Still River (Housatonic River)

The Still River is a tributary to the Housatonic River. Its headwaters eminate from Farrington's pond on the NY-CT border in Danbury, CT. It meanders through Sanford's Pond and Lake Kenosia in Danbury, Connecticut before it forms into a concrete aqueduct near the downtown Danbury area. It then turns north and becomes a more conventional river as it cuts through Brookfield, Connecticut and southern New Milford, Connecticut before joining with the Housatonic River. The river was essentially dead in the 1980s, but after Danbury constructed a new sewage treatment plant in 1993 the river rebounded. Many species of fish can now be found, and kayak ramps have been installed downriver from Danbury. Unfortunately, as a result of pollution from discontinued hat factories in Danbury, the Still River has a high concentration of mercury.

At least three organizations have an interest in preserving the Still River and its watershed. 1) Spearheaded by Danbury's Health Department, The Still River Alliance was organized in 1995 as a consortium of three different groups. The Alliance developed a website (see external links below) which has not been updated for several years. Due to budget cuts, the driving force behind the Alliance, Jack Kozuchowski, retired and the Still River Alliance seems to have floundered since then. Mr. Kozuchowski is currently an environmental consultant. 2) The Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership is striving to develop a 38-mile River Trail on the Still and Housatonic Rivers for canoeing and kayaking. They periodically organize river clean-ups, using paid contractors and volunteers, to clear debris from the river. They also lobby for kayak put-in/out ramps. The beginning of the trail is located behind the Marriott Courtyard hotel, just off of Route 84 (Exit 8) in Danbury. Rapids interrupt the river trail in Brookfield (no portage is available), and two dams across the Housatonic require portages along the way to Long Island Sound. 3)The Still River Preserve in Brookfield covers about 80 acres adjacent to the Still River. The Preserve is owned by Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust (New Milford, CT).

In addition, the city of Danbury has a $4.85 million bonding package, approved in a February 2008 referendum, for use in building recreational projects on city-owned land. A list of potential projects was prepared. It includes completing the native plant hedgerow at Lake Kenosia (part of the Still River, west of the city) and doing a feasibility study to build a boardwalk and bird-watching site on about 20 acres the city owns in Mill Plain Swamp (Lake Kenosia discharges into the swamp, which drains into the Still River). A separate $6.6 million bonding package, approved in the same referendum, could be used to purchase Sanfords Pond and building a trail through it.

ee also

*List of rivers in Connecticut
*List of rivers in New York

External links

* [http://www.danbury.org/stillriver/about.htm Still River Alliance]
* [http://www.hvedp.org Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership]
* [http://www.weantinoge.org/ Weantinoge Heritage]