Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly Celebrate the Commission's 50th Anniversary
Lords Cove, Tom Walsh, Shoreline Aerial Photography
The next monthly Commission meeting will be on Thursday, October 26. See full schedule, agendas, and minutes.
Kathleen DeMeo
Why the River Zone Matters
Protecting the River Since 1973
The mission of the Connecticut River Gateway Commission is to preserve the aesthetic and ecological natural beauty of the lower Connecticut River valley for present and future generations.
Who We Are & What We Do
The Commission was established to preserve the scenic and ecological beauty of the lower Connecticut River valley.
Chester, East Haddam, Essex, Deep River, Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and RiverCOG representatives form the Commission’s membership.
Our mission is achieved through land protection and zoning standards adopted and enforced by those 8 towns.
American bittern
Our Approach
The Commission seeks to balance protection of the “natural and traditional riverway scene” with “constructive development and property use” as required by state law.
Our River
The Connecticut River, its tidelands, and its tributaries are recognized as among the most important natural, recreational, and scenic areas in the Northeast, and have been called one of the Western Hemisphere’s forty “Last Great Places.”
The Conservation Zone
The Commission’s responsibility is the land generally alongside the river, running from Haddam south to Long Island Sound. Various tributaries and coves are included within the Conservation Zone. A map details the exact zone.
What We Can Do Together
Caring for the river needs organizations and individuals working together. The Commission is proud to join with town governments, stewardship organizations, area professionals, and people who live along or enjoy the river.
What's New
50th Anniversary Reception at CT Audubon
A reception to celebrate the Connecticut River Gateway Commission’s 50th anniversary was held on August 3rd on the grounds of the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary…
CLCC Award Presented at Gillette Castle
On a beautiful summer day overlooking a scenic stretch of the Connecticut River from the viewpoint of Gillette Castle, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC)…
Governor and General Assembly Recognize Commission’s 50th Anniversary
On May 2, 1973, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a historic land use bill entitled,”An Act Concerning the Preservation of the Lower Connecticut River” to…
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Shipbuilding in the Lower Connecticut River
Shipbuilding in the lower Connecticut River valley goes back to the 17th century. Earliest shipbuilding in Connecticut started around 1648 in colonial Windsor, upriver of Hartford. In 1650s, Robert Lay build a wharf at the present site…
Elizabeth B. Karter Watch Rock Preserve
25 Acres • Old Lyme, CT Partners: Old Lyme Conservation Trust, Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection A Waterfront Park in Old Lyme Rather Than Corporate…
Kathleen DeMeo
Feature Photo
Sailboat Moored in Back River, Old Lyme
Thank you Kathleen DeMeo for sharing your photo.