Silvermine Project Polishes-Up a Connecticut River

Norwalk Mayor Alex Knopp cuts the ribbon at the Silvermine River Restoration Project completion ceremony

After six years, NRCS, neighbors, the City of Norwalk, Trout Unlimited, the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and other partners in the Silvermine Restoration Project have reason to celebrate now that their work is complete. And thanks to their cooperation and coordination, the fish have deep pools for swimming and refuge from predators resulting in a significant increase in the trout population.

“It’s an excellent habitat for these fish to survive the really droughty months of summer,” said NRCS civil engineer Charlie Galgowski.

Before the project began, the four pools were no more than eight inches deep. By re-engineering the pools, strategically placing boulders, and utilizing massive tree roots, the area has been stabilized. “It’s perfect for fish to dart out, feed on something, and return,” Galgowski said.

Runoff from upstream development made it necessary to widen or deepen the river. Widening was not an option. So to deepen the river, rock structures – called J-hooks – and cross vanes were constructed to alter the water flow and sweep sediment toward the banks rather than away.

Students and teachers at the Silvermine Elementary School are looking forward to incorporating the river into their science curriculum now that an overhead footbridge was rebuilt and a new ramp constructed to provide easy access.

NRCS and representatives from the Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the City of Norwalk, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and the Environmental Protection Agency recently participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the project.

The restoration project, part of the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative, began in 1999. Cost of the project was $242,000.
Your contact is Carol Donzella, NRCS community planner, at 203-389-6925.