“This stream may perhaps with as much propriety as any in the world be named the beautiful river.”
Timothy Dwight; President of Yale College
Travels: New England and New York, Vol. II., 1821
Lords Cove, Tom Walsh, Shoreline Aerial Photography
The Commission's Regular Meetings are on the 4th Thursday of the month at 7 pm. 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
Gateway Commission River Excursion
The Gateway Commission in October 2024 sponsored a boat cruise north up the Connecticut River from Essex to near Gillette’s Castle, and then back south….
Protecting and Restoring Riparian Areas – Rivers’ Natural Protection
The Gateway Commission joined with the UConn Center for Land Use Education and the Rivers Alliance of CT to present a workshop on riparian (streamside)…
Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Program Accepting Proposals
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for the State’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grant Program. The program makes…
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Gillette Castle
Perched high atop a bluff, overlooking the Connecticut River and the Chester-Hadlyme ferry, stands Gillette Castle, a structure as iconic and eccentric as its creator. Legendary actor and playwright William Hooker Gillette, 1853-1937, built this faux medieval…
Roger Tory Peterson Area
56 Acres • Old Lyme, CT Partners: The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Drawing on inspiration to preserve land What better tribute to…
Kathleen DeMeo
Feature Photo
Sunset over Back River, Old Lyme
Thank you Kathleen DeMeo for sharing your photo.