does the Housatonic qualify for money?

National Resource Trustee SubCouncil for Connecticut releases their requirements for projects that want to be eligible for money from the lawsuit settlement with General Electric.

They determined that the natural resources and services injured in the Connecticut portion of the Housatonic River were
1. Aquatic macroinvertebrates
2. Fishes
3. Birds (associated aquatic)
4. Mammals (associated aquatic)
5. Surface Waters (this is of special interest to us)
6. Fishing
7. Water Based Recreation (boating, swimming....)
8. Other River Based Recreation


A summary of the eligibility requirements...

1. Does the proposal contain the information identified by the CT Subcouncil as set out in the "Instructions for the Preparation and Submission of Restoration Project Proposals?
(a "NO" response may render the proposed project ineligible for consideration)

2. Does the Proposed Project restore, rehabilitate, replace, and/or aquire natural resources or natural resource services equivalent to those that were injured by the release of PCBs or other hazardous substances from the GE facility at Pittlsfield, MA?
(a "NO" response renders the proposed project ineligible)

3. Is the Proposed Project, or any portion of the Proposed Project, an action that is presently required under other federal, state, or local law, including, but not limited to, enforcement actions?
(a "YES" response reders the proposed project ineligible)

4. Is the Proposed Project inconsistent with any federal, state, or local law or policy?
(a "YES" response renders the proposed project ineligible)

5. Will the proposed project, or any portion of the proposed project, be inconsistent with any ongoing or antiipated remedial actions in the Housatonic River watershed?
(a "YES" response renders the proposed project ineligible)

Happy Fish

Things change. Evolution or Revolution. Things change. With effort, things often change for the better. They improve, and continue to improve. time and time again. Our boats have changed and pushed us to new realms of fun and excitement. We like happy Fish. (see below)


*****************************************************************************************Remember the thrill of being a beginner? when any equipment will be sufficient, the excitement was just learning, being in an entirely new place, figuring out the things that your friends make look so simple.





-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Experts enjoy the same old places. But, we are running out of options unless we keep moving forward, dreaming, working.




Swift's is a great spot to play in June. But the water releases that we are all accustomed to are gone. We will take what we can get, but it's not much at this point. Waves like this can be built easily, with good eddies, and very little impact on the river during construction. Features like this are great for the fish. the inevitable eddy is a refuge in which they can hide from the mid day sun, and rest while swimming upstrem. That little break on top of the wave is actually enriching the water with oxygen. Good for fish because its' bad for algae.

Remember the mosquitos last summer? the fewer pools of calm water we have, the less this disasterous new flow regime will turn the Housatonic into a mosquito breeding ground.

Build more waves like at Swift's Bridge and we can manage the mosquito population, make the fish happy, and have some place to play.

riverhouse wave?

This is the state of the Housatonic at low water. There are a few gates to run at the riverhouse in Falls Village. It's fun, but it could be better.

I encourage everyone to come visit the Riverhouse and see what it is about. When you are there, think of the potential. It's an ok slalom practice course. It could be so much more with only a small amount of easy work on our part. Shore up some eddies (the fish would like this too). Help keep the water from slamming into the curved bank so we can prevent erosion and keep the road in place.

Just a little tweak here and there, and we could have a wave at the top of the course, and another one about 2/3 the way down the course that would be better than the Swift's Bridge wave at the same flow.

Just picture a hot July day, when the water is running a low, warm 600 cfs. Instead of heading down to Swift's, you might be able to go to the Riverhouse, surf for an hour, hang out on the porch, watching the river, enjoying a moment in the shade, away from the hot sun. When you are all rested, you could just cross the street and jump back into the river for another surf session......