Lower Greenway Designation Application

May 1, 2014

Prepared for: Greenways Council 79 Elm Street Hartford, Connecticut 06063

Prepared by: Farmington River Watershed Association 749 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT

In conjunction with: Towns of Windsor and Bloomfield, Connecticut

Nomination for Official Designation of Greenway ...... 1  Farmington River Watershed Association ...... 3  Proposed Greenway Description...... 4  Plans of Conservation and Development and other Relevant Documents ...... 8  Background: Lower Farmington River and Its Resources ...... 15  Appendix A: Potential Greenway Corridor Figures ...... 16  Appendix B: Municipal Resolution & Support Letters ...... 17 

This Designation Application was made possible through a grant from Hartford Foundation.

CT Greenways Council Nomination for Official Designation of Greenway 2014

1. Name of Greenway: Lower Farmington River Greenway - Windsor, Bloomfield

2. Sponsoring Organization: Farmington River Watershed Association

3. Contact Name: Jeff Bolton

4. Contact Email: [email protected]

5. Contact Address: 749 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070

6. Contact Phone: 860-658-4222

7. Town(s) in which greenway is/are located: Windsor and Bloomfield

8. Purpose of greenway (resource protection, recreation, etc) See application under "Designation Purpose and Goals"

9. Does the corridor connect existing open space, segments, historical/cultural assets; provide alternative transportation opportunities; connect neighborhoods to schools, town centers, parks and recreation areas, transportation centers, or open spaces? Yes No

10. Is the segment submitted for designation a key link in an emerging greenway, either for conservation or recreation purposes? Yes No If yes, please provide name and location of said greenway: Upper Greenway - Windsor (proposed/emerging); Ridge Greenway (Simsbury/Bloomfield); Mill Brook Greenway (Windsor, proposed/emerging)

11. If the greenway is a municipal project, is it included in local plan of Conservation and Development? Yes No

12. Has your project been endorsed by the local government through a municipal resolution or compact? Yes No (If yes, please include copy – scan or digital photo)

Greenway Designation Nomination Form 1 of 2 Rev. 02/04/14

13. If the greenway is a regional project, is it included in plans of relevant Regional Planning Agency, or Council of Governments, with endorsements by the affected municipalities; or, has an inter-municipal compact been developed between towns? Yes No (If yes, please include copies– scan or digital photo)

14. If the greenway is a non-governmental project, is it sponsored by an organization with a proven record of land use protection/recreational use, or with proven resources needed for project success; are licensing, easements, or other agreements for use of state, municipal, or private land on file? Yes No (If yes, please include copies– scan or digital photo)

15. Please include a written description of the project including a map showing location, connections (existing or potential), and adjacent open space if applicable on a 1:24,000 scale USGS Topographic Map. Digital photos and maps (digital photos taken of hard copy maps are acceptable) are preferred.

Nomination forms must be returned by May 1, 2014.

Please return this form to: Laurie Giannotti, via email [email protected] . The preferred method of submission is via email. Alternatively, you may mail digital reports on a CD or other electronic storage devices as appropriate. Digital photos and maps (digital photos taken of hard copy maps are acceptable) are also preferred.

Contact information: Laurie Giannotti and Greenways Coordinator Department of Energy & Environmental Protection 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106

Phone (860) 424-3578

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at (860) 418-5910 or [email protected] if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.

Greenway Designation Nomination Form 2 of 2 Rev. 02/04/14 Farmington River Watershed Association

At its November 2009 Board Meeting, the Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA) Board approved a motion to pursue greenway designations for the Farmington River and its tributaries. The FRWA is the nominating organization for the Lower Farmington River Greenway and will be the lead in overseeing and coordinating the greenway efforts with the Towns of Windsor and Bloomfield.

The FRWA was founded in 1953 and has a proven record working for decades to protect the Farmington River, its major tributaries, its watershed and adjacent watersheds. The FRWA is a citizen-based, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization at the forefront of restoration and conservation issues such as water quality, water allocation, recreational usage, open space, and wetland and floodplain protection. FRWA works with federal, state and local governments, business and industry, and the people of the watershed’s 33 communities to protect the river and the region’s natural resources. Another key partner for FRWA is the Lower Farmington River/Salmon Brook Wild & Scenic Study Committee, a group comprising representatives from 10 lower watershed towns and other river stakeholder groups, including FRWA. The Committee completed an advisory Management Plan for the lower Farmington River in 2011 that included a recommendation to seek state greenway status for eligible lands along the river corridor.

