our mission to protect and restore the Quinnipiac Watershed through recreational, educational, and hands-on conservation programs and recreational use of the river corridor.
The QRWA works to encourage communication and collaboration between watershed stakeholders; to ensure that existing environmental laws and regulations are enforced; and to influence public policy in order that our local, state, and federal governments address the need for conservation and protection of our waterways, wetlands, natural areas, and ground water. Learn More ›
River Gage
- Click here for a real time USGS water level gage of the river in Wallingford, Connecticut.
- Click here for a water level gage of the river in Southington, Connecticut.
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Daily Announcements
32nd Annual Quinnipiac Downriver Classic Sunday, May 20th - Longest Running Race in CT
See directions, times and how to register on opposite page. It is going to be a fabulos weather day, so bring your kayak or canoe and come out and join us in one of our favorite annual events! Still time to reserve a canoe - call (203) 237-2237
MonthlySpeaker Series Sponsored By CL&P & Yankee Gas Services Community Investment Grant. Next Speaker Series, Tuesday June 12th at 7 p.m. at the QRWA Headquarters
Shannon B. Kearney-McGee, with the CT DEP-Wildlife Division, will speak on Swift Decline Needs Swift Conservation at the QRWA Headquarters in located at 540 Oregon Road, Meriden, CT .The chimney swift is a unique insect eating bird that has adapted to nest and roost in man- made chimneys. Chimney swift populations have been declining rapidly since the 1980’s and Canada has lost 95% of their former population. In an effort to understand the species decline, the CT DEEP Wildlife Division initiated citizen scientist monitoring to assess how the decline in suitable chimneys and the availability of insects for food might be affecting our local populations. This presentation will discuss the unique nature of the chimney swift, possible reasons for its decline, and how you can get involved in chimney swift conservation.
A Huge Thanks to Mike Roberts and Pete Picone for Our Annual Fish Stocking
Once again, Mike Roberts managed to raise over $3200 to purchase fish for this annual event. Year after year he has come through for us.This year we had another successful trout stocking with 191 trout stocked! Seven trout were tagged and prizes will be given on a first-come first served basis. Call Pete Picone at 860-919-7236 for distributing the prizes.
Kudos to River Clean Up Volunteers!
To get the full impact of yesterday's efforts, drive by the QRWA headquarters for a first hand look at the types of things our volunteers removed from Sodom Brook and the section behind Platt High School. It is the hope of QRWA that one day there will no news coverage to "clean the river", only to enjoy the river and its wildlife. Click here for RJ Video
And Kudos to David James, river clean up coordinator and QRWA Board member, for organizing the clean up every year and to all the volunteers who made it possible in Meriden, Southington, North Haven, and Wallingford, we thank you!
QRWA Eagle Seminars & Watch Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Green Power Grant
Was a HUGE sucess, thank you to all who participated especially the Eagles!
Our Heartfelt Thanks to The Cuno Foundation Once Again
QRWA recently received another grant in the amount of $7,000 for materials to complete the 1st floor of our restoration project. In honor of the generosity of the Cuno Foundation throughout our restoration project, this room will be named The Cuno Community Room upon completion. We are greatful to have this foundation in Meriden. We thank the foundation and the distribution committee for believing in our work and this project.
Meriden Foundation Awards 3 Local Non Profits $12,000
The Second Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery, the Meriden Historical Society, the Meriden Arts Trust and the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association Civil War Reenactment on Ocotber 6, 2012 in honor of the 150 Civil War Anniversary. Visit web site frequently for updated details for this event.
3M Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to QRWA for Rapid Bio Assessment Program for Q River!
The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) was recently notified that they are the recipient of a $10,000 grant from 3M for a Rapid Bioassessment by Volunteers (RBV) of the Quinnipiac River! The Rapid Bioassessment Program supports the QRWA’s volunteer monitoring and citizen science programs and helps the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) gather much-needed data and monitor our river’s water quality, while 3M is the financial supporter providing the funding for the much needed equipment for this annual task. 3M has a production facility in Meriden on Research Parkway and is a major supplier of water filtration products. Go to our Citizen Science section located above to find out the details of this wonderful opportunity to become part of this olunteer effort. and be part of our efforts to report our findings for this project. Click here for dates and times for training and testing details to start on October 5th.
DEEP Cautions Boaters About Fast Moving Waterways
Paddlers please be aware that the Quinnipiac and other state rivers can be hazardous at high flow. Click here to read DEEP's warning as published in Middletown Patch.com To check if the rivers have returned to normal please use our stream gages located to the left of this page.
Eternal Thank You to The Meriden Lions Club
Past presidents Art Forcier and Ed Haberli have combined their president projects to complete the classroom and lobby at our headquarters. The classroom has been dedicated to be know as the Lions Club Learning Center. We are eternally grateful to the Meriden Lions Club for making our dreams come true. This project was more than we could have ever imagined.
And to The South Meriden Lions Club
Thanks to the generosity of the South Meriden Lions Club We now have 6 tables and 36 chairs for our new classroom.
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