To the Editor:

On October 20, dog walkers saw and reported yet another release from the Fairfield Hills storm water system into Deep Brook in the Deep Brook Preserve Open Space.  Deep Brook is Newtown’s Class 1 Wild Trout Management stream.  A call was made to Conservation Commission Chairperson, Ann Astarita, who reported the release to town and state DEEP officials.  Samples were taken for analysis and pictures recorded the event. This time the stream was contaminated by a high level of muddy water with a high conductivity content which State Fisheries officials characterized as “extreme and alarming.”  Fortunately, no fish were known to have been killed.  Town and state officials are investigating the incident.

Historically, Deep Brook has been subject to many releases through the Fairfield Hills campus.  In July of 2013, release of a toxic material from the storm water system resulted in a major fish kill from the sewer outlet to the Pootatuck River.  In 2003 and 2004, releases of heating oil on the campus and at Reed School resulted in fish kills and Newtown entering an agreement with EPA to perform remedial action and monitoring of the brook. For many years the storm water system discharged the pesticides aldrin and dieldrin and the heavy meal lead to the stream.  Many thanks to residents walking near the stream who have reported these and a number of other unexplained incidents.

The Deep Brook Preserve Open Space is used by many local hikers, dog walkers, runners, cyclists, anglers, and other users on a daily basis.  Deep Brook and a portion of the Pootatuck support a self-sustaining population of wild trout, one of only nine streams in Connecticut with the Class 1 designation.  Wild trout must have cold and clean water to survive and thrive. 

Newtown residents and officials must be the stewards and protectors of this rare and fragile resource.  We must be vigilant to avoid additional releases and report any unusual events quickly. We must be extra careful about development in the watershed and in particular, along the Brook’s banks.  If not protected, this valuable resource dies the death of 1,000 cuts. 

Joseph Hovious

Vice President

Pootatuck Watershed Association

3 Leopard Drive, Sandy Hook         October 22, 2014