The FRWA was instrumental in getting Congressional and Presidential approval of the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–370—Nov. 27, 2006, 120 STAT. 2643) which authorized the study for the potential addition of the lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Currently, the nomination of the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook for Wild and Scenic designation is pending in Congress. FRWA was also instrumental in seeking and obtaining Wild & Scenic status for the Upper Farmington River in 1995.

As part of the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild & Scenic Study, a wealth of information has been collected for the Farmington River that is directly transferrable to meeting the Connecticut Greenway criteria and seeking greenway designation is one of the management goals ( Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Management Plan, June 2011 [“Management Plan”], page 50)

FRWA’s regional presence and long history of land use protection/recreational use are benefits to spearheading a regional approach to greenway designation within the Farmington Watershed, including making connections with other greenways and potential greenways. Over the long term, FRWA seeks Connecticut Greenway designation for entire Farmington River within Connecticut, tributaries or key inter-connections where possible. In 2010, FRWA in conjunction with the Town of Granby was successful in obtaining State Designation for the Salmon Brook Greenway. That said, FRWA will work cooperatively and in partnership with the towns and others and will not seek greenway designation should a host town not be supportive of designation. This Greenway application is thus another step in a long-term planning effort to make greenway connections in the Farmington River Watershed. This application also recognizes the other FRWA 2014 nominations, Mill Brook Greenway -

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Windsor, and Upper Connecticut River Greenway – Windsor, as these nominations play key roles in forming connections and opportunities that benefit the Lower Farmington River Greenway.

Proposed Greenway Description

This nomination application only pertains to the Farmington River within the Towns of Windsor and Bloomfield, Connecticut.

The conceptual greenway entails the following parameters:

x The greenway “route” is generally within 500 feet from the River’s edge and can be on either side of the River;

x Connect with existing open space parcels through the shortest route, but still near the River; and

x Right-of-ways can be used to connect with other open space parcels or trails, including cross over from one-side of the River to the other.

Actual routes (or trails) would be coordinated at the town level for the purposes of ensuring sound engineering and public safety. Alternative routes are acceptable especially when connection routes between open spaces are not feasible for any reason, such as, but not limited to, ownership, natural resources constraints, or economic constraints.

For detailed figures on the proposed greenway designation areas, please see Appendix A.

Designation Purpose and Goals

The purpose of the proposed designation is to promote the natural, recreational, and cultural resources of the Lower Farmington River.

The goals of the Lower Farmington River Greenway proposal are:

x Natural resource protection within and on both sides of the River; x Encourage, enhance, and promote existing and new recreational opportunities along the River; x Promote through education the inter-connections between cultural resources and the River;

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application x Continue and enhance collaborations with the Towns of Windsor and Bloomfield, FRWA, and others for better coordination and planning for the Lower Farmington River Greenway.

For purposes of resource protection, existing entities, such as the Towns of Windsor, Bloomfield, the Wintonbury Land Trust, the Windsor Land Trust, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), or other land acquisition organizations will continue to be the primary means for protecting open space through maintenance of existing holdings, acquisition of parcels and easements, and existing municipal regulations. (Note: no new municipal regulations are being proposed as a result of this application, nor is it anticipated any new regulations would need to be created as a result of a greenway designation as key provisions are already in place.)

FRWA is able to pursue many of the goals through its existing programs and efforts, such as providing community conservation education and promotion of greenway resources; encouraging best management practices across the region that protect the greenway resources; monitoring surface water quality; conducting and assisting in plans to link and extend existing trails and other public access points; and seeking additional funding sources to meet the purpose and goals of the Greenway.

Proposed Greenway Connections and Assets

The following are unique elements and assets of the Farmington River and its environment that highlight why this greenway is being proposed:

From the Confluence to Route 159 x The confluence of the Farmington River with the Connecticut River plays an important role in this proposed greenway as this area is a connection point for what would be the Upper Connecticut River Greenway (submitted under separate cover). x This site of the Farmington River confluence is of statewide historic significance as this site played a direct role in making Windsor the first town of Connecticut. The Podunk tribe granted land at the confluence to Plymouth, settlers. A small group of colonial settlers arrived at the site in September 1633 and developed a trading post 1. This trading post served as a key place for the English to trade with Native Americans and from there the settlement grew. x A study conducted by The Nature Conservancy in 2008-2009 surveyed eight sites on the Farmington River, in part to identify floodplain

