Hoosic River Revival

The Hoosic River Revival Coalition.

Contact: Judy Grinnell Phone: 413.822.2376 Email: HoosicRiverRevival@gmail.com
The Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) is a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent for the Hoosic River Revival Coalition.
Phone: 413.458.2742 Email: office@hoorwa.org

We are working to make the Hoosic River and its surrounding area a vital part of downtown North Adams.

A group of local residents has come together to say it is time to reconnect the Hoosic River with the City of North Adams.

Imagine a downtown North Adams where both branches of the Hoosic River are lovely to look at, suitable for fishing, boating and swimming, bordered by trails running through parkland, and where people come for business and socializing.

This coalition of citizens and public officials believes that the enhancement of the river, as it flows through our downtown, would complete this picture of a city with outstanding recreational, cultural, and business opportunities.

Find the Hoosic River Revival Coalition on FaceBook

Area of project

Riverfest

Judy Grinnell’s converstation with Lauren Stevens and John Case about Riverfest can be seen in the following video.

A River Runs Through It. Episode 03. from Steven Borns on Vimeo.

Thunder Brook Restoration

The Thunder Brook Restoration Project in the Town of Cheshire would reconnect 2.4 miles of fragmented cold water habitat that currently supports native eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), a declining species in Massachusetts. Thunder Brook suffers from segmentation of habitat, solar heating of impounded water, sedimentation, and erosion issues. The proposed project would improve downstream water quality, restore connectivity to 2.4 miles of riverine and riparian habitat, and enhance public awareness of water quality issues by removing an aging dam and replacing an undersized culvert. Project partners include the Hoosic River Watershed Association, Hoosuck Chapter of Trout Unlimited, MA College of Liberal Arts, MA Riverways, and the MA Department of Fish and Game.

Thunder Brook is a tributary to Kitchen Brook, which flows into the Hoosic River in Cheshire, MA. It is a designated cold water stream, supporting a wild population of eastern brook trout and other native species. Eastern brook trout currently occupy less that half of their original range in Massachusetts. According to MassWildlife, Thunder brook may also be home to the long nose sucker (Catostomus catostomus), a Species of Concern.

The Thunder Brook dam once provided municipal water supply to the town of Cheshire, from the 1920s to the 1970s, but is no longer needed by the town. As sediment continues to accumulate behind the dam, the water in the shallow impoundment is heated to a greater extent than in the past. This solar heating of the water reduces habitat suitability for trout downstream by encouraging algae growth and reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen.

The culvert downstream of the dam shows scour of the stream banks and substrate at both ends. This culvert forms a barrier to fish movement during many months of the year. In addition to its benefits for fish passage, downstream water temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels, the project will restore a natural sediment transport regime to the system.

The proposed project would remove the Thunder Brook dam and replace the undersized culvert downstream. The finding of a 2008 site reconnaissance study and due diligence review of the watershed history by the MA Riverways program determined that dam removal and culvert replacement is feasible and is likely to meet the project goals.

Progress to date includes a site reconnaissance and cost estimate report funded by the Massachusetts Riverways Program, a $10,000 grant from Tout Unlimited to help fund the final design for the dam removal and to purchase euqipment to monitor water quality both before and after dam removal, and a $26,000 grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to support topographic surveying and mapping, sediment sampling and analysis and the preliminary design for the project. About $75,000 of in kind services have been committed by the town of Cheshire and other partners and some additional funding is being sought.

Stream Crossing Surveys

BEAT (Berkshire Environmental Action Team) is working to survey culverts and bridges around Berkshire County in an effort to make every major road repair an opportunity to improve ecosystem and habitat connectivity to help wildlife cross roads safely. The HVA (Housatonic Valley Assoc.) and now HooRWA will be working with them in this effort. MassDOT (Dept of Transportation) will provide a list of crossings in Berkshire County that they would like surveyed right away. Eventually the intent is to survey every stream crossing.

