Wild, Scenic, and Complicated

Last week we studied the Shepaug River. This week it’s a little bigger.

There is a river not far from here that has had people living on its banks for 10,000 years. They left tools in the ground. They gave it a name that still holds. The water has not stopped moving since.

That is where we are starting today.

Tue — 49° / 36° · ☀️ Mostly sunny
Wed — 48° / 38° · 🌦️ AM showers
Thu — 66° / 44° · 🌤️ Partly cloudy
Fri — 61° / 39° · 🌤️ Partly cloudy
Sat — 48° / 38° · 🌧️ PM showers
Sun — 57° / 40° · ☁️ Mostly cloudy
Mon — 62° / 41° · 🌤️ Partly cloudy

The Housatonic begins in the Berkshires, formed by the East and West Branches, which drain the hills around Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It crosses into Connecticut in the northwest corner, picks up the Still River and the Ten Mile River as it moves south, and eventually collects the Shepaug at Lake Lillinonah before finishing its run to Long Island Sound at Milford Point. The whole journey is about 149 miles. For five of those miles, between Kent and Cornwall Bridge, the Appalachian Trail runs alongside it, the longest river-parallel stretch of the trail between Georgia and Maine. It is one of the major rivers in western New England.

The name is Mahican, the people who lived along its banks for thousands of years before European contact. It is often translated as "place beyond the mountains," a description of where the river runs rather than what the river is. The Mahican fished its pools, traveled its length, and built their communities around its bends. When English settlers arrived in the early 1700s, they established towns in the same places, for the same reasons.

For the next two centuries, it continued to be used. The iron industry began in Salisbury in 1730, and by the 1800s, more than forty blast furnaces were running from Lanesboro to Kent, producing cannon and shot for the Continental Army, then tools, then hardware for an expanding economy. Mills followed. Then factories.

The worst came later. From the 1930s through 1977, General Electric's manufacturing plant in Pittsfield discharged polychlorinated biphenyls — PCBs — directly into the Housatonic. By the time GE stopped, tens of tons of PCBs had entered the river. The contamination settled into the sediments from Pittsfield south to the Stevenson Dam in Monroe, the length of the state. Fish consumption advisories went up.

In 1997, the EPA designated a lengthy stretch of the river a Superfund site. Superfund is the federal program, created in 1980, that identifies the most contaminated land and water in the country and compels responsible parties to pay for cleanup. It is not fast. The process involves years of testing, remediation planning, community input, and legal maneuvering before a single cubic yard of sediment is removed. In 2000, GE reached a consent decree with the EPA and the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut, committing to a cleanup now priced at over $600 million. The remediation of 20 non-river-contaminated areas and the first 2 miles of the river are now complete. What remains — the stretch the EPA calls "Rest of River" — is the harder, longer work. The EPA conditionally approved GE's transportation and disposal plan for that segment in 2025. The contaminated sediment is to be moved to a new disposal facility in Lee, Massachusetts. The project is expected to take decades more.

There is a political dimension to this worth naming. The current EPA, under Administrator Lee Zeldin, has proposed cutting the agency's budget by 65 percent and has eliminated much of its scientific research capacity. For those watching Superfund sites across the country, the concern is real. But the Housatonic cleanup has a structural protection that most federal environmental programs lack: it operates under legal agreements that require GE to fund the work regardless of how EPA's broader budget fares. The consent decree is a contract with a corporation, not a line item in a federal appropriation. The current administration has also signaled it wants to accelerate Superfund cleanups, framing them as tangible results it can point to. Whether that posture holds and whether the technical staff needed to oversee a cleanup this complex survives the broader cuts remains an open question. The river does not have the luxury of assuming it will.

The upper river in northwest Connecticut, though, tells a different story. Between Falls Village and Cornwall Bridge, the Housatonic runs cold and clear through a steep marble gorge, and the fishing there is some of the best in the Northeast. The Trout Management Area covers 10.4 miles from Falls Village down to the Route 4 bridge in Cornwall, with the lower three miles designated fly-fishing only. Wild brown trout averaging well over a foot hold in the deeper runs, with larger fish occasionally pushing 24 inches. The marble bedrock buffers the pH, keeping the water alkaline and supporting exceptional insect populations. Hendricksons in April. Caddis through May and June. Sulfurs in early summer. Blue-winged olives in the fall.

