ESSEX/LYME/OLD LYME—The Lower Connecticut River Land Trust invites nominations for their 2023 fourth annual award of the Melvin Woody Lower Connecticut River Conservation Award. Nominations can either be for an organization or an individual that you feel has significantly contributed to the conservation of the lower Connecticut River region.
This award is named after one of the Lower Connecticut River Land Trust’s prominent board members. Melvin Woody has been an ardent supporter of the Lower Connecticut River and Coastal Region Land Trust Exchange (LTE) since its inception in 2009. He has also been the guiding voice in the transformation and growth of that informal organization from a conservation tool of the Lower Connecticut River Gateway Conservation Zone to a broader geography that encompasses and supports the conservation needs of all of the communities of the lower Connecticut River Region.
Woody has been a member of the Connecticut River Gateway Commission since 1973, served as its Chair for many years, and is currently the Commission’s first ex officio member.
Last year’s award went to John Hall and the volunteers of the Jonah Center for their work in control of the aquatic invasive Trapa natans or water chestnut in the Connecticut River. Other awardees are Janet Stone of the Deep River Land Trust and Marilyn Gleeson of the East Haddam Land Trust. Their contributions to the region can be found at https://www.lcrlt.org/awards .
The Commission is responsible for protecting over 1,000 acres within the Gateway Conservation Zone and has supported many environmental studies and restoration projects.
Nominations must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2024 to [email protected]