Streambank Stabilization Study and Engineering Design Work Commence at Three Rivers Park in Woodbury

Fuss & O'Neill Engaged to Develop Riparian Restoration and Streambank Stabilization Plans

The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (PRWC) and the Town of Woodbury are pleased to announce that environmental engineering firm Fuss & O'Neill has been engaged and has commenced work on the Three Rivers Park Restoration Planning Project in Woodbury, Connecticut. A project kick-off meeting was held with Fuss & O'Neill in early June 2026, marking a significant milestone in Town and PRWC's effort to restore and stabilize the streambanks and riparian habitat at this ecologically important site.

This work is made possible through a $160,000 grant awarded to PRWC in December 2025 through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund (Futures Fund), a program managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Long Island Sound Partnership. PRWC was among 36 organizations selected in the 2025 funding round, which distributed nearly $12 million in grants leveraging more than $8 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of over $20 million. Nearly $60,000 of the required $81,500 in local matching funds was secured through partnership with the Town of Woodbury and the generosity of donors and sponsors at PRWC's annual gala, A Toast to the Watershed, held in May 2026. These matching funds have enabled the project to move swiftly into the engineering phase; the remainder of matching funds will be accumulated through public participation in community input surveys, listening sessions, and presentations that will take place throughout the project.

The project formally titled "Planning for Riparian Buffer and Supplemental BMP Strategies at Three Rivers Park in Woodbury (CT)" carries a total project investment of $241,500. The grant funds will be used to develop engineering and landscape design plans for riparian buffer restoration and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to stabilize the streambanks at Three Rivers Park. The project will also facilitate site assessments and stakeholder engagement to deliver preliminary design plans for the permitting phase.

Following a competitive Request for Qualifications process completed earlier this year, PRWC selected Fuss & O'Neill - a recognized leader in environmental engineering and natural resource management - as the project consultant. With the firm now fully engaged, the immediate next step is the development of a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), which will establish the technical and quality standards guiding all data collection and analysis throughout the project.

Three Rivers Park is a 71.31-acre parcel owned by the Town of Woodbury, located at the confluence of the Nonnewaug and Weekeepeemee Rivers- the precise point where the Pomperaug River begins. The site supports a rich mix of land uses including agriculture, athletic fields, and passive recreation. Project goals include integrating streambank stability, floodplain reconnection, and ecological restoration in a way that is compatible with and supportive of these existing uses. PRWC is working in close partnership with the Town of Woodbury throughout the planning process.

"Three Rivers Park is one of Woodbury’s most valued community resources, offering residents a place to enjoy recreation, connect with nature, and experience the unique character of our town,” said Woodbury CT First Selectman Paul Zulpa.  “We are proud to support this effort to protect and enhance the park so it can continue to serve our community and the environment for many years to come."

"We are excited to see this project move from planning into action," said Carol Haskins, Executive Director of PRWC. "The engagement of Fuss & O'Neill brings specialized expertise that will be essential as we work to restore the ecological health of this remarkable site at the headwaters of the Pomperaug River. We are grateful to the Long Island Sound Futures Fund and our partners at NFWF and the EPA for making this work possible."

Fuss & O’Neill will begin field work in September and span through December. Community input surveys will be conducted during this time. The combined data will inform preliminary landscape design plans that will be presented to the community later in the winter and early next spring.

While the engineering study gets underway, park users will notice the addition of “No Mow Zone” signs that were installed at Three Rivers Park in July 2026. The areas to discontinue mowing were identified and agreed upon by representatives from Woodbury Parks & Rec, Public Works, Inland Wetlands, Conservation Commission, the First Selectman, and PRWC. These No Mow Zones allow for deeper root growth of plants that will help hold the streambank in place during high flow events. They also support a broader diversity of birds and pollinators that thrive along the river’s edge, among other benefits. Pre-existing walking paths will be maintained through these areas until final landscape design plans are formulated.

About the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition

The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, sustaining, and restoring the water resources of the Pomperaug River Watershed through science, education, and community engagement. Working across a 90-square-mile region in western Connecticut, PRWC partners with municipalities, organizations, and residents to ensure clean, abundant water resources for future generations.

For more information about the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition and the Three Rivers Restoration Planning Project, visit https://www.pomperaug.org.

About the Long Island Sound Futures Fund

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund supports efforts to test innovative approaches to conservation, deliver transformative projects, and support people and communities who value Long Island Sound and take a direct role in its future. Long Island Sound is the second largest estuary on the East Coast and one of North America's most biologically diverse - with more than 23 million people living within 50 miles of its shores. Launched in 2005, the Futures Fund has invested $80 million in 688 projects, leveraged by $87 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $167 million. Managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Long Island Sound Partnership, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative. For more information, visit www.nfwf.org.