As roads are repaired, all crossings must be “suitably culverted, bridged, or otherwise designed to withstand and to prevent the restriction of high flows, and so as not to obstruct the movement of aquatic life indigenous to the waterbody” in order to receive a Category 1 (non-reporting) Army Corps of Engineers permit. What this jargon means – to get the easy permit, your crossing must allow highwater flows and aquatic wildlife to pass easily under the road. All the data will be put into the UMass Stream Continuity database that MassDOT will use as well.

BEAT believes that to meet the standard above, the crossing must meet the General or Optimum Crossing Standards of the Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards. Additionally, they would like to see provisions made for terrestrial wildlife appropriate to the wildlife in the area, the size (volume of cars) of the road, and the topography. Often it appears that putting in a larger crossing just makes obvious sense to keep deer or other animals off the road.

BEAT will provide the initial training. The project is expected to last through 2010. Surveys would be at the convenience of volunteers. HooRWA anticipates having an intern again in the summer who could help.

Please contact HooRWA if you wish to find out more.

Hoosick Falls Greenway

In partnership with the Village of Hoosick Falls, HooRWA proposes to create a Greenway extending for about 2.5 miles along an abandoned rail corridor adjacent to the Hoosic River. The Greenway will run through the Village, and will provide abundant opportunities for walking, biking, running, and winter uses; for floating and fishing access; for historical and nature interpretation; and for other outdoor recreation; as well as affording access to shops and restaurants in the Village’s commercial business district, thereby promoting the Village’s economic development.

Greenway Path

The Greenway will provide access to the Hoosic River and surrounding areas so that residents and tourists can enjoy the region’s beautiful environment through recreational and educational exploration. To this end, both land and river access points are to be included in the design elements.

Building the Hoosic River Greenway is a multi-year project with several distinct components, i.e. the design of the trail, including layout of the trail and its access points, design of parking lots at access points, placement of educational kiosks and signage, placement of benches and other amenities, and landscape design.

Basin Planning

Basin Planning

A basin plan provides an overview of a watershed’s health and a description of the prospective and ongoing steps to restore and protect its waters. With the purpose of improving both water quality and aquatic habitat, a basin plan presents the recommendations of local watershed residents, stakeholders from varying interests and natural resource professionals from many agencies. By identifying local concerns, known pollution problems and threats to water quality, actions can be taken to address issues, prevent or stop pollution and improve existing conditions.

The basin planning process involves myriad voices, local landowners, business interests, farmers, foresters, municipalities, regional planning groups, environmental organizations, natural resource professionals and state and federal agencies. The concerns identified have been brought to the table by individuals and are addressed by the entire group in the hope of seeing and promoting options from all possible sectors. A sediment-laden stream may be addressed by dealing with streambank erosion, road improvements, construction runoff or a fallow farm field. All these must be examined and the thoughts and perspectives of the many people involved in this plan have fostered this approach.

Currently HooRWA is working with the planning partners in Vermont on a basin plan that covers the Hoosic, the Walloomsac, and the Batten Kill. The draft plan is currently being refined and a survey to establish priorities for the numerous recommendations in the plan is being prepared. The survey document will provide a means for local watershed residents to help set the priorities.

Strobridge Canoe Portage

Strobridge Canoe Portage

Recreational use of the rivers in the Hoosic watershed is one of HooRWA’s objectives. There are a number of dams on the rivers, some continuing to serve a purpose, others residual structures only, but all being obstacles to navigating the rivers by canoe, kayak, or raft. Providing safe routes to portage around the dams is important for supporting recreation.

HooRWA is working with the Town of Pownal to develop such a route around the old Pownal Tannery dam that is now part of the Strobridge Recreation area. Currently the only way to portage around the dam includes walking along a section of active railroad track.

In 2007, HooRWA board members completed a ramp and cleared a path to the river downstream of the dam. Currently, they are working toward developing a travel route from a potential take out/put in location upstream of the dam, a very challenging project due to the terrain. But the project does appear to be doable and is being pursued. HooRWA has worked out a feasible plan for such a portage and is seeking funding for the project.
Stay tuned.

Watershed Excursions

HooRWA’s program of watershed excursions will continued this summer with more excursions. The objective is to introduce folks to the many recreation opportunities available, and to have fun getting out and about.