Fly fishing arrived on this river not as a recent discovery but as a long inheritance. The Housatonic was among the first rivers in the eastern United States to attract serious trout anglers from New York and Boston, who came by train to Cornwall Bridge and Kent in the late 1800s. The tradition settled here and never left. The Housatonic Fly Fishermen's Association is one of the oldest trout clubs in Connecticut. Kent became, and remains, the practical center of the fishery, the place where you buy your license, your flies, and your advice.

If you have been considering learning to fly fish and keep putting it off, the Housatonic between Cornwall Bridge and Kent is one of the better places in the country to start. The infrastructure for beginners is genuine. Sportsmen's Connection on North Main Street in Kent has outfitted anglers on this water for over two decades and can set you up with gear and current conditions in a single stop. Multiple guide services operate wade trips specifically designed for first-timers — wade trips are recommended for beginners because they remove the variables of a drift boat and let you focus on casting and reading water. A half-day with a guide, waders, and a rod included, will teach you more than a season of YouTube. One practical note: fishing on the Housatonic is prohibited from June 15 to September 15 each year due to warm water temperatures that can be lethal to trout. The best windows are April through early June and again in September and October, which happen to align with the river's strongest hatches anyway.

Parts of the Housatonic are genuinely world-class. Parts of it are compromised in ways that will not fully resolve in our lifetimes.

What is clear is that stewardship works when it is sustained. The upper river is healthy because people fought to keep it that way, organized, and pushed back on what the factory owners and municipalities wanted to do with it. In 2023, after nearly half a century of advocacy, a 41-mile stretch of the Connecticut Housatonic, from the Massachusetts line south to New Milford, running through seven towns, requiring the agreement of every one of them, was officially designated Wild and Scenic by the federal government. The Superfund cleanup is happening, slowly, because regulators held a corporation accountable for four decades of damage.

Wild and Scenic is a federal designation created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. It formally recognizes a stretch of river as having outstanding natural, cultural, or recreational value and protects its free-flowing character by blocking any federally funded or licensed project that would substantially alter it. No dam, diversion, or large-scale federal water project can move forward on a designated river without a review process weighted heavily toward protection. It does not override state or local law, which is why local zoning remains a live concern on the Housatonic, but it closes the door on the kind of federal intervention that reshaped rivers across the country through the middle of the twentieth century.

How to get involved

The Housatonic's health is partly a matter of federal law and corporate obligation. But it is also, constantly, a matter of who shows up locally. Here are the organizations and boards where that work actually happens.

The Housatonic Valley Association (Cornwall Bridge, CT) is the anchor nonprofit for the entire watershed. It was the driving force behind the Wild and Scenic designation and manages the Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative, which connects conservation efforts across 28 towns in northwest Connecticut. Membership is open and meaningful.

The Housatonic River Commission is the multi-town body that coordinated the Wild and Scenic designation over decades. Its chair sat on the riverbank in West Cornwall for years before the federal government finally said yes. The Commission continues to monitor development pressure along the designated corridor.

The Housatonic Fly Fishermen's Association is the oldest trout club in the state and one of the most active advocates for water quality on the upper river. Membership connects you to people who know this water in the particular, seasonal way that produces real political will.

Every town in Litchfield County has a Conservation or Sustainability Commission, an appointed body typically with two-year terms, that oversees open-space preservation and natural-resource policy at the municipal level. These are where local land-use decisions affecting the river's tributaries are actually made. Litchfield's is appointed through the Board of Selectmen. If your town has open seats, this is one of the more direct forms of participation available.

Your town's Planning and Zoning Commission is where development proposals along the river corridor are put to a vote. The Wild and Scenic designation protects against federal projects but does not override local zoning. Grandfathered waterfront classifications are still being decided at the municipal level. Attending these meetings, even without a seat, is itself a form of presence.

Finally, the Northwest Conservation District (Torrington) provides technical assistance to landowners and municipalities across the region on soil, water, and habitat issues. It is less visible than the advocacy organizations, but does practical land stewardship work that supports the watershed at the property scale.

The river needs us, and we need it.

River Studies continues…

Last week, we asked whether rivers always flow south. The answer is no. Rivers flow downhill! And anyone who disagrees is in deNILE. (Thanks, Steven 🙂 )

Congrats to …..

S.M

Les H.

Steven D.

Amy D.

This week's question, river-themed in honor of our new series, and please, no googling:

What is the longest river in CT?

Reply to this email with your answer. Winners announced next week!

