All rights reserved. Boston, MA. A deadly and extreme Class VI resides at Great Falls in Canaan (Falls Village) and is most likely not able to be paddled. phone 860-672-6678, In partnership with the National Park Service, Goose Pond Reservation – 112 acres. Quaint New England villages dot your journey, full of history and surrounded by spectacular natural … Fishing is a major activity along the entire length of the river and its tributaries. ICE EFFECTS ON STREAMFLOW - During winter, ice formation may cause stage and discharge values to appear higher than expected. I have been looking for some fun natural places for me and friends to swim and camp out, preferably places that have some height to them for some short cliff-jumping into water. They collaborate with partners across four states to protect and advocate for your rivers and educate and engage communities. EPA's plan is subject to public comment and is expected to be finalized later in 2020. [3] The Housatonic rises from four sources in far western Massachusetts in the Berkshire Mountains near the city of Pittsfield. Mount Greylock State Reservation became Massachusetts’ first wilderness state park in 1898, to preserve its natural environment for public enjoyment. The bodies of two men who were swimming in the Housatonic River in Litchfield County were recovered by investigators, police said. Mission To conserve, restore and promote the Farmill River and its waterways as a valued resource for the communities and cities that surround it, through research, education, and public awareness campaigns. [7], English settlement of the northern Housatonic Valley began in 1725 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Effects to Ecological Receptors in the Rest of River Fly fishing on the Housatonic River has been compared with western rivers and is among the finest for trout in the eastern United States. From circa 1932 until 1977, the river received PCB pollution discharges from the General Electric (GE) plant at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Salmon Creek tributary of the Housatonic River may have been named for this salmonid, which can reach up to 30 pounds (14 kg). Lake Lillinonah is used by the GMS Rowing Center and is host to the GMS Regatta. SCOUT FIRST, SWIM SECOND - Never enter a swimming hole without first scouting it, even if you see somebody else swimming in it. There is a swimming area nearby, and hiking trails as well. Paddling…The waters of the Housatonic River provide excellent white-water and flat-water canoeing & kayaking and swimming. Never swim in strong water currents. Be weary of slippery rocks. [19] Former filled oxbows are also polluted. While its a little bit of a drive (25 minutes from Great Barrington ) the swimming hole near the Sandisfield Town Hall on Rte 57 is well worth a visit on a hot day. Three wooden covered bridges cross the Housatonic River. This section of the river offers anglers a wide variety of target species to chase and has recently gained recognition as a world class, year round Striped Bass Fishery. Most notable are two lakes in Connecticut, Lake Zoar, which borders Monroe, Newtown, Oxford, and Southbury, and Lake Lillinonah. Here are some of the scenic elements or notable features that make it so: Housatonic River Shoreline. Report to the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Box 28 Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754 Phone: 860-672-6678 —AND— Housatonic Valley Association P.O. The most popular area for fly fishing is in Litchfield County, Connecticut between the dam at Falls Village and the Cornwall Bridge. EPA and GE began a cleanup of the area in 1999. [19] Although the water quality has improved in recent decades, and some remediation has taken place,[20][21] the river continues to be contaminated by PCBs. [5], The river has been a source of power for paper, iron, textiles, and electricity industries. Two men from the Bronx in their 20s were sought for days after being seen going underwater while swimming in the river near the Bulls Bridge Power Plant. There are several minor and major dams along the river that form lakes. Trout, bass, and perch abound and some of the best fly fishing can be found in southwestern Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut. In 1900, there were 30 dams on the river in Pittsfield. After hours of searching the day before, dive teams and first responders were back out scouring the river Thursday for the 21- and 24-year-old New York men, who went missing Wednesday while swimming in the Housatonic River. Police said they have recovered the bodies of two New York men who they believe drowned while swimming last week in the Housatonic River in … Tekoa, in Russell, MA, to the Lee/Lenox town line in Berkshire County, the Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway winds through the small towns of Russell, Huntington, Chester, Becket and Lee, providing views of the Wild and Scenic Westfield River along the way. The scenic Housatonic River is an integral part of Shelton's history and identity. Du Bois Educational Series at Great Barrington, Clinton Church Restoration – Great Barrington. Also official swimming beach on river with lifeguard and facilities (no photo). Since 1952, Connecticut River Conservancy has been the voice for the Connecticut River watershed, from source to sea. High above the confluence with the Housatonic, in the village of Mill River, the Konkapot rolls over an outcropping of bedrock and into a crystal-clear pool below to form Umpachene Falls. Exhibitors are welcome to bring their antiques […]. [31][32] High mercury levels are measured in the sediment at the outflow delta of the Housatonic River into Long Island Sound.[33]. Reinforced with present-day materials, both bridges carry normal vehicle traffic, albeit in only one direction at a time. We definitely recommend it for anyone who plans to fish the Housatonic. The USS Housatonic has the distinction of being the first ship in history to be sunk by a submarine, the Confederate vessel CSS H.L. Come explore the special places of the Housatonic River with the official Paddle Guide…. From its headwaters north of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, south to Kent, Connecticut. [23] Additional remediation is planned for the downstream polluted areas of the river. Bass said last month he was concerned the closure of beaches at inland state parks due to the coronavirus would cause people to swim in the Housatonic River in … Lake Housatonic is located in the towns of Derby, Monroe, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. Activities: Hiking, boating and fly-fishing. Trout, bass, and perch abound and some of the best fly fishing can be found in southwestern Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut. This is estimated to be about 11,000 pounds of PCBs. The tidal section of the Housatonic River is a 7-mile stretch of brackish water, which feeds into Long Island Sound along the shores of the towns of Stratford and Milford. The town of Stockbridge is located in southwestern Massachusetts. The HVA is helping many local groups in various projects along the river as part of the Housatonic RiverBelt Greenway; a program to improve public use and appreciation of the river. Fly fishing on the river has been compared with many western rivers and boasts some of the finest trophy trout fishing in the eastern US. Unknown creek and Housatonic River: TYPE: Falls/River: DESCRIPTION: Scenic waterfall in creek with swimming in a deep, small pool at the bottom dammed up with rocks (photo above). During the warm months the pristine 35-acre Benedict Pond attracts swimmers, boaters and fishermen. Best swimming holes/quarries in the state? Similar risks extend to species beyond those specifically evaluated. A Guide to Eating Fish Safely - 2015 Connecticut Fish Consumption Advisory Site", "PCB cleanup plan reached for rest of Housatonic River", EPA, Stakeholders Reach Landmark Settlement Agreement to Enhance and Accelerate Cleanup of the Housatonic River; Fact Sheet, "Transport and Fate of Historic Mercury Pollution from Danbury, CT through the Still and Housatonic Rivers", GE's Website reviewing the options for Housatonic River cleanup, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Housatonic_River&oldid=970447679, Rivers of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Confluence of West and East Branches Housatonic River, This page was last edited on 31 July 2020, at 10:23. The Deerfield River, however, is perfectly safe for swimming and canoe adventures. The Appalachian Trail follows the river along this section from the Bulls Bridge covered wooden bridge near Kent to Falls Village. The last three dams form a chain of lakes: Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar and Lake Housatonic, from New Milford south to Shelton. Hikers will enjoy a splendid view of the river from the Appalachian Trail where it parallels the river as it passes through Sharon, Cornwall and Kent, Conn. HOUSATONIC RIVER – OFFICIAL ACCESS POINTS…paddling from north to south