CT AMC Conservation Committee Issues of Interest:
CT Legislation to watch AMC Conservation Activities
CT Household Hazardous Waste Programs and Collection Schedule
2006 Clean Up Projects:
Doing our part to keep Connecticut's portion of the AT, as well as Connecticut's Forests and Parks, maintained.
Interested in helping out Contact: Aimee
October 21, 2006 - Appalachian Trail Clean up along Housatonic River in Western CT
Time: 9am - 2pm
Meeting Place: Bulls Bridge Rd., Kent, CT
Activity: Trail and River Bank Cleanup
Join us for a trail and river bank clean up along one mile stretch of the Housatonic River, from Bulls Bridge south to Ten Mile River Campsite. The AT parallels the river in this area. Meet in Kent, CT at Bulls Bridge. From Rt. 7, go West on Bulls Bridge Rd. Meet at parking area on West side of covered bridge. This is a beautiful spot, and convenient to the road, which makes it the perfect place for inconsiderate people to picnic, drink beer, and throw their trash and cigarette butts on the ground. The amount of trash that we picked up last year was amazing, and we expect the same amount this year. Registration is required by October, 14. Lunch will be provided. Bring water, snacks, sturdy shoes, work gloves. Contact Aimee Santeler to register: apilacik@yahoo.com 860-343-0246.
July 8, 2006 - Bigelow Hollow State Park (combined with the AMC Flatwater Committee)
Time: 9am - 2pm
Meeting Place: Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union, CT
Activity: Paddle or Hike, followed by Trail Cleanup
The plan is to paddle on Mashapaug Pond or go for a hike first (your choice if you want to paddle or hike), break for lunch, then clean up the trails around the Mashapaug Pond and the Bigelow Pond. http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/bigelow.htm The Bigelow and Mashapaug Pond loop trails vary in length from approx. 1.25 miles, to 3 miles, to 4.75 miles. You may choose what trails you would like to clean up, based on your energy level or your personal schedule for the day.
June 3, 2006 - National Trails Day
Time: Tentatively 9am
Meeting Place: TBD
Activity: Day Hike
Last year we had a conservation minded hike on Mohawk Mountain, where we monitored the ozone and visibility, and talked about statewide conservation efforts. We have not planned our 2006 trails day hike yet, but I wanted to let you know what the date is.
May 20, 2006 - Still River Greenway and Waterway Cleanup Day (organized and lead by EMS)
Time: 8am - 5pm
Meeting Place: Courtyard Marriott, Danbury, CT
Activity: River and Shore Cleanup
As part of National River Cleanup Week, Eastern Mountain Sports is sponsoring a river cleanup of the Still River, which flows north through Brookfield, Bridgewater, and New Milford into the Housatonic River. This will be the second annual cleanup of the Still River waterway and is expected to be the largest single volunteer effort there in years. Volunteers will work on cleaning up areas of the Still River, collecting and removing trash and other debris. Some volunteers will be in canoes on the river, while others will be on the land. Canoes, PFD's (personal floatation devices), and paddles will be supplied. Meet at the Marriott at 8 AM, head out to work areas at 9:30am, lunch at 2pm, finish picking up trash and transporting bags to dumpsters 3-5pm.
May 13, 2006 - Give-A-Day-to-Trails (under leadership of CT AMC Trails Committee)
Time: 9am - ?
Meeting Place: HVA HQ, Cornwall Bridge, CT
Activity: Trail Maintenance
Volunteers meet at the Housatonic Valley Association HQ (on the west side of Rte 7, just south of its junction with Rte 45, about a mile south of Cornwall Bridge) at 9:00 a.m. After a safety briefing, the group will be divided into teams and each team, under the leadership of two trained trail maintainers, will be assigned a project.
AMC Conservation Activities: -- back to top --
CAN (Conservation Action Network) Cards -- Simple email advocacy for conservation issues within Connecticut and New England
Current Conservation "Get Out, Speak Up" -- Conservation Update
VIZ-VOL (Visibility Volunteer Fact Sheet) -- Ozone Monitoring
Highlands Conservation Act -- Connecticut Specific Lands
Photo: Alden Warner
Photo: Jerry and Marcy Monkman