HRR home | Plan Preface | Plan Summary | Goals & Recommendations |
||||||
"The first thing to do is
to get people on the river." >>related photos>> |
||||||
Physical Access The Housatonic River may run through Berkshire County, but except for a few bridge crossings and two stretches of road, it is cloaked from public view. From Hinsdale to Sheffield, residents described the Housatonic as a hidden, widely ignored resource. "One of the challenges in Hinsdale and Dalton is making people aware of the river," said state Representative Shaun Kelly. "This river meanders through the town and is so wild that people don’t really get to it. People haven’t physically been to the river, so they don’t connect to it." Dr. Leonard Rosenfeld of Pittsfield said: "I want to be able to see the river. You can’t see the river." And in southern Berkshire, Bonner McAllester of Monterey observed: "All we know about our town is what we see from the roads. We need to know where our rivers are." Instead of facing the river, Berkshire County development has turned away from the banks of the Housatonic. The river has been relegated to the backyard, its sights obstructed by trees, bushes and structures. Access to the river is difficult, although active canoeists are increasingly discovering the pleasures of using the river. Ironically, in many ways the physical break between the community and the Housatonic has served the natural restoration of the river well. Because people have ignored the river, extended sections have been allowed to grow wild, unencumbered by human-made intrusions. Even in the center of busy downtowns, the river is a remote fixture. (On the other hand, limited access has encouraged several illegal dumps and widespread trash problems in certain sections of the river.) "When you canoe [through the center of Lee], you feel like you’re in Montana," HRI director Tim Gray of Lee said. Central to the goal of restoring the Housatonic is reintroducing residents to their river, participants said. The best way to change people’s minds about the river, they said, is to expose them to it. "We’re always amazed by the response people have to the river," said René Laubach, director of the Massachusetts Audubon Society Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries, which have been leading canoe trips on the river for fifteen years. "People love it. It’s like a wilderness experience." "The first thing to do is to get people on the river," said the Rev. Allison Stokes of Housatonic. "The first time I went on it was just a magical experience. As a result I went out and bought a canoe, a one-person canoe that weighs thirty pounds so I could do it myself. It came with a manual and everything. Once you have that experience, it’s what you want to do." "We’re physically detached from the river," she added. "How can we actually get to it? It’s a beautiful river. I drive along Route 183 instead of Route 41 just so I can enjoy the river along it." For many, access to the river can mean more than simple enjoyment. It can also be a matter of sustenance. Children's Health Center Director Linda Small said, “In the world where I grew up in the South, families that don’t have enough to live on would use the river to keep their families fed. I work with families in South County, many of whom have difficulty making ends meet. [Using the river as a source of food] is not an option for them. In South County we have a growing Latino community, and an African-American community that used to always use the river in that way." In every single meeting, residents said they wanted to see improved but environmentally appropriate access to the Housatonic River. Although improved canoe launch sites was the most frequently mentioned proposal on how to gain access to the river, there was a strong sentiment toward making the river available to as many constituencies as possible without extensive development of parking lots, signage, and other constituents of urban life. "The river should be made accessible to everyone who might enjoy the river, and not just those hardy enough to canoe it," Sheffield Selectmen Chairman Janet Stanton said. "There are those of us who get great enjoyment by just sitting and looking at the river run. We have to allow something for older people and people who are handicapped and can’t get into the river or those who are afraid of the water. It is very important that everybody be able to share in the joy of the river." Whether it is through pocket parks with picnic tables overlooking the river, simple dead-end trails from the roadside to the riverbanks, bird-watching sites, road signs at bridges alerting motorists to the presence of the Housatonic River, or community-based river cleanups, residents said avenues of contact to the river must be nurtured. Further, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Executive Director David Colby said accessibility to the river would enhance the region’s allure for tourists. The ultimate goal is restoring a cherished relationship between the Berkshire community and the Housatonic River in which the river plays a positive role as a recreational resource. "I grew up in Lakewood from when I was
two years old," said Vinnie Curro of Pittsfield. "We had a swimming hole on the
Housatonic River. I would love to see that come back at East Street. I remember when I was
eight years old I was in the water and some dyes came down from Crane & Company. I
went running home. I thought I’d never get the blue out of my legs. We used to be
able to enjoy the Housatonic River. We’d go ice fishing. We would go on the river and
chop the ice out, or we’d play hockey. I’d love to see something like that for
future generations."
