In addition to forest products and wildlife habitat for native fauna, forested land also provide free services contributing to both air and water quality.  While large blocks of the forested land in this watershed are publicly owned, the majority of it is privately owned.  The UConn Cooperative Extension Service offers various educational programs for forest land owners, including the Forest Stewardship Program and the Coverts Project.

Forested areas are an important part of the rural landscape in northeastern Connecticut.  For information on how to preserve the forested landscape in your community design plan, contact Sue Westa, Co-director of the Green Valley Institute.