About the Southwest Conservation District

The Southwest Conservation District is a non-profit conservation agency established in 1946. We work with other public and private agencies, per CT General Statute Sec. 22a-315, to protect the land and water resources and improve the quality of life for all in Fairfield and New Haven counties. Our project work is financed by individual, municipal, and corporate contributions, as well as private foundations and federal/state grants.

Our organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and staffed by an executive director, full time environmental analyst/natural resources conservationist, field volunteers, and interns. We work in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify and remedy soil erosion, sediment control and water conservation concerns.

Our services include technical assistance and education in:

  • Soil and water conservation
  • Erosion and sedimentation control
  • Stormwater management
  • Water quality protection and watershed management
  • Wetland protection
  • Conservation planning

We work across southwest Connecticut, both in the office and the field, to provide educational materials and hands-on technical assistance to landowners, farmers, municipal land-use staff, and the public from the 43 municipalities in our service area.

Chris Sullivan

Executive Director

Courtney Gilligan

Natural Resource Specialist

Jaime Viens

Norwalk River Watershed Coordinator

Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering or becoming an intern with us!

MaryRose Palumbo

Chairwoman

Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer, City of Milford

Steve Johnson

Treasurer

Open Space Steward, City of Milford

Cheryl Cappiali

Secretary

City of Milford

Elsa Loehmann

Director

Vice President of the Cheshire Land Trust, Town of Cheshire

Alicia Mozian

Director

Conservation Commission Director, Town of Westport

Mary (Peggy) Minnis

Director

GIS, Chemistry, and Environmental Science Instructor at Pace University, Town of Darien

Lars Demander

Director

Owner of Clover Nook Farm, Town of Bethany

Contact

Southwest Conservation District
Northern Research Station
51 Mill Pond Rd.
Hamden, CT 06514

phone: 203-859-7014

e-mail: SWCD@conservect.org

IMPORTANT: We are currently working from our home offices until further notice, so the best way to reach us is by email