The Pomperaug River Watershed (Figure 2) covers 90 square miles within the eight Connecticut towns of Bethlehem, Woodbury, Southbury, Washington, Roxbury, Watertown, Middlebury, and Morris. The Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 whose mission is to protect the quantity and quality of water within the Pomperaug River Watershed so that it meets the three goals of the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act: that the surface water be fishable, swimmable, and drinkable and that the groundwater be of adequate quantity and quality.

The waters of the Pomperaug River and its primary tributaries (the Nonnewaug & Weekeepeemee Rivers) are connected to the groundwater aquifers within the watershed. The underground aquifers seasonally sustain flows in the local rivers and streams and currently supply millions of gallons of drinking water daily to towns both in and out of the Pomperaug watershed. The volume of water that can be withdrawn from the river/aquifer system by issued CT DEP permits exceeds the USGS estimates of sustainable capacity. Fortunately, the water is not being withdrawn at the maximum permitted rate-but that will likely change. According to the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley, the population within the Pomperaug Watershed will increase by some 20 percent in the next 30 years. More importantly, population growth is accelerating in neighboring towns (Watertown, Middlebury, and Oxford) that are largely outside of the watershed but still draw water from the Pomperaug related aquifers which is never returned for local recharge.

If water use is not managed properly, public and private drinking water supplies in the watershed and neighboring towns could be significantly reduced over time. Overuse of the aquifer could also negatively impact stream levels causing seasonal low flows that stress fish populations and minimize recreational opportunities. It may also result in insufficient dilution of permitted wastewater discharges and non-point-source pollution. Additionally, underground petroleum products and chemical leaks and contaminated surface water run-off would eventually compromise the local groundwater quality.

The Coalition plans to carry out its mission of protecting the quantity and quality of the waters in the watershed by developing this comprehensive WRMP; by providing a forum for stakeholders and the community to discuss issues in a nonregulatory environment; and by educating the public, government (local, state and federal) and business communities about the importance of a healthy river system and our collective role in its protection. The Coalition's mission benefits municipalities (selectmen, land use commissions and staff, public works and health departments); watershed residents; land trusts; businesses; and water utilities in the watershed. In addition, The Coalition promotes the environmental goals of the state's Water Planning Council, the CT DEP, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and the Council of Governments Central Naugatuck Valley.