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor,_Connecticut#cite_note-4 (accessed April 14, 2014)

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application forests with the greatest conservation value. One of sites identified with the highest value, in terms of dynamic flooding regimes that still supports typical floodplain forest communities, was the confluence of the Farmington with the Connecticut River in Windsor stretching as far upstream as the I-91 Bridge, and includes the large island at the confluence. x In the Management Plan, Steve Gephard, DEEP Fisheries is quoted as saying, “The mouth of the Farmington River where it meets the Connecticut River is the most diverse and one of the most important areas within New in terms of fish resources. All 12 of the diadromous fish species thought to be present in the state are believed to be present at this location...It is one of two tributary streams in Connecticut that host an annual adult Atlantic salmon run and hosts one of the best shad runs in the state (other than the mainstem Connecticut).”

Shad fishing has been long tradition within Windsor dating back to Native Americans fishing for shad in the spring. Decades ago, a local fisherman desiring to promote Windsor’s shad runs began the tradition of the annual Shad Derby. Since those early years, the Shad Derby grew into region-wide festival that is held every May on the Town Green . x This portion of the Farmington River and its surrounding environment contains habitat for the State Threatened Species, Leptodea ochracea (Tidewater Mucket, mussel); State Threatened Species Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle); and State Special Concern Species Rana pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog).

x The Loomis Chaffee School campus encompasses the south portion of this area and forested-riparian habitat to the north. Both areas offer scenic views of the Farmington and Connecticut Rivers.

x Just north of the Loomis School and along the western side of the Farmington River, the Town of Windsor has developed an exceptional multi-use trail system known as the Windsor Center Trail (see Appendix A). This heavily used trail system has been in existence for nearly 20 years and provides yearlong outdoor recreational opportunities for the community. Windsor Center Trail 

x The intersection of Route 159 (Palisado Avenue Bridge) and the Farmington River is where the National Register of Historic Places Palisado Historic District begins. It’s a hub of activity and features that connects the Windsor Center Trail system with boat lunches, a parking and trailhead area, Bart’s Restaurant, Mill Brook, the First Church of Windsor (a key stop in the Underground Railroad), the Farmington River Railroad Bridge (also listed on the National Register), and the Pleasant Street Park and Boat Lunch  Pleasant Street Park.

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application From Route 159 Bridge to Route 75 Bridge x The proposed greenway corridor within this stretch contains many different land uses ranging from Shade tobacco farmland, Interstate 91 Bridge, subdivisions, condominiums, cemeteries, and open spaces. x The existing open spaces/parks, public facilities, and cemeteries are:

o Veterans Memorial Cemetery o Tikvou Chadoshoh Cemetery o Tiffany Village/Reed Circle Open Space o Meadowview Open Space o Elm Grove Cemetery o Farmington River Floodplain Open Space (River Street) o Windsor Land Trust Island Windsor Land Trust Island  o Strawberry Hills Open Space o Poquonock Elementary School o Welch Park x This section of the Farmington River encompasses large intact forested floodplain habitat. This habitat supports the following known unique species: State Special Concern Ranunculus sceleratus (Cursed Crowfoot); State Special Concern Elymus wiegandii (Wiegand's Wild Rice); State Special Concern Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle); and State Special Concern Species Rana pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog).

From Route 75 Bridge to the Windsor/Bloomfield Town Line x The diversity of land uses continues upstream from Route 75. x What could be considered the “Crown Jewel” of the corridor is Northwest Park, located along the southern border of Rainbow Reservoir. Northwest Park is a 473-acre multi- recreational facility operated by the Town of Windsor, offering an interpretive nature center, 12 miles of trails, maple sugaring, a Coffee House Concert Series, gift shop, and the Luddy/Taylor Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum. The Park also hosts numerous community and regional events, including overnight events and summer camps. x According to the Management Plan (2011) Northwest Park is designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society. A variety of upland, grassland and wetlands species are found within the Park. Over 60-acres of grasslands are managed for the Grasshopper Sparrow, a Species of Special Concern in Connecticut.

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application x Rainbow Reservoir and the Rainbow Dam are unique features of the Lower Farmington River. Rainbow Dam is a hydropower facility owned by Stanley Black & Decker and operated by the Farmington River Power Company. Below and adjacent to the dam is a fish ladder that is owned operated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), constructed in mid-1970’s. Currently, the DEEP is now working to improve fish passage in the lower Farmington by constructing a state-of-the-art fish lift at Rainbow Dam.

