Fairfield County
Candlewood Mountain/Vaughn’s Neck (Litchfield and Fairfield counties) Candlewood Lake, an impoundment supporting Northeast Generating Company’s Rocky River pump-storage hydropower plant, is the largest lake in Connecticut and an important recreational and economic asset.
New Fairfield Agricultural Area (Fairfield County) Much of New Fairfield's terrain is rugged and semi-mountainous. The largest lake in Connecticut, Candlewood Lake, is also found here.
Quaker Brook-Haviland Hollow Watershed (Fairfield County) Dually designated with New York. The Housatonic Valley Association is fighting to defend the fragile ecosystems in the area. The watershed, which empties into the Hudson River, is noted for its clear water.
Hartford County
Farmington River Canal (Hartford County) The canal provides more than 60 miles of trails that follow the canal system built in the 1820s. Organizations like the Farmington River Watershed Association are working to protect the area. Photo courtesy of the Farmington River Watershed Association
Farmington Valley Agricultural Area (Hartford County) The area's natural beauty draws tourists, making it susceptible to pollution and development. The Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project is currently working to promote environmental awareness and preserve the area.
Nepaug River Watershed (Litchfield and Hartford counties) The Nepaug Watershed unfortunately delivered the most carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to the Nepaug Reservoir, according to a 2006 U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations report. It's also a haven for paddlers in the area.
Salmon Brook Watershed (Hartford County) The watershed provides many recreational activities and is surrounded by mainly rural areas. The Salmon Brook Watershed Association is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the area.
Traprock Ridges (Hartford County) The ridges are basalt formations that resemble steps and receive their reddish-orange coloring from oxidized iron. Their geologic composition allows them to support delicate plant species
Litchfield County
Bald Mountain (The mountain is an outlet for outdoor activities and retreats, but its location near urban and developed areas poses a conservation threat.
Blackberry Watershed (Litchfield County) Changes in water quality, pollutants, and new species are responsible for the watershed's degradation. Urbanization has also resulted in a loss of wetland area.
Boardman Bridge Scenic Area (Litchfield County) Northeast Utilities owns 146 acres of undeveloped riverfront, extending about 5 miles along both shores between New Milford's Gaylordsville section and the Boardman Bridge. The stretch of riverfront became the Housatonic River Belt Greenway in 1996.
Bull’s Bridge Scenic Area (Litchfield County) This undeveloped forested area contains numerous critical habitats for rare species. Safeguarding the area would protect 400 acres of the Appalachian Trail corridor.
Canaan Lime Cliffs (Litchfield County) Many unusual plants and wildlife rely on the calcium-rich soils and limestone outcrops, which are rare in New England. Polluted runoff and siltation caused by a current limestone quarry are degrading water quality of the drainage.
Canaan Mountain (Litchfield County) Landowners and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection own the mountain's higher elevations. The Yale School of Forestry operates a demonstration forest on the mountain to conduct research and study the environment.
Candlewood Mountain/Vaughn’s Neck (Litchfield and Fairfield counties) Candlewood Lake, an impoundment supporting Northeast Generating Company’s Rocky River pump-storage hydropower plant, is the largest lake in Connecticut and an important recreational and economic asset.
Farmington River Wild and Scenic Area (Litchfield County) The area winds through the Highland towns of Colebrook, Hartland, Barkhamsted, New Hartford, and Canton. The watershed area has been protected by the Farmington River Watershed Association for more than half a century.
Furnace Brook Watershed (Litchfield County) Protection of the Furnace Brook Watershed will guard against degradation of a critical fishing stream and summer refuge for river trout.
Goshen/Litchfield Agricultural Area (Litchfield County) The area is home to vineyards on Connecticut's wine trail and offers scenic views of the rolling Litchfield Hills.
Highland Lake Watershed (Litchfield County) The lake is often referred to as "the jewel of Winsted" for its natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Development and overuse threaten to compromise the purity of its water.
Housatonic River Greenway (Litchfield County) Envisioned primarily as a measure to protect the river and its surrounding open spaces and scenic vistas, the greenway provides opportunities for a variety of recreational activities.
Kent Falls Watershed (Litchfield County) Water cascades from approximately 250 feet before joining the Housatonic River. The area is nestled in Kent Falls State Park, which provides a wealth of recreational opportunities.
Lake Waramaug Watershed (Litchfield County) Lake Waramaug was the first lake designated a Connecticut Heritage Lake. Protecting the limited undeveloped land remaining around the lake is critical to maintaining water quality.
Macedonia Brook Watershed (Litchfield County) The watershed encompasses several thousand acres of unbroken forest. Macedonia State Park provides a foundation for additional land protection for fish and wildlife habitat.
Nepaug River Watershed (Litchfield and Hartford counties) The Nepaug Watershed unfortunately delivered the most carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to the Nepaug Reservoir, according to a 2006 U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations report. It's also a haven for paddlers in the area.
Robbins Swamp (Litchfield County) Northeast Utilities Co. owns a six-acre tract in Robbins Swamp abutting parcels owned by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and The Nature Conservancy. It is the largest wetland in Connecticut.
Schenob Brook Watershed (Litchfield County) The watershed is one of the finest calcareous fens, or plant communities rich in calcium and magnesium, in New England. More than 2,200 acres of the main wetland area have remained undeveloped and were nominated for designation as a federal area of environmental concern in 1990.
Sharon/Salisbury Agricultural Area (Litchfield County) The prime farmland soils of Sharon and Salisbury are some of the best and most extensive in the state. A legacy of glacial lake deposits and high pastures affords this region a high concentration of agricultural land and defines its scenic character.
Shepaug Greenway (Litchfield County) The Steep Rock Association and the Roxbury Land Trust work to protect open spaces and important habitats in the Shepaug River watershed.
Shepaug Watershed (Litchfield County) Permanent protection of these lands along with reopening of the Mattatuck Trail would protect water quality while potentially creating linkages to the Shepaug River Greenway.
Skiff Mountain Wildlife Management Area (Litchfield County) The area is owned by Northeast Utilities and is adjacent to nearly 7,000 acres of other protected land. The area is currently managed as a public hunting area under written contract with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
Stanley Works Scenic Area (Litchfield County) This tract, along the east shore of the Housatonic River, encompasses approximately 600 acres. Although a portion of it is protected under a federal scenic easement, different organizations are working to preserve the entire parcel.
West Aspetuck Aquifer (Litchfield County) The town of New Milford is taking steps to preserve the quality of the West Aspetuck River and Aquifer, both important drinking water resources.
Winchester Lake Watershed (Litchfield County)Lake Winchester lies within a headwater region of the Naugatuck River in the Housatonic Drainage and is part of a larger Mad River/Naugatuck Headwaters Focal Area proposed for Highlands Conservation Act funding by the state. The lake is a popular recreational area for surrounding communities.
