Volunteers Sought For River Cleanup

Hundreds of volunteers will be walking the shores of the Housatonic River and its tributaries in the seventh annual Source-to-Sound Housatonic Watershed Clean-up coordinated by the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) on Saturday, October 14.

Conservation, environmental, community and coprporate groups will organize the volunteers along the Housatonic River from the Pittsfield, Massachusetts area to its mouth in Long Island Sound. Organizers are scouting the waterways to identify obstacles and hazardous areas. HVA recommends that volunteers wear work gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protection such as sunglasses, and use sunblock.

Over the past six years, more than 1,000 volunteers each year have pulled more than 483 tons of garbage from the Housatonic River and its tributaries. Anyone can participate, from elementary school students to the elderly.

Groups or individuals who want to participate that day may call Ruth Malins at 1-800-832-6482.

Locally, clean-up staging areas will be located at the state lakeside boat launch on Lake Zoar off Hanover Road at 9 am, and at the Route 133 boat launch on Lake Lillinonah in Bridgewater at 8:30 am

All participants will receive refreshments and be covered by mandatory insurance issued by the Housatonic Valley Association, which is overseeing the overall “Source to Sound” cleanup.

There will be a dumpster for general trash and a second for any tires recovered from the lake at the Route 133 boat ramp. For Lake Lillinonah residents not directly participating in the cleanup, trash may be placed on private docks for pick-up by volunteers.

As in the past, the clean-up will not include wood debris but will be limited to “man-made” trash and tires.

Many boats and volunteers are needed for this event, and groups like the scout troops and civic organizations are especially encouraged to participate.