Quinnipiac River Fund Reaches Milestone
Recent Study Reveals Difference in Bacteria Levels After Rainfall
March marks the 30th anniversary of the first grants to be awarded by the Quinnipiac River Fund. The Fund was established in 1990 as part of a court settlement of litigation between the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Upjohn Company, concerning wastewater discharges from the Upjohn Company’s plant in North Haven. At the time, Upjohn was ordered to pay $1.2 million dollars over three years, which established the permanent fund at The Foundation.
Since then, more than 300 grants have been awarded totaling over $2.8 million. One recent grant was awarded to the River Advocates to research bacteria levels at 20 different sites. In October, State Rep. Mary Mushinsky, executive director of River Advocates, shared findings made possible by a grant from the Quinnipiac River Fund and the Greater New Haven Green Fund. Learn more about what can be done to reduce high bacteria loads on rainy days at thequinnipiacriver.com.
