Housatonic Valley Association
Clean Water for Life
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Housatonic River is the heart of an ecologically rich and profoundly beautiful series of interconnected landscapes. Stretching 150 miles from above Pittsfield, MA to Long Island Sound, the watershed is under stress from a number of threats including: historical industrial pollution (PCB’s), increased pollution from stormwater runoff into streams and drinking water, and climate change—a significant increase in size and intensity of storms causing habitat and municipal infrastructure destruction. Decisions made in the next 10 years will profoundly impact the nature and health of the watershed. Science and experience tell us that environmental conservation, when applied across multiple landscapes, empowered by numerous partners, can create a resilient network of lands and waters that offer tangible benefits. HVA’s challenge is two-fold: 1) to coordinate collective efforts to be as effective as we can be; and 2) attract more expertise and funding to address the threats that we face.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Land Protection
Land Protection - includes 1) preserving a greenway along the entire 150 miles of Housatonic Riverfront in MA and CT; 2) working with landowners and developers to preserve significant open space as part of the development process, and 3) working with land trusts throughout the region to create a conservation blueprint for action to help attract funds and donations to permanently protect regionally significant natural places.
Water Protection
Water Protection - includes 1)river shoreline surveys with volunteers along the Housatonic River and her tributaries in MA, CT and NY, 2) Follow-up water quality monitoring with trained volunteers at selected sights to determine the extent of fishable and swimable water, and find and fix pollution problems
Education and Advocacy
Education projects with schools and adults to fix storm water pollution, create river buffers with natural vegetation, and improve household activities to better protect water. Working at state levels to improve water and land protection policies and opportunities for residents and community leaders.
Where we work
Accreditations
Land Trust Accreditation Commission 2014
Awards
To Lynn Werner, For Leadership and Dedication to the Environment 2009
US Environmental Protection Agency
Green Circle Award 1998
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Environmental Merit Award 1997
US Environmental Protection Agency
Connecticut Environment 2000 Award 2000
US Environmental Protection Agency
Affiliations & memberships
Land Trust Alliance 2010
River Network 2000
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of free participants on field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
HVA annually hosts between five and ten free, educational canoe trips to introduce people to the beauty and wonder of the Housatonic River and watershed. learn to respect it and care for it.
Number of press articles published
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
We are doing more to bring broad public awareness and interest in our work than we ever have before. You can see the uptick in articles in 2016, a result of hiring a Communications Director .
Number of attendees present at rallies/events
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
Several times a year we host gatherings to thank current HVA members and inspire prospective members. The bump in 2016 is due to a very broad series of events related to our Source of Sound adventure
Number of return website visitors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
We can see steady growth in return visitors due to the coming online of our new website and the addition of our Communications Director to our staff.
Number of rallies/events/conferences/lectures held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
Members of our Board of Directors, several times a year, host gatherings to inform and thank current HVA members and inspire new or prospective members.
Number of unique website visitors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
We show steady growth from 2015 to 2017, with a bump in 2016 due primarily to a very large, 10-day series of events centering around our Source to Sound Paddle adventure. Also, a new website helps.
Number of new donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
We have begun to address the declining numbers by hiring a direct-mail marketing consultant in 2017. The 2017 number is for 10 months and does not reflect results of November and December mailings.
Number of corporate volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
We have representatives from two businesses who are active participants on our Board of Directors. Additionally, we enlist corporate volunteers for some of our educational and conservation projects.
Number of trips provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Education and Advocacy
Context Notes
HVA hosts free public canoe paddles to introduce all ages to the ecology of the Housatonic River and watershed.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Goal 1: Lead water & land conservation efforts, & promote/advise on land use & water management policies, to protect significant & improve water quality in rivers & streams throughout the watershed
Goal 2: Educate & engage communities throughout the watershed to advance our collective understanding of the ecological, economic & social value of conservation
Goal 3: Become recognized as the primary, trusted resource for information on the watershed & its health, maximizing our value to decision-makers, individuals, organizations & towns
Goal 4: Advocate for state water & land policies, & increases in the allocation of state/federal resources, which advance conservation in the region & the health of the watershed
Goal 5: Strengthen HVA’s human resources & capacity to deliver on goals & programs as designed
Goal 6: Build awareness of HVA among permanent & seasonal residents & decision-makers throughout the watershed
Goal 7: Increase earned & contributed support for HVA and its work
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Goal 1: Implement Still River Watershed Planning project & Tenmile River designation, Create a template for developing watershed conservation plans, Continue leadership in securing federal/state, conservation funds
Goal 2: Explore strategies for assessing community needs, Market availability of classroom curriculum
Goal 3: Define the virtual watershed resource center & mapping portal
Goal 4: Explore new opportunities for Regional Conservation Partnership Funding, Lead on land/water regulatory/legislative policies, Establish a framework & identify possible members of a watershed-wide public policy coalition
Goal 5: Hire a Communications Director, create communications/PR plan, Expand education/GIS capacity, add clerical support, hire 75th anniversary Source-to-Sound coordinator, Strengthen existing & establish new board committees
Goal 6: Develop a plan to increase awareness within sub-watersheds of linkage to larger Housatonic Watershed, Redesign HVA web site
Goal 7: Expand membership
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As one of the oldest watershed conservation organizations in the nation, HVA is recognized across the region as an effective, efficient, scientifically-based organization that collaborates with any and all individuals, groups and agencies to promote the environmental health of the Housatonic River and watershed. HVA recruits partners and draws resources to address the above goals and strategies. Our strength lies in our people—staff, membership and board—and others who share our vision. We have strong board and volunteer leadership. Our staff of fourteen (nine full-time, five part-time) led by Executive Director, Lynn Werner, includes a Development Director and membership manager, communications director and assistant, four water protection and two land conservation professionals, an educator and up to five interns per year. We have the capabilities to forge ahead on the ambitious Strategic Plan goals, but must continue to expand our membership and financial base.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have: Implemented a Still River Watershed Planning project and Tenmile River designation, Defined the Greenprint Partners Fund, Identified a pathway for expanding the Greenprint into the southern Berkshires, Defined the virtual watershed resource mapping portal, Explored new opportunities for Regional Conservation Partnership Funding, Led on land and water regulatory/legislative policies, Hired a Communications Director, Created communications/PR plan, Expanded GIS capacity, Hired 75th anniversary Source-to-Sound coordinator, Strengthened existing board committees, Recruited 3 new board members from strategic regions, Articulated a big-picture capital needs and dreams plan, Developed “story bank” for Board, staff and volunteers to use, Completely redesigned HVA web site, Built social media communications, Increased individual giving capacity, Expanded membership, Created a Business Consortium concept plan.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Housatonic Valley Association
Board of directorsas of 06/06/2019
Mr. F. Anthony Zunino
Zuberry Associates
Term: 2016 - 2017
George Logan
Aquarion Water Company
Term: 2016 - 2017
Louis Hecht
Retired
Michael Nesbitt
Retired
Linda Allard
Christine Baranski
Joseph Ellis
James Maloney,
Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc.
Ecton Manning
Barclay Prindle
Prindle Insurance
Barton Jones
George Logan
Aquarion Water Company
James Maloney
Ct Institute for Communities