Volunteers Take On The Cleanup Of The Housatonic

By Tanjua Damon

The lake was calm and the sun was shinning Saturday as volunteers set sail on Lake Lillinonah for the annual cleanup of the Housatonic.

The 100 volunteers brought back to shore trash in almost every imaginable form, including tires, a neatly cut-up boat, and bags full of trash. The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) coordinates the cleanup of the Housatonic and its tributaries including Lake Lillinonah and Lake Zoar. The cleanup has taken place for the past six years over the 13-mile stretch that is 1,900 acres.

“It’s volunteer. Most people are residents of the lake,” Bryan Piepho, board member, said. “Newtown is a very substantial stretch of the lake.”

Six towns – Newtown, Brookfield, New Milford, Bridgewater, Southbury and Roxbury – access the lake, he said. It is important for every community to make an effort to keep the lakes clean.

“The only part about our lake is we have to do it annually,” Mr Piepho said. “Debris comes down the lake that gets stuck here or from boaters who are irresponsible. Some used to come from campers who would leave stuff behind. That’s why there is no camping along the lake anymore.”

Two rectangular dumpsters sat in the parking lot waiting for the trash from the lake. Tires went in one of the containers. Over 50 had been found along the banks of the lake. The other dumpster was for trash put into bags or,  if large enough, left separately.

“We usually fill up the whole dumpster with trash from boats to tires,” Mr Piepho said. “It’s a mystery to us where the tires come from.”

Newtown residents Ginger McKee and her son Jeffrey decided to volunteer some of their time on Saturday to help make the lake look beautiful.

“We came to clean up because we live on the lake,” she said. “We like the lake to be clean. It’s a beautiful lake. It absolutely needs to be clean.”

Jeffrey is a part of Cub Scout Pack 70 and thought it would be a good idea to give some time cleaning up the lake.

“I’m a cub scout. I decided to help out and do a few good deeds,” he said.

Director of communications at HVA, Jane Bakker, felt the cleanup day went well.

“I thought it was great. It was great to see so many young people,” she said. “Everyone was so enthusiastic. They certainly picked up a lot of tires.”

Ann Schiessl, who directed the Route 133 boat launch in Bridgewater, was pleased with the day’s turnout and happy the weather was nice.

“There were about 98 to 100 people. It was great,” she said. “There were nine or ten pontoon boats. We usually fill the two dumpsters, but this year they were a little over half full. Evidently it’s getting better and better.”

For more information about the annual Housatonic cleanup contact the Housatonic Valley Association at 800/832-6482.