PRESS RELEASE: NVCOG awarded $200,000 Long Island Sound Ecosystems grant for Naugatuck River Stormwater Retrofit Assessment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2026
Molly Johnson
Environmental Planner II
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
mjohnson@nvcogct.gov

NVCOG awarded $200,000 Long Island Sound Ecosystems grant for Naugatuck River Stormwater Retrofit Assessment

(Waterbury, CT) – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) has been awarded $200,000 from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) through the state’s newly established Long Island Sound Ecosystems (LIS Ecosystems) Grant Program. The funding will support an initiative designed to advance water quality and community resilience in the Naugatuck Valley Planning region, and to support the goals of the Long Island Sound Partnership (LISP) Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP).

The LIS Ecosystems Grant Program was created to support the planning and implementation of projects focused on coastal habitat restoration and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) across the state. NVCOG plans to use the grant to conduct a regional stormwater retrofit assessment for priority locations within the municipalities of Thomaston, Watertown, Waterbury, Naugatuck, and Beacon Falls. This project aims to develop a portfolio of GSI projects that can be implemented across municipalities through which the Naugatuck River flows. It will identify prime locations for GSI and develop data-driven designs.

“This grant will allow us to help our member municipalities assess stormwater pollution to the Naugatuck River and identify the best locations to make changes to reduce that pollution” said Aaron Budris, Environmental Planning Director. “By creating a portfolio of ready to implement stormwater improvement project designs, it will set our towns up to move more quickly from planning to construction.”

Green stormwater infrastructure uses natural and nature-based solutions such as rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements to capture and treat runoff before it enters rivers and streams. Stormwater runoff is a significant contributor of nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants that empty into waterways. The goal is to support water quality improvements in the Naugatuck River watershed which ultimately drains into the Long Island Sound.

“We are grateful to CTDEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes and our federal partners at EPA and NOAA for their critically important support and investment in the well-being of our NVCOG communities and waterways.” said Rick Dunne, NVCOG Executive Director. “This initiative will create a variety of solutions that improve water quality in the Naugatuck River and downstream in Long Island Sound.”

To learn more about NVCOG’s stormwater management initiatives please visit https://nvcogct.gov/what-we-do/environment/ms4/. To learn more about the LIS Ecosystems Grant program please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/news-releases/news-releases—2026/deep-announces-recipients-of-long-island-sound-ecosystems-grant.

About the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG):
The NVCOG facilitates collaboration among the Mayors and Selectpersons of 19 member municipalities to maximize resources, advance shared goals, and address common challenges confronting their communities. Member municipalities include Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bristol, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury.

Notice of Brownfield Assessment Funding Availability: NVCOG and CT Brownfield Land Bank, Inc.

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Regional Brownfields Partnership and CT Brownfield Land Bank, Inc are pleased to announce an open solicitation period for brownfield assessment projects within the geographic boundaries of Connecticut.

Eligible Activities:

  • Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Reports
  • Phase II Environmental Site Assessments Reports
  • Phase III Environmental Site Assessments Reports
  • Hazardous Building Material Analysis
  • Clean-up Planning
  • Remedial Action Planning

Eligible Applicants:

  • CT municipalities
  • Redevelopment agencies
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Private Entities (w/ Municipal Support)

*Applicants do not need to own the site to receive assistance under the program; however, a written site access agreement from the property owner is required if awarded.

Funding Availability:

The maximum request for each assessment project is $75,000.

Required Attachments:

  1. Completed Application – https://nvcogct.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/site-location_EPA-Assessment-Site-Eligibility-Determination.docx
  2. Site property card
  3. Proof of municipal support for the project
  4. If you do not own the site, a letter showcasing the owner’s willingness to provide access

Submission:

All projects must submit the required attachments to Ricardo Rodriguez, Brownfield Program Director (rrodriguez@nvcogct.gov) and Inez Ortiz, Brownfield Planner II, (iortiz@nvcogct.gov) no later than 4:00 PM on Wednesday, May 20th to be considered. Project selection will occur in early summer. NVCOG Staff are available to assist potential applicants with any questions.

For more information on the NVCOG Brownfields Program, please visit: Brownfields Program – NVCOG CT – Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments

For more information on the CT Brownfield Land Bank, Inc, please visit: Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank, Inc.

PRESS RELEASE: NVCOG Invites Public to Capture the Naugatuck Valley Through Photography

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2026

Contact:  
Desira Blanchard
Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
Dblanchard@nvcogct.gov


NVCOG Invites Public to Capture the Naugatuck Valley Through Photography


(Waterbury, CT) – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) is inviting residents, students, and visitors to help define the region’s identity through a regional photo contest supporting the development of the Naugatuck Valley Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (NVRPOCD). The plan is a long-range document that guides growth, preservation, and community priorities over the coming years.


The contest seeks photographs that capture the people, places, and experiences that define life in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. Submissions may reflect Architecture, Arts & Culture, Community and Places of Belonging, Environment, Entertainment & Leisure, Public Events, and/or Transportation across the region. Selected images will be used to visually support the NVCOG’s long-term planning efforts and to illustrate the themes and priorities reflected in the NVRPOCD.


