Scantic River Water Quality Under Scrutiny

A group of nonprofit organizations are embarking on watershed-based planning for the Scantic River watershed. The Connecticut River Conservancy, Scantic River Watershed Association, University of Saint Joseph, and Save the Sound are teaming up to study the river’s sources of pollution and make recommendations to improve its health. The Scantic River watershed spans approx. 90,000 acres in northern Connecticut and southern Massachusetts. The towns that are part of this watershed in CT include East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Hampden, Somers, Stafford, and South Windsor. The towns in MA are East Longmeadow, Hampden, Monson, and Wilbraham.

A community event with both in-person and virtual options will kick off the planning activities on Wednesday, August 6 at 6 p.m. at the Somers Public Library. All interested in participating are encouraged to attend and share concerns, river uses, and hopes for positive change. “We’re excited to finally kick off this regionally important project” said Rhea Drozdenko, River Steward in CT at the Connecticut River Conservancy. “The Scantic River is an incredible resource for the communities in the area, as well as the fish, wildlife and plants who call it home. This project will help us identify improvements for a healthy and resilient Scantic River watershed for years to come.”

The Scantic River basin has experienced water quality issues for years due to stormwater runoff, bacteria, and other nutrient pollution that have resulted in algae blooms, degraded habitat for fish, and reduced potential for community recreation. Project partners will work closely with municipalities to spread the word about the timeline and purpose of the planning process, and solicit feedback from landowners, nonprofit groups, member towns and communities within the watershed.

This project was funded, in part, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The funding is administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The goal is to fully support the designated uses of swimming, fishing, and aquatic life in the Scantic River and reduce nitrogen loading to the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. The process will provide scientific understanding of nutrient and sediment loads, identify pollutant source areas, establish quantitative water quality goals, and provide recommendations for specific restoration actions and best management practices (BMPs) to protect and improve water quality.

“When I first moved back to the area, I started volunteering on Scantic River cleanups and quickly fell in love with the watershed” said Dr. Kirsten Martin, Professor of Biology at University of Saint Joseph. “I began the Scantic River Water Monitoring Program in 2010 to bring more attention to this beautiful but often overlooked river. The Scantic River has an incredible history and is ecologically diverse, but it has lot of issues in terms of water quality.

The Scantic project represents an opportunity for individuals and organizations in the watershed to engage in designing a plan that will support improving the water quality of the river and help maintain the ecological benefits of the watershed.” In addition to attending the August 6th event, community members in the Scantic River watershed are invited to take an online survey to submit their input virtually. Save the Sound staff will also coordinate and lead volunteer streamwalks of river segments to obtain a current assessment of river health. Data collected will include physical characteristics of the stream, visual assessments of water clarity and riparian vegetation, presence and attributes of outfalls, presence and severity of barriers, location of dumping sites, and special areas of concern. More information will be made available through Scantic River watershed towns.

This is a press release from CTRiver.org