There was widespread concern, however, that whatever improvements are made to improve access should not spoil the natural qualities of the river. In several public hearings, debates ensued over how much access is too much access. With all the support expressed for making the river more accessible, there was a deep-seated fear that in the long run the river could be "loved to death." "The less you do to the river, the better," said John W. P. Mooney, an avid angler and former Great Barrington selectman. "Don’t mess things up. It’s not that we don’t want anyone on the river, but we’re getting into this ‘Y’all come down’ approach and that scares me. I see marinas the way some people are talking. You look at the Deerfield River with kayaks and rafting. It’s become a commercial thing. We need to strike a balance. I don’t want to see the natural river that I love be destroyed." Bernie Krainis advocated a policy of "minimal dislocation" that received the endorsement of other residents at the Great Barrington public hearing. "I’m in a frame of mind of doing as little as possible for the river, with the exception of the River Walk. One of the great things about the Housatonic River is you can get in a canoe and float down the river and not see anyone for miles and miles. Where else can you do that? It’s worth the price of pearls." Similar statements were made in the Dalton, Lenox, Stockbridge, and Sheffield public hearings. Noise, overcrowding, trampled riverbanks, properties being trespassed upon, disturbed wildlife, the construction of riverfront parking areas, and litter were all raised as possible risks associated with increasing accessibility to the river. "The river in Stockbridge is positive," said Tom Stokes, a former Stockbridge selectman. "The concern is that by making it too accessible you might be upsetting some of the pristine and wild qualities." "It’s going to be a mess if you have too much activity on it," said Chauncey Loomis, who owns property on the Housatonic River in Stockbridge. "I’ve got in front of my property beaver, osprey, ducks, all right now." Stockbridge Selectman Gene Talbot said he knew of one unofficial access point at Dugway Road that was starting to suffer from erosion, and that noise was becoming a problem. "Once you open up the access," Talbot said, "you run the risk of overuse, and therefore uncontrolled use." This perspective, however, was a matter of some controversy. Chris Irsfeld disputed the notion that canoeists should in any way be discouraged. "Not all of us have property on the river," he said. "We can’t look out our windows at the beavers, the ducks, and the herons. The river should be open to all of us. I just don’t see it as bumper to bumper canoes." The issue of whether and how to publicize canoe access points with guidebooks, for example, touched off similar debates. "I don’t think Lee should become a tourist attraction. I wouldn’t want to draw people here for the canoeing," said Lee resident Naomi Gordon, who supported the construction of improved canoe access sites. To which riverfront property owner Marty Barenski replied: "It’s better than an outlet mall. It wouldn’t be a big deal to have a few more canoeists. If you want to use the river and paddle around it, great. It’s better than what it’s been used for." Several people noted the need to implement widespread educational programs to teach people the value of the river, its history of abuse, and the need to continue to work toward restoring it. Educational programs would help encourage proper use of the river, they said. Widespread support for increased accessibility—particularly for canoes—was thus tempered by an equally prevailing concern that the river’s wilderness be preserved. A specific issue raised at several hearings was prohibiting gas-motorized boats and ski jets on the river. Such a prohibition was universally thought to be a good idea, and towns that did not already have bylaws banning both from the river were encouraged to pass them. The general view was that appropriate means
and precautions should be taken in making the river more approachable and visible.
Aside from canoes, residents said trails, river festivals, river cleanups, carefully
designed roadside scenic views, the placement of signs with the words "Housatonic
River" at bridges, and ultimately public swimming areas in the river were other ways
to bring residents into contact with the river and raise public awareness about the river
and its natural habitat.
