Overview  

We of the Berkshires have a unique opportunity to reclaim the Housatonic River and to open avenues for everyone to enjoy this great natural resource.

The release of PCBs into the Housatonic River from the GE plant has been the subject of intense debate. Beside the actual clean-up, there is also at stake money to compensate for "natural resource damages"—the harm inflicted on fish, fowl and other floodplain life as a result of the contamination. 

After many long months of negotiations, a settlement agreement has been reached that includes significant compensation for natural resource damages. How exactly should this and other restoration monies be spent? 

Housatonic River Restoration (HRR) believes such decisions should be shared by all the people of the Berkshires. To that end, HRR is engaging the many people and groups who really care about the river—residents, municipal leaders, children, farmers, sportsmen, businessmen, scientists, environmental advocates and others.   

To date, more than 1200 citizens have offered exciting ideas about the river and its tributaries—how to:
•   keep the river free-flowing, safely navigable and clean of debris in appropriate ways
•   create and improve walkways, trails and other means of access for study and recreation
•   restore fisheries, wildlife and native plant species
•   protect historic and cultural features along the river
•   identify key open space along the river that provides needed riparian habitat or public access 
•   foster education and river awareness programs
•   assure environmentally responsible use of the river, its tributaries and adjacent riverfront lands
•   support scientific research, monitoring and data collection programs
•   foster sound environmental practices for a healthy Housatonic watershed
•   assure broad and active community participation in carrying out restoration plans
•   assure the continued care and stewardship of a restored Housatonic River

Among these 1200 participants, 400 students expressed their views in October 1999 for the student conference Having Our Say—Shaping Our River's Future. HRR continues to pursue an active education agenda, developing an Environmental Education Network  to facilitate schools-based and community-wide initiatives. Through this network, we are developing an Education Action Plan, and in the past have offered programs for teachers, and funding for pilot education initiatives.

Click HERE to view our new Housatonic River Curriculum Materials .

From all these discussions a Housatonic River Restoration Plan has emerged that speaks for the citizens of Berkshire County.  

Housatonic River Restoration advocates for the HRR Plan to the Natural Resource Damage Trustees and other sources of funding, on behalf of citizens of Berkshire County. In April 2002, Executive Director Rachel Fletcher was named ex officio Trustee to the Natural Resource Damage Trustee Subcouncil, Massachusetts.

The Housatonic River crosses municipal boundaries, affects many different stakeholders, and impacts a wide range of constituencies.  It includes every Berkshire community from its headwaters in Washington and Hinsdale, through the river's urban corridor in Pittsfield, to pastoral settings in South County towns and Connecticut.  We want a healthy and accessible river that will be an asset to all life, human and wild.  

We believe the best way to devise a fair and effective restoration is through a broad-based public process.  Everyone should be included.

Click HERE to view a map of the Housatonic River watershed (305K .pdf format).

The Housatonic River Restoration Plan is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and a MA EOEA "Communities Connected by Water" grant.

Please send your comments on the Housatonic River Restoration Plan to:
Housatonic River Restoration, Inc.
PO Box 472
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Telephone: 413-243-4804
Email: river@restorehousatonic.com