The Connecticut River Conservancy will host the 22nd annual Source to Sea Cleanup on Sept. 28 and 29. Over the years, cleanup volunteers have removed more than 1,043 tons of trash from the Connecticut River basin. This effort helps solve the problem of both small and large trash in our rivers.
“Some really unbelievable things have been pulled from our rivers, including a cement mixer, parking meters, propane tanks, and junk cars,” said Stacey Lennard, the Conservancy's cleanup coordinator, in a news release
This year, in addition to working with over 100 local cleanup groups across the four Connecticut River states (New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) to remove about 50 tons of small trash, the Conservancy will continue working on the cleanup of these large trash items:
• Hartland - In August, the Conservancy worked with Canonica Farm & Forest Services to remove a large concrete culvert that flooding had washed into Babcock Brook, a tributary of the Ottauquechee River.
• Weathersfield - On Sept. 11, the Conservancy worked with Commercial Divers Plus Inc., Silvio O. Conte Fish & Wildlife Refuge, the State of Vermont, and the Town of Weathersfield to remove a 1,500 gallon fuel tank from the Connecticut River.
• Greenfield, Mass. - Multiple junk cars will be removed from a small brook near the Green River in Murphy Park. Nartowicz Tree Services will assist with the removal.
• Holyoke, Mass. - The Silvio O. Conte Fish & Wildlife Refuge will lead the removal efforts of a long length of abandoned pipe in the Connecticut River exposed at low flow.
• Greenfield, Mass. - Thousands of tires dumped along the Deerfield River will be removed and recycled. For the third year, LANE Construction will assist with large equipment, trucks, and employee volunteers.
• Brattleboro - Hundreds of tires dumped in a wetland adjacent to the West River will be removed and recycled. Assistance will be provided by The Marina Restaurant, WTSA Radio, Integrated Solar, Brattleboro Tire, and the Brattleboro Conservation Commission.
This year, the Conservancy is asking Cleanup participants and all who enjoy the rivers to join them in demanding an end to trashed rivers.
Photos of trash - especially tires and plastic bags, bottles, and plastic foam - found during the Cleanup will help illustrate the problem. A petition will put pressure on legislators and corporate decision-makers to implement solutions to reduce trash. Sign the petition, submit your photos, and more at www.ctriver.org/takeaction.
“Our goal is to keep trash and tires from getting in our rivers in the first place and to eventually put ourselves out of the business of cleaning up our rivers. We all have a responsibility to solve this problem - individuals, manufacturers, businesses, and government,” says Conservancy Executive Director Andrew Fisk.