Many of our columns deal with anadromous fish—those species that start life in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, and then return to freshwater to spawn.
The Northern Forest
Over the course of three hours of a steady climb, the tree canopy of deciduous sugar maples, yellow birch, and American beech transitioned to a coniferous mix of red spruce and balsam fir before we reached the treeless alpine tundra summit of Camel’s Hump.
Gardening For Good: Rethinking the Fall Cleanup
Ah, the fall cleanup. It’s a welcomed shift in the duties of the avid gardener: time to put things to bed for the winter months ahead.
Voices of the Forest
Bird enthusiasts have long appreciated the Connecticut River Valley’s value as a migratory corridor.
Below the Surface: Many Habitats Means Many Species
Habitat is the place where your needs are met: shelter is found and food is abundant. Not all species have the same needs, so variety truly is the spice of life.
Gardening For Good: Composting at Home
You may be thinking that composting involves a pile somewhere out in the backyard where you dump lawn clippings, leaves, spent flower arrangements, and the shucked outer layers of summer corn.
The Superpowers of Riparian Buffers
A riparian buffer is the border of vegetation, usually including trees and shrubs, next to a body of water. It is way more important than what this may suggest, which is why there is so much interest in it.
Gardening for Good: Miscanthus Misgivings
A number of years ago I planted an ornamental grass in my garden, having seen it in other yards and fallen in love with the exquisite plumes of seed-heads that it produced in the fall.
Below the Surface: Understanding Stream Channel Complexity
We’ve all seen topographic maps and models of terrestrial landforms, but seldom do we see bathymetric maps or models of what lies below the surface.
A Complicated Victory: The Fight for the Farmington River
Upstream from the Old Riverton Inn, deep in the pine forests of northwest Connecticut, the West Branch of the Farmington River is dammed not once, but twice, as it tumbles out of the Berkshire Hills.
An Ox in the Woods
On a wet morning last November, a handful of people climbed a slope along the Goodwin Trail in the town of East Haddam with the intention of delivering a handmade bench inland for weary hikers.
Below the Surface: Alone at the Top—Fish in the Headwaters
The collection of fish in a particular stretch of river can be considered a “community.” The community includes a number of different fish species, all sharing the same habitat and therefore all having similar habitat preferences.
Gardening for Good: Waste Not, Want Not
Before you turn the page, give me a second. Yes, this is still “Gardening for Good,” and yes, the topic is urine—ours. But it’s also about how we can rethink the way things have always been done in favor of better alternatives for the long run.
Third Annual Early Career Achievement in Environmentalism Award
On behalf of Estuary magazine and its parent The Watershed Fund, we are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Early Career Achievement in Environmentalism Award.
The Scourge of Hydrilla
This is the second in a series of stories about hydrilla. For an introduction, see “Hydrilla: The Nine-Headed Serpent in our Estuary Waters,” by Judy Preston, Fall 2020, and at https://estuarymagazine.com/2020/11/hydrilla/.
Gardening for Good: It Turns Out, Gardening is Also Good for You
How much time does it take for people to get a dose of nature high enough to say they feel healthy and have a strong sense of well-being?
Below the Surface: Test Your Connecticut River IQ!
It’s time for some fun! How much do you know about the river and its non-human inhabitants?
Addressing the Biodiversity Crisis in the Connecticut River Valley
One of the reasons many people love living in the Connecticut River valley is the ability to observe wildlife in the landscape around them.
The Once and Future Connecticut River
Trump’s chainsaw massacre of federal agencies is
impeding fish and wildlife restoration nationwide.
Gardening for Good: A Local Cemetery Inspires Wild Ideas for Your Lawn
Looking for inspiration for an environmentally friendly lawn? I suggest you take a break and go for a walk in a local cemetery.