Connecticut River fish Ladder Open in Holyoke

The annual migration of the Atlantic Salmon can be observed at the Robert E. Barrett Fishway in Holyoke MA.  Open to the public and free the viewing continues until 11 June 2017.  Tours are available weekends at 1:30 PM.  For more info visit the Holyoke GE site.

Former Sewer, Connecticut River nation's first BLUEWAY

A take on greenway, we now find the Connecticut River named as the country's first Blueway.See this press release from the Department of Interior. A media kit is found on that site as well.


Our research, titled OVERCOMING THE NATION'S BEST LANDSCAPED SEWER: RECREATORS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER can be found here with the following abstract:


ABSTRACT: Once referred to as America's “best landscaped sewer,” the Connecticut has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last three decades. During this time, a number of public agencies and private organizations have worked diligently to implement policies and measures aimed at improving the river's quality. Ample data collected over the years indicate that the actual water quality conditions of the Connecticut River, as measured by empirical parameters, have improved. However, prior to this study, no data existed regarding the public's perceptions of these changes. This paper will address this issue by presenting the results of a multiyear survey designed to assess the public's perceptions regarding the Connecticut's current quality, and its suitability in supporting various recreational activities. The results suggest that the majority of individuals perceive the Connecticut's water quality to be high enough to support a wide range of recreational activities including those involving physical contact with the water. Additionally, this research concludes that the vast majority of individuals who have recreated on the river for 20 years or more do perceive a significant improvement in the river's overall quality. Thus, it appears that policies and actions taken to improve the Connecticut's quality have been successful in the public's eye.

Best Landscaped Sewer in the Country

yep, that is what they used to call the Connecticut River. But now it is a Class B river, good enough to swim in. Want more information? See the CT River Joint Commission at
crjc.org.

Do you have a favorite stretch of river that you like to visit?

See also this journal article:

Mullens, J.B. and R. S. Bristow. 1003. Overcoming the Nation's Best Landscaped Sewer: Recreators' Perception of the Connecticut River. Journal f the American Water Resources Association. 38(1) 7-15.