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bigoutdoors · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 144 Location: windham ct

Group wants to clear Scantic River
By Kory Loucks

EAST WINDSOR — Now that spring is finally here, boaters are starting to get back into the water.

Richard U. Sherman, chairman of the American River Heritage Commission, recently came before the Board of Selectmen to discuss removing debris and trees from the Scantic River and opening it to recreational use.

The Scantic River traverses town, and if cleared would be ideal for people in canoes and kayaks, as well as fishermen, he said.

Sherman said if he gets the go-ahead from the selectmen he has 35 to 40 volunteers ready to clean up the land along the Scantic River, adding, “It’s a fantastic fishing area.”

The eventual goal is to remove all the trash and most of the trees that block the river so it would be open all the way down to the Connecticut River.

“I get really nervous when I think of men in canoes with chainsaws,” First Selectwoman Denise E. Menard said at the meeting. “But that isn’t what they do.”

Menard was justifiably concerned about liability issues, but Sherman said there are release forms that the volunteers can sign, which the group in Enfield uses, that release the town from any liability.

Sherman said he would provide a copy of the release form to Menard.

Sherman also said they have some time still before they would want to start working on the project because the water is still too high to easily remove the debris.

“People are dumping their trash in the river,” Sherman said, adding that someone had dumped a refrigerator in the river, which the group plans to remove, along with vegetation and underbrush.

“Dick’s point that people are using the river as a dump is just outrageous,” Selectman Edward P. Farrell said.

Sherman asked about the disposition of the land where the river crosses Route 140, mentioning that at one point the owner had been talking about selling the land to the town.

Former First Selectman Edward E. Filipone, who attended the selectmen’s meeting, said that he had been working on that project while first selectman, but the landowner had discontinued negotiations.

Sherman said they didn’t need an immediate response because it is still too early in the season to begin the clean up.

“We can open up the waterway as soon as the water gets down, and it gets a little warmer,” Sherman said. They hope to start upstream near the Enfield border and work their way down the river.

Once there is a cleared waterway, Sherman said, he hopes to find the source of some water pollutants, too, which after a heavy storm turn the water “a dark chocolate” color, while further upstream in Enfield the water runs clear.

Menard said the selectmen would put discussion of the issue on the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting agenda and may take action at that time.

A special Board of Selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, at the Town Hall