A Great Day to Clean the River

It was a great day to be on the water, as upwards of 100 Stratford and other area residents took to their watercraft, or stayed riverside, to clean up debris that had accumulated in and along the Housatonic River during the winter.

And quite a haul it was, as the pile of debris of all types steadily grew to the rear of the parking lot at Birdseye boat ramp where the effort was centered.

In fact, at the Town Council meeting Monday night, Mayor John Harkins noted that 15 tons of various trash was collected on Saturday in both the inland and waterside cleanups.

While a handful of people manned the registration tables signing up volunteers at Birdseye dock, distributing tee-shirts and feeding the hungry volunteers at lunchtime, courtesy of 99 Restaurant, the bulk of the people turning out took to the water under the watchful eyes of the harbormaster and others.

Bags and bags of debris was collected on the islands in the river, where boats moored and volunteers fanned out, collectively all sorts of debris including tires, chairs, lots and lots of wood as well the customary paper, bottles and cans.

See the pictures for an idea on what was accomplished along and within the river on Saturday.

Stratford Patch salutes all the volunteers who took time out on a Saturday to give back to their town!