Submissions are open now through 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026. Participants may submit up to three digital photographs through an online submission form at https://arcg.is/1G5OSr2. The contest is open to adults aged 18 or older, as well as high school students in grades 9 through 12 who have parent or guardian permission.


One winning photo will be selected from each of NVCOG’s 19 municipalities: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bristol, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Waterton, Wolcott, and Woodbury. Winners will receive a $25 gift card to a local establishment in the town where the photo was taken. Selected images may also be featured on the NVCOG website, social media platforms, and in future official planning publications.


Plans of Conservation and Development are required by Connecticut law and are updated every 10 years. They serve as a shared framework for communities, helping local and regional leaders make coordinated decisions that balance development with conservation while reflecting community priorities. By contributing photos, residents and students have an opportunity to directly shape how the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region is represented.


Full contest rules, submission guidelines, and required photo release forms, including forms for high school student participants and any identifiable individuals appearing in submitted photos, are available at https://nvcogct.gov/project/photo-contest/.

PRESS RELEASE: NVCOG Will Host a Composter and Rain Barrel Sale in Seymour and Thomaston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2026

Contact:
Christine O’Neill, AICP
Senior Environmental Planner
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
coneill@nvcogct.gov

NVCOG Will Host a Composter and Rain Barrel Sale in Seymour and Thomaston

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) offers backyard composters, rain barrels, and related accessories at wholesale prices to residents of the Naugatuck Valley Region. Residents can pre-order at the NVCOG online store (bit.ly/NVCOGcompostersale) through Thursday, June 11, 2026, by 4:30 PM. Please note that placing an order requires in-person pickup; items cannot be shipped and items will not be sold at the event. Items will be available for pick-up at two locations on Saturday, June 13, 2026, between 9 AM – 11 AM at the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine Street, Seymour, CT and from 1 PM – 3 PM at Thomaston High School, 185 Branch Road, Thomaston, CT.
Backyard composters are an effective way for residents to turn food and yard waste into valuable compost that can be used to amend soil for vegetables, flowers, and lawns. Composting complements NVCOG’s other sustainable waste management initiatives, such as the formation of a new Naugatuck Valley Regional Waste Authority. Rain barrels can provide a reliable source of chemical free rainwater for outdoor uses such as watering lawns and gardens.

Over the last four sales, Naugatuck Valley residents have purchased 268 composters, representing the maximum possible capacity to remove an estimated 134,000 lbs. of organics from the regional waste stream annually, as well as 220 rain barrels.

In providing these products at affordable prices to residents, NVCOG strives to help communities reduce the volume and cost of municipal solid waste disposal and conserve public water supplies by providing an alternative source for outdoor needs. The public is encouraged to visit the NVCOG webpage for more information and resources on backyard composting, including a video of an informational workshop with a Master Composter.

PRESS RELEASE: Household Hazardous Waste and Paint Collection Scheduled for Saturday, April 18 in Waterbury

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2026 

Contact:
NVCOG
203-757-0535
https://nvcogct.gov/HHW

Household Hazardous Waste and Paint Collection 

Scheduled for Saturday, April 18 in Waterbury 

 Do you have paints, cleaners, and other chemicals in your home that you need to dispose of? The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) and participating municipalities will sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Paint Collection event on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Crosby High School, 300 Pierpont Road, Waterbury, CT.

The collection is open to residents of the following communities: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury. There is no charge to residents. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, tax bill, or other identification, is required for entry. There is no need to line up before the 9 a.m. start time.

Hazardous waste consists of poisonous, flammable, and corrosive materials that are harmful to human health if not disposed of properly. The only waste that will be accepted is hazardous waste produced by households. Materials generated by a commercial enterprise or non-profit entity will not be accepted. A full list of acceptable and unacceptable materials can be viewed at nvcogct.gov/hhw.

Examples of wastes that will be accepted include: oil- and latex-based paints and stains, thermometers and thermostats containing mercury, drain and oven cleaners, upholstery cleaners, wood cleaners, strippers and varnishes, pesticides, poisons, pool and photo chemicals, automotive cleaners and fluids, gasoline and motor oil, grease and rust solvents, aerosols, and metal polishes.

Items that will not be accepted include: auto batteries, propane tanks over 1 lb., compressed gas cylinders, asbestos, smoke detectors, explosives, radioactive or medical waste, grout, joint compound, lead paint chips, and empty containers of any kind.  Aerosol containers will not be accepted unless they contain a paint or chemical. Empty aerosols that contain food products can be recycled. Full or partially full food products and empty chemical and paint aerosol containers can be placed in the trash. The contractor reserves the right to reject additional materials.

