Native Meadows Preserve (NMP) is a 25 acre parcel in the floodplain of the Housatonic River, near downtown New Milford. After it was threatened for development, NMP was preserved by NWCD in 2009 with funds from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Extensive studies identified NMP as an area of high importance for its diverse habitats (including vernal pools, mixed grasses, riparian forest buffers, etc.). NMP supports wildlife such as pollinators and amphibians, is a crucial flyover location for migratory birds and waterfowl, and has many ecosystem services. The Preserve also regulates flooding, protects nearby infrastructure, and serves as a recharge area for the New Milford public water supply. Previously known as Indian Fields, NMP is historically significant as the last piece of land owned by the indigenous Wawyachtonoc. 

     As part of a major floodplain, NMP is vulnerable to non-native invasive species. To protect its various habitats, it will need future invasive maintenance. In 2020, the ownership of NMP was transferred to the Town of New Milford; but NWCD remains a committed partner for its long-term conservation. With funding from the 2023 Les Mehrhoff Grant from the Connecticut Association of Wetland Scientists (CAWS), NWCD has begun work on an Invasive Plant Education and Management Program for NMP to contain and remove invasive plants, while increasing community awareness. 

     In December 2022, NWCD surveyed the public walking trails for invasive species and their density. While there are numerous invasives, our program plans to target Oriental Bittersweet, Autumn Olive, Japanese Barberry, Multiflora Rose, Garlic Mustard, Japanese Honeysuckle and Phragmites. NWCD staff repeated this survey in June 2023, hoping to document invasives in multiple phases. We also created literature specific to our targeted species, found below.