Construction of Car-Top Boat Launches on the Still River

Case Name:

Housatonic RCRA Site (CT)

Country:

United States of America

Restoration Types:

Recreation

State:

Connecticut

Affected DOI Resources:

Recreational Use Loss

City:

New Milford

Phase:

Monitoring / Completed

Project Description

The Still River is a 25.4-mile-long tributary of the Housatonic River in western Connecticut. It is a major part of the Housatonic River Water Trail that provides access for paddlers to canoe or kayak from Danbury to the confluence with the Housatonic River at New Milford before paddling south toward the Long Island Sound. To compensate for recreational use losses, funding was provided by the Connecticut SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees to construct three car-top boat launches on the Still River at New Milford. Before these launches were constructed, there was no formal access to the Still River downstream of the Danbury Greenway, about 12 miles upstream. One launch was constructed off Erickson Road. At this site, the steep riverbank was graded and leveled, and native tree and shrubs were planted next to the new access point to reduce erosion. Invasive species management was also performed to control mugwort. The other two launches were built downstream to provide portage around the falls at Harrybrooke Park. At all three launches, informational kiosks were installed to allow space for information on fishing regulations and advisories, and preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. A portion of the funding also supported the Housatonic Valley Association's (HVA) Source to Sound Paddle Trip that took place between April 22nd and May 1st, 2016. Led by three experienced river guides, the paddling trip, along with a series of riverside celebrations and educational programs, followed the Housatonic River from its source in the Berkshires to the Long Island Sound, a journey of 149 miles.

Restoration Land Ownership

County or Municipal

Parties Implementing Restoration

Housatonic Valley Association; Town of New Milford, CT

DOI Project Representatives

Fish and Wildlife Service

Volunteers from Aquarion Water Company and the Still River Watershed Connection Summer Crew, which is overseen by the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA), planting native shrubs and trees at a new canoe launch along the Still River. The new launches at Harrybrooke Park create an uninterrupted water trail on the Still River, linking with other river access points in Brookfield and Danbury., Credit: Trish Haldin

Mike Jastremski, Watershed Conservation Director for HVA, plants a Viburnum bush. The new launches provide an uninterrupted Still River Water Trail linking other river access points in Brookfield and Danbury., Credit: Trish Haldin

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