To view the PWAPs White Paper click here.

The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition conducted a study on water allocation for the Institute of Water Resources at the University of Connecticut from the spring 2008 until fall of 2009. The objective was to develop a political process for determining how to allocate water. Given the typical abundance of water in this particular watershed in most year, the study began by construcing a severe drought scenario as the basis for a table-top simulation in which stakeholders in the watershed worked through how they would deal with the implications of a severe drought. This table-top exercise was completed in December of 2008. CLick here to see coverage in the press.

The results of the table-top simulation (including extensive debriefing of the participants) were then used to prepare an After Action Report (AAR) which was then used as the basis for a series of presentations around the state to get additional feedback and confirmation of the results. This report which provides details on the scenario and simulation are in the reports below:

• Executive Summary, Introduction and Exercise Scenario
• Master Scenario Event List
• The Path Forward and Appendixes

Randy Ashmore, Paul Hinckley and Judy Lynch of Woodbury	Representatives of local ground water utilizing companies	Dan Morley, OPM; Virginia deLima (USGS) and Bob Kenney (DEMHS)

Subsequently, a White Paper was produced based on the work completed. The White Paper delineated the pre-requisite action steps needed to move forward towards a watershed approach to water allocation including the first task needed to get the process moving forward.

This was meant to be a consensus document that all stakeholders in the watershed could agree to. As a first step, the project worked with the First Selectman of the towns of Bethlehem, Southbury and Woodbury to develop a resolution endorsing the findings and recommendations in the White Paper. At the conclusion of the project, the resolution had been drafted and was to be brought to the three separate Board of Selectmen for their consideration after the 2009 elections.

Technical Advisory Committee:

The Study was administered by Patricia Bresnahan, Assistant Director of the Institute of Water Resources. Pat was assisted by an outstanding Technical Advisory Committee:

Patricia Bisacky,Connecticut Department of Pubic Health
Virginia deLima, Director of the Connecticut Water Science Center, United States Geological Survey
Margaret Miner, Executive Director, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut
Kevin Moran, Manager, United Water of Connecticut
Sue Peterson, Watershed Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection
Marjorie Shansky, Environmental Lawyer

Project Team:

Lead Investigator: Ed Edelson, Executive Director, Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition
Simulation Contractor: Kate Novick, Gradient Planning, Middletown, CT

Additional Reference / Links:

Managing Water in Connecticut: A Report on the Study of Water Resources Planning in the State
State of CT CGA website, Special Act 06-9 legislation authorizing study
State of CT DEP, Water Planning Council
State of CT, Dept of Emergency Planning and Homeland Security, Natural Disaster Plan
State of CT, Drought Preparedness Plan
Connecticut Institute of Water Resources, Website
Univ of Nebraska National Drought Mitigation Center, State Drought Plans summary index to plans nationwide