Connecticut River cleanup brings hundreds together to improve water quality
Hundreds of volunteers have come together along the Connecticut River for the 17th annual Source to Sea Cleanup.
Hosted by the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC), the program is an annual trash clean up of the Connecticut River and its tributaries along the four-state watershed (NH, VT, MA and CT). Volunteers clean along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, and trails.
United Water sponsored the event along with Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, Lane Construction Corporation, NRG Energy, TransCanada, and others. The company also announced that its Holyoke and Springfield employees have joined the project.
"Some really unbelievable things have been pulled from our rivers, such as a cement mixer, parking meters, propane tanks, and junk cars," Jacqueline Talbot, CRWC Cleanup Coordinator. "Without their dedication, this would not be possible. They inspire others to get involved and help form lasting connections to the river, while also sending the message that trash doesn't belong in nature and that our rivers and trails are worth protecting."
Nearly 100 million tons of debris was collected during the 2012 Source to Sea Cleanup. This year's haul has not yet been tallied as of yet. In 2013, more than 65 registered groups are organizing over 2,000 volunteers to clean up trash along the 410-mile river, from northern New Hampshire and Vermont to the Long Island Sound.