The existing network of canoe access sites along the Housatonic River is inadequate. "I have been up and down the river, and the hardest part is getting onto the river," said David Gibbs of Pittsfield. That is something most people would like to change. In Dalton, state Representative Shaun Kelly said it is difficult to even get to the river. Pittsfield residents described the Housatonic as a "lost river." There are several unofficial canoe access points, but many are cumbersome to use or go across private property. The Stockbridge master plan specifically notes that there is no boat launch site on the Housatonic River in town and that access needs to be provided to the river. Great Barrington Selectman Anthony Blair described existing access areas as "difficult places." "I would like to have better access sites," said Blair, who also strongly advocated preserving the "wild" and "uncivilized" qualities of the river. "The access points now are steep. If you’ve got a canoe with two children in life vests, that’s a pretty hairy experience." In addition to the underlying issue of overuse of the river, several specific concerns and suggestions were expressed about the design, implementation, and development of canoe access sites. These included:
"You have to look at all of the factors and then figure out a way to do access points that are well developed and well designed," said Peter Berle of Stockbridge, former president of the National Audubon Society. See Appendix: Housatonic River Access Report
for a complete list of existing and proposed canoe access sites discussed in the public
hearings.
In addition to improving canoeists’ ability to get onto the river, many people said that significant work should be done to make the river safer and more navigable to paddle. Industrial and construction debris, unsafe bridges, and downed trees mark the river from the headwaters to the Connecticut line, creating impediments and, in some cases, serious safety hazards for canoeists. "In terms of accessibility and public safety, it would be a good idea to remove this stuff," Stockbridge Conservation Commission Chairman Shep Evans said of the industrial and construction debris. Removing these obstructions, however, is not a simple matter from either a regulatory or environmental perspective. Even the removal of objects such as slabs of pavement and industrial machinery could pose environmental problems, several people said. "I’ve seen some pretty strange things," Pittsfield Conservation Commission Chairman Michael Makes said. "I once had a fisherman yell at me for removing tires. It had become a place that fish used. Every situation is different. There needs to be a commonsense approach." Lenox Selectman Tim Doherty questioned whether the removal of some objects might disrupt hotspots of PCBs. Posing a much more controversial problem in keeping the river cleared of debris, however, was the issue of what to do with downed trees that block the river. Two decidedly different perspectives emerged. "Leave it the way it is," John W. P. Mooney of Great Barrington said. "Rivers are living things that change from year to year. Green River is never the same every year. When we tamper with the river, we are doing a disservice to it. It is a living thing." Botanist Pam Weatherbee wrote: "It is important for the river to be navigable but removing logs etc. should be kept to a minimum. Professional opinion should be gained before doing any large-scale removal. Logs make great fish shelters and fishing holes, besides sheltering other forms of life. The river is not meant to be a simple channel, and boaters should be warned to be cautious. It should be as natural as possible." But others place a higher priority on the recreational value of a relatively clear river and are very concerned about the safety of canoeists attempting to circumvent downed trees. George Oleen of Sheffield, who recalled a Boy Scouts canoe trip cut short by downed trees in Ashley Falls, said he was very concerned about the hazards posed by trees blocking the river. Leaving them untended, he said, could lead to a drowning, especially if there is an increase in canoe traffic. Despite the differences, a consensus emerged that a middle way could be found. Frank Lowenstein of The Nature Conservancy said that his recent family canoe excursion was similarly disrupted but that "from the point of view of an ecologist, undoubtedly the trees have been falling into the river for a few millennia. Historically, they pile up into a dam and eventually a flood washes them out." "There isn’t a right or a wrong answer on this," he added. "The question I would ask is what are those trees doing for the habitat? What do they provide for the wildlife?" Lowenstein said wildlife that benefit from downed trees include fishing spiders, a particularly large type of water spider with a very toxic bite. Compromise solutions such as clearing paths through the trees might be possible, he said. Discussions were held on how to find environmentally sensitive solutions in the context of a rigorous regulatory environment. Existing solutions were reviewed. Makes recalled that when the first river cleanup was done in 1976, seventy truckloads of material were removed by bulldozers, front