Five Points Arts Center, Torrington – Explore Carborundum Aquatint, a unique, painterly printmaking technique that creates rich tonal depth without toxic chemicals. Learn from a master printer and discover a process used by artists like Joan Mitchell and Emily Mason. 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM PRINT BOLD

The Abner Hotel, Litchfield – Indulge in a four-course Spring Wine Dinner featuring exceptional pours from Obsidian Wine Co., perfectly paired with bold, seasonal dishes by Executive Chef John Gapasin. A refined evening of flavor, storytelling, and elevated dining in a beautiful setting. 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM WINE NIGHT

Troutbeck, Amenia – Experience the Troutbeck Symposium, a powerful multi-day gathering where students present original films, art, and research uncovering untold local histories. From exhibitions to live presentations and collaborative discussions, this event showcases the next generation of storytellers and historians shaping real-world conversations. SEE HISTORY

Litchfield Community Center, Litchfield – Celebrate Earth Day with a free Family Dinner open to all, featuring a kid-friendly meal and a welcoming, community-focused atmosphere. Enjoy a relaxed evening with neighbors while sharing good food and Earth Day spirit. 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM FAMILY TIME

Village Center for the Arts, New Milford – Explore healing through creativity in this professionally guided Art Therapy Group led by Jessica LaBarca. Designed for adults navigating chronic illness or grief, these supportive sessions offer a safe space for expression, reflection, and connection—no art experience needed. 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM HEAL HERE

Chabad on the Green, Litchfield – Take a meaningful pause at Women’s Torah & Tea, a warm and uplifting weekly gathering led by Rebbetzin Mina. Connect with like-minded women, explore inspiring teachings, and recharge your spirit in a welcoming, supportive space. 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM SOUL TIME

The Silo Cooking School, New Milford – Dive into bold Southern flavors with New Orleans on a Plate led by Chef Paige DeFeo. This hands-on class brings the spirit of the French Quarter to life as you cook classics like jambalaya, shrimp remoulade, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce. 6:30 PM BIG FLAVOR

Goshen Fairgrounds, Goshen – Shop a wide selection of native and beneficial plants at the Earth Day Plant Sale hosted by the Northwest Conservation District. Pre-order pickups and day-of sales available, perfect for upgrading your garden with eco-friendly, pollinator-loving plants. 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM PLANT MORE

Housatonic River Brewing, New Milford – Enjoy a high-energy night with Vintage, performing crowd-favorite covers from legends like Elvis Presley, Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, The Killers, and The Beatles. Grab a drink and sing along to timeless hits all night long. 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM SING ALONG

Hollister House Garden, Washington – Learn how to grow a thriving, beautiful kitchen garden in The Tasteful Garden with expert Barb Pierson of White Flower Farm. Discover top-performing edible plants, smart gardening techniques, and creative ways to blend beauty with productivity. 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM GROW SMART

Hopkins Vineyard, Warren – Celebrate spring at Spring Sunshine & Sachem’s Picnic Weekend with wine tastings, live music by Akoustic Groove, and a lively lineup of local pop-ups. Enjoy a paint & sip experience, explore the Wine Barn opening, and soak in vineyard views with exclusive wine specials. 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM SIP SUNSHINE

Winvian Farm, Morris – Immerse yourself in a deeply calming Sound Bath Experience led by sound alchemist Daniel Lauter. Let crystal bowls, gongs, and soothing vibrations melt away stress and bring you into a state of clarity, balance, and full relaxation. 12:00 PM DEEP RESET

Norman Sunshine Center, Washington – Celebrate creativity at the For the Love of Poetry Reading, where local voices share original work in an inspiring, community-centered gathering. Hosted by Karen Silk and local arts organizations, this welcoming event invites poetry lovers, friends, and the curious alike. 2:00 PM HEAR POETRY

Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center, Litchfield – Slow down and reconnect with nature in this immersive Field Sketching & Nature Journaling Retreat led by Linda Miller. Blend art, writing, meditation, and outdoor exploration as you learn to observe, sketch, and reflect on the beauty of the natural world in a peaceful retreat setting. 3:00 PM UNPLUG NOW

The Hotchkiss Library, Sharon – Dive into meaningful conversation at Reading with Deeper Eyes Book Group, exploring the intersection of literature and spirituality through The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylvinen. Connect with others as you unpack themes of culture, faith, and identity in a thoughtful, welcoming discussion. 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM THINK DEEP

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Patrick

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