Along the north-west side of Rainbow Reservoir is a State boat launch site. The Reservoir offers numerous water-related recreation opportunities. x Continuing westward from the Reservoir, to the south is the Windsor Landfill and to the north are residential neighborhoods, private open space and agricultural land. Along the southern stretch towards the Windsor/Bloomfield line is the “Farmington River Park” that spans from Windsor into Bloomfield and is all owned and managed by the Town of Bloomfield.

From the Windsor/Bloomfield Town Line to Bloomfield/Simsbury Town Line x Farmington River Park within Bloomfield provides direct recreational access to the River for citizens of Bloomfield. The Farmington River naturally defines part of Bloomfield’s northern border with East Granby, has good fishing areas, world class canoe and whitewater runs (Triple Crown), and defines the Traffiville Gorge. Ǧ x Within this area of the proposed greenway is where the is routed through the notch of via Route 189 and continues in a southerly direction towards Hartford.

In addition, the National Scenic Trail (aka Metacomet Trail), the State designated System Greenway, and Talcott Mountain State Park are also all located within this area, making another key inter-connection hub along the Lower Farmington River Greenway.

Plans of Conservation and Development and other Relevant Documents

This proposed greenway is consistent with both Towns’ Plan of Conservation and Development:

Windsor - 2004 Plan of Conservation & Development

x Work To Establish a Greenway System (page 4-7)

o An isolated parcel of open space may preserve an important natural resource or maintain the appearance of undeveloped land, but it may not contribute to a meaningful open space system. If that same parcel of open space can be interconnected into a

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application cohesive system, its value to residents and impact on the community grows significantly. Such open spaces can be connected by trails, providing increased accessibility, significant functional wildlife corridors, more opportunities for active or passive recreation, and enhanced quality of life for residents.

o Over the long term, Windsor should work towards establishing an overall greenway/ trail network that interconnects open space areas together. Such a greenway system can build upon the efforts of Riverfront Recapture and others to create a greenway of regional or even statewide significance along the Connecticut River. This greenway/trail system should also be extended along the Farmington River. The Windsor Center Trail could be a first link in a trail system connecting the Connecticut River Trail in Hartford, the Barber Street Boat Launch, the Bissell Bridge Bikeway, Pleasant Street Park, River Street Park, Welch Park, the Rainbow Boat Launch and/or Northwest Park.

o Much of the needed land along the Connecticut River is already under State or town control and significant stretches of the Farmington River remain undeveloped due to floodplains. Windsor should work with major property owners (such as the Stanley Works) to obtain reasonable public access to their properties and integrate them into an overall greenway trail network.

o Establishing a greenway/trail system will be the most successful open space strategy for Windsor but it is also likely to be difficult, requiring dedication and effort. The following map depicts the Open Space Plan for Windsor and shows how greenways might interconnect different parts of Windsor with a townwide greenway/trail network.

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Open Space Preservation Plan Town of Windsor, CT

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Windsor Center Transit-Oriented Development, Master Plan and Redevelopment Strategy (December 2013)

TOD Master Plan contains numerous strategies, the following are applicable to this Greenway proposal:

x Circulation and Mobility (page 3)

o Expand the walking and bicycling network throughout the Town Center, and improve and extend segments through public open spaces.

o Improve and expand bicycle connections through signage, links to adjacent networks, shared paths or dedicated links.

x Enhancing Open Space and Amenities (page 17)

o Expand and improve the trail systems to and through the open spaces in Windsor Center, including enhanced signage for the trail system and open space. The enhancements should include wayfinding and interpretive signage for natural and historic resources .

Bloomfield - 2012 Plan of Conservation and Development

The Bloomfield Plan discusses and lists numerous strategic goals. The following goals related and support this greenway application.

x Create Greenways (page 36)

o Many greenways include paths and trails to provide access. Bloomfield has several walking and trails within its borders. The Penwood and Talcott Mountain State Parks have a well maintained trail system including the Metacomet Trail that creates a north south greenway through Bloomfield and several other towns. Other opportunities for greenway connections…exist and should be explored as these connectionsǦ will help create a meaningful greenway and trail network.

x Farmington River Park (page 38)

o Bloomfield should do more (e.g., installing additional signs, creating a car top boat launch and making the park feel “public”) to promote the use of this facility. Building connections to neighboring communities (i.e., greenway Ǧtrail and canoe trail) is an important strategy.

x Establishing east / west greenways (page 38)

o Bloomfield should work to create East West Greenways.