loaders, and other heavy equipment working in the river, and only a single permit was required. Gray told a more contemporary story of a large team of National Guardsmen arriving one weekend morning across from his property to remove a felled tree. Armed with a tank, they spent the day disposing of the tree. "The tree was removed beautifully, but the river was a mess," he said. Former County Commissioner William "Smitty" Pignatelli noted that the county provides a service to remove hazardous trees from rivers, but it is the community’s responsibility to dispose of the tree. Court McDermott of Pittsfield said there is a group of people, including himself, who continue to clear part of the river from the Pittsfield wastewater treatment plant to Woods Pond Dam. "We do it all by hand. We try to take care of the river." Rachel Fletcher asked if he would consider taking on apprentices to learn how the work is done and pass it on to others to expand the effort. Court said he would. A consensus emerged after several public hearings that a team of professionals work together to figure out ways to remove or cut through significant obstacles and hazards along the river. The group would consider the environmental, recreational, safety, legal, and logistical issues involved in how to mitigate the obstruction and then make a recommendation on a site-by-site basis. For major projects, hired professionals could do the work of clearing the materials. In addition, many people suggested that teams of volunteers similar to the Appalachian Mountain Club volunteers who do trail work could work on keeping sections of the river cleared of obstructions and debris. An effective organization could raise money from numerous sources and companies to help perpetuate the restoration effort, Bob Mills of Great Barrington said. Any plan that called for clearing trees and removing debris would have to have a long-term source of funding. "Even if you decide today that you should clean out all the trees in the river, you’ll have to do it again in five years. If you develop canoe access sites, they will have to be maintained," Lowenstein said. In related matters,
Shep Evans, a member of the Stockbridge Conservation Commission and
stream team coordinator for HVA, composed a vision of how the Housatonic River could be
restored and remain accessible. The following is an excerpt: “From
the outside in, the river is accessible but veiled, cradled within woods deep enough to be
away, shaded from the glaring sun at its banks. From the inside out it is another world,
accented here and there with crossings, paths or put-ins, a bridge to pause under, a place
to look back at windows looking in. It is an unbroken working system of watercourses and
protected natural lands. “Up
and down the river and along its tributaries are strips of green forest and replanted
riparian woodlands deep enough to bar the eye’s intrusion, the largest trees at the
banks and younger replacement stock beyond. On the outer edges, shrubs and eventually
aprons of grasses or grains left standing by farmers provide food for wildlife and slow
down stormwater runoff, trapping sediments and allowing time to work its way with
nutrients, roots, leaves, and sun. Recognizing the value of riparian lands, the community
now rewards farmers, shepherds, and cattlemen who convert the edges of certain fields and
pastures into wooded corridors. Here wild creatures travel outside the fences, melting
into the trees as they pass along shoreline trails. “Paddling
routes along the river are more open and accessible and are connected to the trail system
throughout the watershed. Each spring and fall, the main stem and navigable tributaries
are cut open as needed by a team of volunteer river stewards, leaving the deadfalls and
sweepers essentially in place, while cutting an adequate four-to-five-foot pathway for
canoes, kayaks, and fishing skiffs. In the main channel where meanders were once
straightened, and in uninterrupted flat stretches, structure has been reintroduced with
the placement of hand-built “gabions” that are home to a variety of
macro-invertebrates and offer cover, shade, and swirling backwater eddies where sport fish
lie. Certain sections of the river, particularly those bordered by extensive wetlands or
floodplains, are not appropriate locations for river access points. These are, however,
ideal spots for hunting, and here hunters and recreational boaters have minimal contact. “Where
the river runs through densely developed towns and villages, its banks have been cleaned
and, upon land once buried under centuries of castoff junk and rubble, new
“riverwalk” trails connect to the sidewalks of town, providing a tranquil
counterpoint to the scurry and bustle of Main Street. Numerous trees planted along the
riverwalks stabilize the banks, provide some restored riparian function, and are habitat
for birds and insects that fill the air above the river at dawn and dusk. The dangerous
twisted metal and concrete remains of old bridges and mill structures have been winched
from the watercourse; now there are access points for downtown boating and fishing as
well. At long last, the river and the community have become wholesome and functioning
parts of each other.” |
