April 2026 Newsletter

What’s New

Northeast Mid-Atlantic Partnership for Forests & Water March Webinar Recording

On March 11, 2026, we offered a webinar to highlight key achievements in Partnership states and share plans for activities and engagement over the rest of 2026. Bob Mulligan from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources presented about the Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) funded efforts in Ohio and Denise Savageau from the Connecticut Council on Soil and Water Conservation shared about partner efforts with the Long Island Sound Partnership in Connecticut. For more information on the work in Ohio, please see the article linked below in “Learning Opportunities”.

Miss the webinar? Don’t worry! The webinar recording is available to view here.

2026 Partnership Product Development

We are excited to share that we are beginning to develop several regionally relevant products to better support our partners and their work.

1. Landowner Communication Materials: These materials will align with the goals of the partnership and promote strategies for sustainable forest management to safeguard source water quality and quantity. They will support clear and consistent landowner engagement and existing partner outreach efforts.

2. Practitioner Trainings: These trainings will help broaden the community of advocates and implementers dedicated to supporting and protecting forested watersheds while leveraging partnership expertise to support these outcomes. The Landowner Communication Materials will be utilized in these trainings.

3. How-To Resources for State Partnerships: These templates and materials will ensure partners to have helpful and necessary resources to lead state initiatives in alignment with the Partnership.

We are seeking volunteers to lend their expertise in the development of these products as well as reviewers to pilot final products prior to rollout. If you would like to be an advisor or reviewer, please reach out to Ashley Arayas at Ashley.Arayas@cadmusgroup.com. If you volunteered during the March webinar, we already have you on our list – thank you!

Updates from Partners

Hartford, CT Source Water Protection

The Metropolitan District (MDC) has released an educational video short titled “Source Water Protection: From the Forest to the Faucet,” offering an inside look at one of the ways MDC safeguards drinking water for nearly 400,000 people in the greater Hartford region. The video features partners Andrew Hubbard and Dan Lawrence from the MDC’s Natural Resources team at the Barkhamsted Reservoir, a 2,500-acre drinking water source holding approximately 30 billion gallons of water. Viewers learn how MDC manages over 31,000 acres across Connecticut and Massachusetts to protect water quality and ensure a sustainable supply.

The video explains how healthy forests play a vital role in sustaining high quality drinking water, filtering, and protecting the source long before it reaches our treatment plants.

Watch the full video here.

Share Your Story

It’s your turn! Do you have a success, lesson learned, or project highlight you’d like to share in the next newsletter? Take 3 minutes to share your story in the form (or by clicking the link below) – your experiences help tell the story of this Partnership and inspire others across the region!

Learning Opportunities

Webinar: Stronger Together: Landscape Partnerships for Drinking Water Protection

On Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 2:00–3:30 pm ET, the Source Water Collaborative (SWC) and Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water (SPFW) will host a webinar entitled, “Stronger Together: Landscape Partnerships for Drinking Water Protection.” During the webinar, participants will learn about tools and resources to assist new and established collaboratives with identifying needs, communicating issues, and finding funding to protect drinking water sources on a landscape scale. Speakers will provide information from the Source Water Collaborative, Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water, and Northeast Mid-Atlantic Partnership for Forests & Water. Presentations will be followed with a breakout discussion—your chance to connect with peers and explore how these strategies could benefit partnerships in your own region. 

For more information, view the webinar flyer and register for the webinar here.

Webinar: Community Engagement in Stormwater Planning 

On May 19th, 2026, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET, the Environmental Finance Center is hosting a webinar on community engagement in stormwater planning. Comprehensive stormwater management planning can play a pivotal role in enabling communities to address stormwater management challenges and goals strategically, leveraging staff time and budgets to achieve the biggest impact in protecting the health and safety of residents, properties, and public assets. This webinar will share resources and highlight the experience of communities in incorporating community engagement throughout the planning process.

Register for the webinar here.

Forest-Water Impact Map

The Arbor Day Foundation developed a Forest-Water Impact Map. Built in alignment with VWBA 2.0 guidance and industry guidance, the Forest-Water Impact Map helps quickly and accurately review potential sites to determine where reforestation projects could have meaningful volumetric benefits.

America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2026

American Rivers announced America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2026, which spotlights how data center development, mining, and pollution are putting river health and public well-being at risk in communities across the U.S.

Ohio’s Landscape Scale Restoration Program Grant at Work

The Forest Resources Association (FRA) published an article, “Protecting the Land, Supporting the Logger: Ohio’s Landscape Scale Restoration Program Grant at Work“. The articles highlights the Partnership work currently underway and making strides in Ohio. It’s a great read and we’re proud to share it amongst our partners!

Protect Groundwater Sources of Drinking Water Fact Sheet

You asked, they answered! The Source Water Collaborative (SWC) released an updated fact sheet, “Protect Groundwater Sources of Drinking Water”. At least one-third of the US and half the global population relies on groundwater for their drinking water source. The fact sheet explains challenges in protecting groundwater sources, federal and state programs for groundwater protection, and provides an action framework and model state strategies.

Funding Opportunities

Fund Highlight! Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program can fund a wide variety of water quality protection efforts. The program’s flexibility and broad range of project eligibilities enable states to target CWSRF funds to their specific water quality priorities. View the CWSRF Projects table, filterable by project category and state, to see if the CWSRF could help fund your project.

Funding Tool Highlight! National Wildlife Foundation Nature-Based Solutions Funding Database

The National Wildlife Foundation has built an interactive database for communities interested in pursuing federal funding and/or technical assistance for nature-based solutions. Use the filters to search for nature-based solutions funding and technical assistance resources that fit your needs.