Watershed Committees

The Baker Cove Watershed Committee was formed with the purpose of reducing fecal coliform bacteria in Groton’s Baker Cove, which is impaired for direct shellfish consumption.

The committee is comprised of interested parties who wish to take local control over improving water quality in Baker Cove. Ideally, the committee will include members from the general public, school groups, local government and non-profit organizations, commerce and industry and other local neighborhood groups and Associations.

The committee will assist in improving water quality in Baker Cove by implementing recommendations from the Baker Cove Abbreviated Watershed-Based Plan (Table 7)  Baker Cove WBP to reduce or eliminate non-point sources of pollution. Some activities may include planning rain gardens and riparian buffers, conducting shoreline clean-ups and holding workshops, as well as spearheading continued efforts to control non-migratory Canada Geese populations.

The Baker Cove Watershed Committee was formed with the purpose of reducing fecal coliform bacteria in Groton’s Baker Cove, which is impaired for direct shellfish consumption.

The committee is comprised of interested parties who wish to take local control over improving water quality in Baker Cove. Ideally, the committee will include members from the general public, school groups, local government and non-profit organizations, commerce and industry and other local neighborhood groups and Associations.

The committee will assist in improving water quality in Baker Cove by implementing recommendations from the Baker Cove Abbreviated Watershed-Based Plan (Table 7)  Baker Cove WBP to reduce or eliminate non-point sources of pollution. Some activities may include planning rain gardens and riparian buffers, conducting shoreline clean-ups and holding workshops, as well as spearheading continued efforts to control non-migratory Canada Geese populations.

In June 2023, Eastern Connecticut Conservation District was awarded a 15-month grant to pilot a project. Working with many partners, they will synthesize local water quality data and work to be to facilitate a new collaboration focused on implementing the Anguilla Brook/Wequetequock Cove Watershed Based Plan.

Eastern Connecticut Conservation District expects to achieve the following outcomes:

• raise awareness and promote the Plan throughout the watershed;
• hold an informational meeting to recruit committee members and discuss the water quality and habitat concerns in Wequetequock Cove;
• tour the Cove with conservation professionals to discuss areas of concern and recommended solutions;
• hold monthly meetings of the committee to develop a work plan and prioritize remediation activities, develop an educational and outreach strategy; and discuss funding strategy to implement the Plan’s recommendations; and
• plan and participate in the Wequetequock Cove Festival to educate the public and recruit new committee members.

Wequetequock Cove is located in Stonington and its watershed extends in the North Stonington. It is an embayment of Little Narragansett Bay at the most eastern part of Long Island Sound. Water in the cove is polluted and that has degraded the habitat quality in the cove. Contact  Jean.Pillo@comcast.net for more information or if you wish to participate in this effort to address the sources of pollution and help to restore this coastal resource.

This project is being funded in part by The Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund at the Long Island Community Foundation.