our history

Tidewater Institute In A Clamshell

Tidewater Institute was founded in 2006 and became a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2007.

Initially housed and funded by the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency in Old Saybrook, we have been an engaged advocate of estuary protection and responsible land use. Now, nearly 10 years later, we are proud to partner with local, state, and federal organizations that help us expand our reach and our impact.

Join us. Let’s turn the tide together: donate, volunteer, or take steps to live a greener, cleaner life today.

Timeline: Tidewater Institute’s Projects

2004 Exploring Nature in the Estuary. TI hosted seven educational Walk and Talks for the Connecticut River Museum & Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, Old Lyme
2004-5 Tools for Intelligent Tinkering. TI ran two workshops and a riverboat tour and then created a resource guide for local land use commissioners (CT DEP OLISP)
2005 Land Use Leadership Alliance. TI coordinated a week-long workshop on sustainable community development (Pace University/NRCS)
2006 Yale Short Course on River Processes. TI held a week-long workshop and field trip adapted for CT River estuary (Yale, Milone & McBroom)
2006 Connecticut River Riparian Mapping. TI provided baseline documentation of 800 riverfront parcels in the Connecticut River estuary with recommendations (National Fish & Wildlife Foundation/LIS Futures, CT River Estuary Regional Planning Association, CT River Gateway Commission)
2006 CT River Estuary Primer: Ecology Curriculum Guide. TI created the Estuary Primer for the CT River Museum
2006 Tidal marsh restoration monitoring. TI worked with CTDEP to monitor five sites along the Connecticut River and coast. (CT DEP Wetlands Restoration Unit)
2007-2009 Riparian Protection Regulations for the CT River Gateway Commission. TI worked to identify and facilitate the adoption of local regulations to protect and restore vegetated buffers in the Connecticut River estuary (National Fish & Wildlife Foundation/LIS Futures, CT River Estuary Regional Planning Association, CT River Gateway Commission (CRERPA)
2007 Ground-Truthing Project. TI identified, mapped, and linked land protection opportunities across town boundaries in the Connecticut River estuary region (National Fish & Wildlife Foundation/LIS Futures)
2007 CT Marsh Restoration Photographic Exhibit. TI hosted a marsh restoration exhibit at Yale school of Forestry & Environmental Sciences Sage Hall
2008 A Land Distinctly Lyme: The Natural History of the Lower CT River Valley. TI held a 10-week educational series for the Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
2008 Founders Memorial Park. TI designed and oversee implementation of native plant landscape on a brownfield site in Old Saybrook
2010 Inventory & map brackish tidal marshes. TI cataloged and mapped tidal marshes along the upper East River in Guilford (Guilford Conservation Commission/EECOS)
2012 Native plant riparian buffer. TI designed and installed a riparian buffer for Old Saybrook Parks & Recreation Department
2011-2013 Water Chestnut Control. TI project to control invasive aquatic Trapa Natans (Water Chestnut) in the lower CT River Estuary (US Fish & Wildlife Service, CT River Estuary Regional Planning Agency)
2015 Connecticut Green Expo. TI formed a partnership with the music non-profit CT Folk that brought over 75 “Green Living” exhibitors, educators, and vendors to New Haven’s Edgerton Park; festival attendees learned how to make sustainable choices as they LIVE, WORK, PLAY, and CREATE.
2016 Connecticut Folk Fest & Green Expo. TI is leading this year’s Green Expo. The partnership with the music non-profit CT Folk will bring “Green Living” exhibitors, educators, and vendors to New Haven’s Edgerton Park on Sept 10; festival attendees learned how to make sustainable choices as they LIVE, WORK, PLAY, and CREATE.

Publications

Values of Vegetated Buffers, 2008
Notable Trees of Old Saybrook, 2008
Three Coastal Resources educational brochures for Yale Center for Coastal & Watershed Systems and Connecticut Sea Grant
CT River Estuary Primer – Curricular Resource Guide on CT River Ecology
Tools for Intelligent Tinkering resource guide
River Continuum brochure
Return of the Natives: Founders Memorial Park

Other

Contracted by Old Saybrook Land Trust to administer five federal grants & coordinate dedication of newly completed fishway project 2007
CT River guided boat tour for STRONG-CT, a National Science Foundation program through Three Rivers Community College, designed to increase diversity in the sciences 2008
This Good Earth photographic exhibit, Central Gallery, Old Saybrook, 2008
CT River Source to Sea cleanup (CT River Watershed Council), 2008, 2009 & 2010
Capturing the Estuary photographic exhibit, Acton Public Library, Old Saybrook, 2009