Connecticut Water Planning Council

Water Planning Council Advisory Group

The Water Planning Council Advisory Group (WPCAG) is established under the authority of Section 25-33o(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes to assist in researching and analyzing water resource issues and advise on matters of interest.  The statute requires that the WPCAG members be balanced between consumptive and non-consumptive water interests and the Water Planning Council (WPC) has adopted procedural rules for the group.

The Water Planning Council Advisory Group (WPCAG) meets virtually on Zoom, typically on the third Tuesday of the month at 1:30 pm, unless otherwise noted. The WPCAG contact is Sheena McElrath (Sheena.McElrath@ct.gov)

2025 Meeting Records
  1/28/2025 Agenda, Minutes, Video
  2/18/2025 Agenda, Minutes, Video
  3/18/2025 Meeting canceled
  3/25/2025 Agenda, Minutes, Video
  4/18/2025 Agenda, Minutes, Video
  5/20/2025 Agenda, Draft Minutes, Video
  6/17/2025 Agenda, Draft Minutes, Video
  7/15/2025 Agenda, Draft Minutes, Video
  8/19/2025 
  9/16/2025 
 10/21/2025 
 11/18/2025 
 12/16/2025 

Water Planning Council Advisory Group Membership

There are 20 positions, with 8 representing in-stream water needs, 8 representing out-of-stream water needs, and being neutral.  Members are appointed at the discretion of the Water Planning Council.

list updated on 7/15/2025

  • Academia, public health, ecology:  Nicole Deziel, Yale School of Public Health
  • Agriculture:  Bonnie Burr, UConn Extension
  • Business & Industry (Association): Steve Woltornist, Water Quality Association
  • Business & Industry (Water Intensive Business):  Darryl Newman, Planters Choice Nursery, Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association
  • Conservation:  Denise Savageau, Connecticut Association of Conservation Districts
  • Consumer:  Alison McHorney, Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel
  • Electric Power:  Leonard Greene, First Light Power
  • Fisheries:  Alicea Charamut (Co-Chair), Fisheries Advisory Council
  • Investor-owned Water Utility (Large):  Dan Lawrence (Co-chair), Aquarion Water Company
  • Lakes and Ponds:  Sean Hayden, Lake Waramaug Conservancy
  • Land Protection:  Kathy Czepiel, Save the Sound
  • Municipal Water Utility:  Patrick Kearney, City of New Britain
  • Public Health (local):  Sonia Brinckwirth, Town of Guilford Health Dept.
  • Recreation:  Vacant
  • Regional Councils of Government:  Aaron Budris, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
  • Regional Water Utility:  Steve Vitko, South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority
  • River Protection:  Martha Smith, West River Watershed Coalition
  • Small Water Utility:  Josh Cansler, Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority
  • Wastewater:  Tom Tyler, Metropolitan District Commission
  • Water Resources Protection:  Carol Haskins, Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition

The 2024 WPCAG meeting records may be accessed here.