January 2, 2019 – The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) announced today that it has hired conservation scientist Fritz Gerhardt of Newark, Vermont. Dr. Gerhardt joins the CRC staff after working on clean water issues and riverbank wildlife habitat projects in northern New England and adjacent Canada for the past 11 years as owner of a small environmental consulting firm.
“We have been working with Fritz on numerous projects over the past six years and are thrilled to add him to our team,” said CRC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. “There is still much work to be done in the Connecticut River watershed throughout New Hampshire and Vermont to ensure clean water, healthy habitat, and thriving communities.”
Dr. Gerhardt’s work with CRC will be focused on river restoration projects in New Hampshire and Vermont, including riverbank buffer tree planting projects in order to reduce soil erosion, protect and improve clean water, and create additional fish and wildlife habitat. He will work with CRC River Steward Ron Rhodes of Pomfret, Vermont in order to expand CRC’s restoration work, which has resulted in nearly 30,000 native trees and shrubs being planted since 2011 in the Connecticut River watershed.
Dr. Gerhardt has been working as an ecologist and conservation scientist since 1987. He completed his B.A. in Religious Studies at Grinnell College, his M.F.S. in Forest Ecology at Harvard University, and his Ph.D. in Community Ecology at the University of Colorado. He has worked, studied, and taught with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Harvard Forest, Dartmouth and Middlebury Colleges, University of Colorado, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Vermont Institute of Natural Science, and NorthWoods Stewardship Center. Fritz, his wife Amy, and their two daughters Abigail and Karenna live in the hills overlooking Center Pond in Newark, Vermont, where he also serves as Town Moderator and Chair of the Conservation Commission.
CRC has one other River Steward who also covers New Hampshire and Vermont, Kathy Urffer of Brattleboro, Vermont. Her job focuses on policy and advocacy issues, including hydroelectric dam relicensing and environmental regulations.
Since 1952, the Connecticut River Conservancy has been the voice for the Connecticut River watershed, from source to sea. We collaborate with partners across four states to protect and advocate for your rivers and educate and engage communities. We bring people together to prevent pollution, improve habitat, and promote enjoyment of your river and its tributary streams. Healthy rivers support healthy economies. To learn more about CRC, visit ctriver.org.
