Our Partners
Kelsey Wentling
Caring for our lower Connecticut River Valley takes many organizations and individuals working together.
The Commission is proud to work with town governments, stewardship organizations, area professionals, and people who live along or enjoy the river.
Eight Town Governments
Eight towns — Chester, Deep River, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook — are in the Zone. Each town’s planning and zoning commission, zoning board of appeals, and land use staff are partners with the CT River Gateway Commission.
The Gateway Commission’s protective standards are adopted into the zoning regulations of all these towns and, once locally adopted, are overseen by local agencies. This successful partnership is nearly 50 years young.
October 2024: From left to right, Suzanne Thompson, Gateway Commission Chair, Carol Jones, Deep River First Selectwoman, Cindy Lignar, Chester First Selectwoman, and Pat Bandzes, Chester Selectwoman
Tanisha Bergeron
Nature’s Stewards
The Gateway Commission’s primary responsibility is to protect the the river’s scenic hillsides. The Commission also uses its resources and considerable influence to study and support efforts directed toward managing the lower river’s ecological health.
Partners in this effort include the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut Audubon, the Connecticut River Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, local land trusts, and town agencies.
Area Professionals
Architects, engineers, and builders who work with clients in the Zone are partners with the Commission as they suggest sensitive and natural hillside development and remodeling approaches to their clients.
Real estate professionals are partners in reminding new owners that what makes the area attractive to them comes from the care and love of those in their new community.
Landscapers, tree services and design professionals are valuable partners in encouraging careful tree and grounds management that blends clients’ desires with neighbors’ and river users’ enjoyment of scenic vistas.
All of Us
If you live in view of the Connecticut river; boat or birdwatch; picnic or hike, or simply spend calm time admiring river views while “re-charging your batteries,” you may be the Commission’s most valuable partner.
Just by virtue of visiting, enjoying, and living by the river, you likely recognize what a truly special place we share. The beauty and health of the Connecticut river comes from the care that previous generations provided, how we protect the river today, and the legacy of care that we pass on to future generations.
How long did you say?
In the 1970s, a bridge was proposed that would extend from Old Saybrook to Long Island. That would be roughly ten times as long as the Golden Gate Bridge. Residents and officials in eight river-front towns decided that the Connecticut River Gateway Commission and the Zone were needed as protection against unbridled development.