Up to 50 lbs. of residential waste will be accepted per vehicle. Residents should leave materials in the original container whenever possible. If you think you might exceed this limit, send an email with your name, address, and type of waste to hhw@nvcogct.gov at least one week in advance of the collection. When arriving at the collection site, residents must remain in their cars at all times. Trained waste handlers will remove materials from the cars. All liquid-based products, including gasoline and motor oil should arrive in a sealed container.

Unacceptable materials will be returned or left in the vehicle and information, if known, will be provided on how to dispose of them. For further information, please contact hhw@nvcogct.gov or call (203) 757-0535.

PRESS RELEASE: Mad River Watershed-Based Plan Public Meeting Waterbury, Wolcott, and Bristol

For Immediate Release: November 13, 2025

Contact:
Christine O’Neill, AICP
Senior Environmental Planner
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
203-489-0351
coneill@nvcogct.gov

Mad River Watershed-Based Plan Public Meeting Waterbury, Wolcott, and Bristol

WATERBURY, CT – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), City of Waterbury, Town of Wolcott, and City of Bristol invite the public to learn about the Mad River Watershed at a hybrid meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM.

These local and regional governments are collaborating to develop a Watershed Based Plan (WBP) for the Mad River. The WBP will identify the reasons for water quality challenges in the watershed, suggest solutions to improve water quality in the lakes and the river, and position the communities for accessing grants for projects that help foster a healthy watershed.

The watershed contains many prominent water resources such as Scovill Reservoir, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Cedar Lake, Hitchcock Lake, and Lily Brook. The Mad River flows by key cultural and economic assets such as the Seven Angels Theater and the Brass Mill Center.

This project is funded, in part, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

NVCOG would like to hear from residents and stakeholders who live, work, or use parks and lakes for recreation throughout the Mad River watershed. An in-person public information meeting and listening session is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, at 6:00 PM in the NVCOG office at 49 Leavenworth Street, 3rd Floor, Waterbury, CT. The office is accessible from all bus routes stopping at the Waterbury Green, as well as the Waterbury Rail Line. People who wish to attend remotely can register for a Zoom link at https://bit.ly/49cVEjk.

For additional information and project updates, visit: https://nvcogct.gov/project/madriver/.

Language assistance is available to the public at no cost. For language assistance requests contact Desira Blanchard, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, at dblanchard@nvcogct.gov or at 203-757-0535. Requests should be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting.

Community Planning Newsletter Fall 2025

Quarterly Updates

The NVCOG Community Planning Division published the fall edition of its quarterly newsletter. The newsletter is a resource for municipal land use staff and decision makers on all things land use policy and planning.

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Sustainability Spotlight: Powering Connecticut with Solar Canopies

With the adoption of renewable energy steadily growing in Connecticut, municipalities and environmentalists have raised concerns over the clear-cutting of forests to accommodate solar farms. While the state already has over 1,000 MW of solar capacity installed, but it must add significantly more to reach its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2040.

One solution? over developed land, such as parking lots or brownfields. These installations can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, conserve energy, and make better use of underutilized spaces.

A solar canopy at Brass City Mall in Waterbury provides electricity for EVs.

Legislative Support for Solar Canopies

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Public Act 25-125, part of which called for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to develop a solar canopy strategic plan. 

The plan is slated to:

  • Promote solar canopy adoption
  • Identify opportunities for installations
  • Prioritize environmental justice communities

Benefits for Public and Private Properties

Solar canopies are versatile and beneficial for both private and public properties.

  • Large retail uses, like shopping centers or supermarkets, often have ideal parking lots for canopies due to their size.
  • Public facilities, like schools and community centers make excellent use of canopy installations.

Canopies not only capture solar energy but protect parked cars from accumulating snow in the winter or heating up in the summer. When combined with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, they can also provide 100% renewable vehicle fuel, whereas charging stations drawing from the electrical grid would be fed by roughly 65% fossil fuel sources.

Solar canopies offer a middle ground between roof-mounted (which generally have limited capacity due to roof sizes) and ground-mounted (which often require clear-cutting or destroying habitat) solar installations. Canopies also generate power near which reduces the need for costly transmission infrastructure and electricity losses. Investing in solar canopies can preserve valuable habitat without sacrificing clean energy.

PACE’s map of solar canopy potential across the state.

Potential in Connecticut

Interested in what solar canopies might look like in your community? The Connecticut-based nonprofit People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) undertook an initiative to estimate the solar canopy capacity that could be installed in parking lots across the state. Significant potential exists along the Route 8 and I-84 corridors that run through the Naugatuck Valley region. Dataset: Solar Canopies – 100PercentCT – PACE. 

PA 25-125 suggests the possibility of a solar canopy “program” to advance the outcomes of the strategic plan. Communities should consider which sites could make strong candidates for future grant applications.

Further Reading

The solar canopy strategic plan is just one outcome from the 2025 legislative session. For a full list of all Public Acts related to environmental issues, see this document: 2025AA-0110_2025 Acts Affecting Environment.pdf

Contact Us

The “Sustainability Spotlight” provides readers with ideas on how to incorporate sustainability into your land use regulations. Questions? Contact Christine O’Neill.