Housatonic Valley Association

The only conservation organization dedicated to the entire tri-state Housatonic River watershed, the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) acts to protect the natural character and environmental health of the region from the Long Island Sound to the Berkshires and beyond.

Your donation supports these key initiatives:

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  Follow the Forest - A collaboration of over 50 land trusts, nonprofits, and other organizations working to conserve a 50,000-acre forest and wildlife corridor from Long Island Sound to Canada. This work preserves the critical habitats and migratory paths that animals and plants need to survive and thrive.
  

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  Clean, Cold & Connected - An initiative to restore and protect 500 miles of rivers, streams, and drinking water sources in the Housatonic River watershed. This work includes reducing pollution runoff, restoring river flow and critical fish habitats, renovating out-of-date bridges and culverts to reduce flooding risks, and removing trash and debris from our local waterways.
  

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  Education and Outdoor Recreation - Bringing people closer to their local environment through community events, free hikes and paddles, and educational workshops. We're inspiring the next generation of leaders—Our Connections program employs high schoolers in the summer, introducing students to green job opportunities and facilitating hands-on changemaking through projects like disruptive species removals and rain garden installations. Additionally, our River Steward summer interns focus on river restoration projects and recreation safety, talking with visitors at popular summer destinations along the river and working to ensure safe and healthy watershed conditions.
  

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  Inclusive Collaboration - Working with people, partner organizations, and communities to engage in solutions that are compatible with local needs and values. Thanks to our donors, HVA is at the forefront of strategic and collaborative conservation in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and beyond.
  

Click here to learn more about HVA and what we do!

Read about our most recent successes here!

Who We Are

HVA, a tri-state nonprofit citizen’s environmental group, works to conserve the natural character, environmental health and the economies of our region by protecting and restoring its land and waters… for today and for future generations.

Our common-sense solutions balance important economic and environmental needs allowing for smart growth that protects water quality and encourages open space, wetland habitats, recreation areas and scenic vistas.

HVA monitors water quality, adds sections to the Housatonic RiverBelt Greenway (linking preserved space along the Housatonic River with hiking and biking trails), and uses computer mapping to help towns measure the impact and benefits of land use and development.

In addition to its Cornwall Bridge office, HVA has offices in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and Wassaic, New York.