Can I Ask You Something? Vol. 3

Marilla Harris-Vincent, Connecticut River Conservancy

Last night, I hosted a small gathering for nonprofit folks to talk about boundaries: how we set them, honor them, and hold space for others while protecting our own energy. It was one of those evenings that reminded me boundaries aren’t walls; they’re roots. They keep us steady in the work and connected to who we are beyond it.

That theme carries into this week’s Can I Ask You Something? conversation with Marilla Harris-Vincent, River Steward for New Hampshire at the Connecticut River Conservancy. Living beside the river she protects, Marilla shows how advocacy becomes personal when it’s rooted in values.

Tell us about the Connecticut River Conservancy!
The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed.

CRC has been a steward of the Connecticut River and tributary streams since 1952. Our programs include advocacy, aquatic invasive species management, dam removal, habitat restoration, migratory fish surveys, recreation, trash cleanups, and water quality monitoring.

Through collaborative partnerships in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, CRC leads and supports science-based efforts for natural and life-filled rivers from source to sea. We are uniquely positioned to leverage local, state, regional, and federal resources as an environmental nonprofit dedicated to the entire Connecticut River watershed.

Our values of inclusion, collaboration, resilience, and stewardship guide our ongoing work to address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Together through community engagement and education, we’re dedicated to ensuring equitable access and healthy rivers for all. Learn more at ctriver.org.

What helps you decide what to say yes to - and what to let go of?
In my role as the River Steward for NH, there are endless avenues to pursue. My primary focus is on policy and advocacy in New Hampshire, but that is both vast and vague. At times it can feel overwhelming because there is always something that needs attention and it’s all important. It is discouraging when I miss a deadline to comment on a legislative bill, or have to turn down a project, but understanding that I won’t be able to do everything I want actually feels quite freeing. When I was hired, the other River Stewards told me that one of the biggest challenges in this role is learning how to say no and setting that boundary, because otherwise you could work endlessly.

Being realistic, organized, and resilient helps me prioritize my workload. This role is very fluid- my focus shifts constantly, so I have to adapt to what is happening at that point in time. For example, the legislative session in NH runs from January-June, so during that time I am very focused on policy. The summer months are our field season, so I am on the river removing aquatic invasive species, helping research migratory fish, going on community paddles, or scouting new restoration sites. As the field season comes to a close, I am starting to focus on grant writing, which helps support all of the important work I do. Since I started this job in January 2025, I have been heavily involved in hydropower relicensing, but that is now slowing down, so other priorities will fill my time.

In general, I like to break down my responsibilities into four categories: Important and urgent tasks; important but not urgent tasks; urgent but not important tasks; and not urgent and not important tasks. This ensures effective time management, task allocation, and helps me decide what to say yes to and what to let go of.

What’s one thing you want people to know about your nonprofit?
We are a group of hard-working, dynamic, and passionate river enthusiasts– it’s truly a wonderful place to work! At the CRC, we like to boast that we are the only nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the entire Connecticut River watershed, which includes NH, VT, MA, and CT.

CRC has many focus areas, including river restoration and dam removal; water quality monitoring; aquatic invasive species; recreation; migratory fish and aquatic species; and policy and advocacy. Because we have very diverse expertise, both in personnel and programs, it puts us in a great position to make a meaningful impact in the watershed.

What’s something your organization is proud of right now?
For over 13 years, we have been involved in the relicensing process of five hydropower dams on the mainstem on the Connecticut River in NH, VT, and MA. They are 30-50 year licenses and the conditions that will be included in the license have significant and long-lasting implications for the river, wildlife, and communities. It's an esoteric process, so it’s essential to provide opportunities for public education and engagement, which is most often done by writing public comments.

Since 2013, CRC has been advocating for the strongest possible license to protect this public trust resource and support a healthier river for decades to come. Part of the relicensing process is the state 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC), which is a certification under the Clean Water Act and ensures that these facilities comply with state water quality standards. CRC deemed that the WQC in all three states did not go far enough to protect the river, so we filed an appeal of the 401 WQC with each of the issuing state agencies.

This is a moment of pride for us because it’s the first time CRC has spearheaded an appeal process, which is very exciting and empowering. We are still in the early stages of litigation, but are actively fundraising and raising awareness about why this appeal is so important.

What’s something bringing you joy in your life right now?
I am currently housesitting for my parents on their small homestead in rural Vermont. I’m surrounded by wilderness, a bountiful garden, farm animals, and the tranquil sounds of nature. For each meal I go to the garden or the orchard and pick fresh fruits and vegetables – it is bringing me so much peace and joy.

What values guide your work when the path forward isn’t clear?
As mentioned in the first question, there are many directions that my work pulls me. Our world is in turmoil, which is discouraging and dispiriting, but I feel so lucky that my position gives me a sense of pride and meaning. What I do is important and it’s rewarding to see how my work affects the environment around me, creating a ripple of positive change. I live on the Connecticut River, and so my efforts directly impact my personal life, which is a lot of pressure - it can be hard to disconnect the two.

But I think because of how my work and personal life are amalgamated, the values I possess beautifully weave through both. As an environmental advocate, both personally and professionally, the climate crisis is at the forefront of my mind. I try to walk through life with intention and awareness of how my actions impact the world and those around me. I value being kind, open-minded, and adaptable; I strive to be creative and challenge myself. Each decision I make, whether at work or at home, is a small expression of who I am and my values.

Thanks so much for these reflections, Marilla! You can find out more about the Connecticut River Conservancy here.

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