Ǧ

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Capitol Region Council of Governments Draft Regional Plan of Conservation and Development 2014-2024

The Capital Region Council of Governments is nearing the completion of its Regional Plan and final adoption is pending. For the purposes of this application the draft plan is being used to show the proposed greenway is consistent from the Regional Plan of Conservation and Development.

x Expand and Protect Open Space Along Major Rivers: “…large tributaries such as the Farmington…, provides extensive active and passive recreational opportunities. (page 60)

Policy Recommendations

o Encourage linkage and the development of greenways to connect existing and proposed open space areas to riverfronts.

o Support efforts to expand access to recreational opportunities on rivers.

x Page 96: In 2008, the Capitol Region conducted a region-wide survey to help frame the discussion at Regional Roundtable. The goal of the survey and the roundtable was to determine what the region’s citizens value most about living and working in the region and what they would like to see improve. The Capitol Region followed up on the first roundtable by holding a second one in 2009 to determine specific visions for the future of the region. Out of this roundtable series came a set of priorities for the region’s built environment and natural environment which can guide the policies related to land use and zoning at the regional level. These priorities are as follows:

Natural Environment:

o Conserve and preserve natural resources

o Connect greenways to make the natural environment accessible

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Capitol Region Council of Governments Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan (April 2008)

The 2008 Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan focuses on the East Coast Greenway (which a portion of is part of this proposed greenway) and utilization of existing road networks. These two features/resources enhance, promote, and are consistent with this proposed Lower Farmington River Greenway.

x Recommendation 4 (Page 31): Complete Multi-use Path Systems in the region.

x Recommendation 4.3 (page 32): Extend other existing trail systems.

x Recommendation 4.4 (page 33): Continue local trail development.

x Recommendation 5 page 34): Create an on road bicycle network.

Figure 4 On Road Bicycle Network and Multi-use Path System

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application

State Plan of Conservation and Development Policies Plan Update: 2013- 2018 (June 5, 2013)

The State C&D Plan only applies to state agencies and is advisory to municipalities and regional agencies, however, the following relevant sections of the State Plan are included with this greenway application as they indicate any future state actions with regard to this proposed greenway would be consistent:

x Growth Management Principle #2: State Agency Policies (page 13)

o Encourage and Promote access to parks and recreational opportunities, including trails, greenways, community gardens and waterways, for affordable and mixed-income housing.

x Growth Management Principle #3: State Agency Policies (page 15) o Encourage a network of pedestrian and bicycle paths and greenways that provide convenient inter- and intra-town access, including access to the regional public transportation network;

Background: Lower Farmington River and Its Resources

The Farmington River is major tributary to the Connecticut River and for management purposes has been divided into “upper” and “lower” sections. The general area of distinction is the Canton/Avon town line. The confluence of the Farmington River with the Connecticut River is located in Windsor. The proposed greenway segment starts from the Farmington River confluence to where the River deviates south from the East Granby/Simsbury town line. This section is approximately 15.5 miles.

Overall, the Lower Farmington River corridor is a remarkable combination of unusual geology, healthy forested watershed, spectacular fishing and paddling areas, passive recreation, impressively diverse communities of plants, wildlife, fish, and aquatic invertebrates, rich agricultural bottomlands, archaeological sites, and historic towns and landmarks. The following are some of the major highlights of the Lower Farmington River and its stream corridor.

Along the East Granby/Bloomfield town line the Farmington River offers world-class whitewater conditions as it charges through the traprock ravine known as Tariffville Gorge. Once a site of hydropower generation for Hartford, the Gorge is now a destination for top-level whitewater kayakers from all over . Below the Gorge the river enters the impoundment behind Rainbow Dam, a present-day hydropower facility owned by Stanley Black & Decker and operated by the Farmington River Power Company. Below Rainbow Dam and its fish ladder, the river winds between natural levees and belts of riparian forest along the historic tobacco fields of Windsor before finally joining the Connecticut River.

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Appendix A: Potential Greenway Corridor Figures

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Appendix B: Municipal Resolution & Support Letters

Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application Lower Farmington River Greenway Designation Application