The River & Our Purpose

With over 150 miles of pristine rivers and streams and 62 square miles of relatively undeveloped rural land, the Eightmile River Watershed is an exceptional natural and cultural resource. The watershed contains large areas of unfragmented habitat, an array of rare and diverse wildlife, scenic vistas, high water quality, unimpeded stream flow, and significant cultural features. Most notable is that the overall Eightmile River Watershed ecosystem is healthy and intact throughout virtually all of its range.

A tributary to the Connecticut River, the Eightmile River’s confluence with the Connecticut River is approximately eight miles upstream from the mouth of the Connecticut River at Long Island Sound, hence its name. This area was the focus of early industrialization in Connecticut but was spared intense maritime industrialization after World War II due in part to the restrictive and shifting sandbars at the mouth of the Connecticut River. The lower Connecticut River Valley which sits between the highly populated and densely developed areas surrounding Hartford, New Haven and New London is known for its rural character, relatively undeveloped landscape and hilly terrain, outdoor recreational opportunities and nationally and internationally recognized natural environment.