To mark the completion of the Five Mile River Watershed Plan, a signing ceremony will be held on Thursday, August 2 at 1 p.m. on the West Campus of Norwalk Community College.

At the event, the chief elected officials of Darien, New Canaan and Norwalk will be asked to sign a pledge for the Five Mile River Watershed. The Pledge declares the watershed an important natural resource and affirms support for the goals of enhanced storm water management and improved water quality. The event will also feature state and local experts who will speak to the importance of watershed planning. The event is free and open to the public.

The Five Mile River runs from the New York State border through New Canaan, Norwalk and Darien before emptying into Long Island Sound. Residential and commercial growth, notably the proliferation of impervious surfaces such as roof tops and parking lots has changed the way storm water moves across the watershed, bringing increased chemicals and pollutants into the Five Mile and its tributaries, harming fish and other aquatic organisms. Impervious surfaces can also increase the intensity and frequency of flooding on the Five Mile River, which is detrimental to nearby properties as well as river wildlife.

The Five Mile River Watershed Plan is funded by a grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

~ News Source: New Canaan News – July 30, 2012