Excursions scheduled to date.

June 27: Rick Dovey will lead a bike ride from Pownal, VT to Buskirk, NY. The group will meet at the Pownal Post Office (Rte. 346 just west of Rte. 7) at 10 a.m. for a leisurely 40-mile ride through the Hoosic valley to the Buskirk covered bridge and back. Average grade is 2%. A diner near Eagle Bridge could be the lunch stop. Bring water and energy bars for a 4-hour outing. Those planning to participate should e-mail Rick at ricobgoode@yahoo.com, so he can notify you two hours in advance of any change. Note: this ride is excellent preparation for the Hoosic River Ride (see below).

July 17: Annual re-creation of Henry David Thoreau’s climb up Mount Greylock. Meet at the Notch Road gate at 10 am or at the summit for shuttle service at 9:30 a.m. Bring water and lunch. A rigorous climb, in part up a downhill ski run. Call the Mount Greylock Visitor’s Center for more information (413 499-4262).

August 21: Annual Hoosic River Ride. Meet at Southern Vermont College on Monument Avenue Extension, Bennington at a time determined by the length of your ride. Choose from ride routes of four distances – something for families, recreational riders and riders seeking more of a challenge. Routes will be on secondary roads, will feature beautiful scenery, covered bridges and more. Aid stations, tech support and our famous post ride picnic will follow. For more information, visit www.hoorwa.org or call Lisa Carey Moore at 413-458-2241. Volunteers needed too!

In addition, check local newspapers or www.hoorwa.org for information on the following: a hike on the portion of the Mahican Mohawk Trail in Savoy under construction this summer; an historic walk along the Hoosic River in North Adams; and a canoeing/kayaking trip on still water in the vicinity of Buskirk, NY.

The three spring excursions took place as scheduled, starting with the Post-Earth Day Hoosic River Float on Saturday April 24, on a beautiful spring day. Two canoes and five kayaks launched from the Ashton Ave., North Adams, Mass. boat launch, taking out in Pownal, Vermont, after a stop for lunch at Wire Bridge Farm in Williamstown. In all, ten folks enjoyed the trip down the river.

The Bird Walk on Saturday May 1 at Williams College’s Hopkins Forest attracted 10 folks as well. Drew Jones, Manager of the Forest, led the leisurely, two-hour stroll as the spring migration got underway.

The third spring excursion, a Hike from the Hoosic River to Taconic Crest Trail and back was on Sunday May 16. Five folks (see above) were ably led by HooRWA board member John Case, from Strobridge Park in North Pownal to the Taconic Crest along the proposed route for the connector trail. See the webpage “Trail to Taconic Crest” under “Ongoing Projects” for more information.

The first Winter Excursions was on Feb. 14, led by Rick Dovey, and was planned as a x-c ski tour of The Trustees of Reservations’ Mountain Meadow property. A lack of snow resulted in the tour being a hike, but still a successful one.

The second tour was scheduled as a snowshoe hike on Feb. 20, led by Drew Jones. This tour started at the Hopkins Forest headquarters and followed Hopkins Forest trails to the Taconic Crest.

The final winter excursion explored the Sarah Tenney Trail. This trip started at the parking area on the south side of Route 2 on the opposite side of the highway from the state gate at the entrance to the Sarah Tenney Trail. The plan was to ski several loops of this wonderful, but seldom-used cross-country trail. Snow conditions were such that snowshoes were substitutes for skis. A series of photos taken during the trip can be viewed by clicking here.

Trail to Taconic Crest

Connector trail from the Strobridge Recreation Area to the Taconic Crest Trail.

The objective is to provide a link to the Taconic Crest trail. It would generally follow the route of a previous link trail that crossed private lands. The Town of Pownal is currently working with the private land owner though whose property the trail would start. John Case’s notes (which follow) from the May 16 watershed excursion that he led provide an excellent description of current conditions.

On May 16, six hikers joined the HooRWA trip from North Pownal to the Taconic Crest. The Pownal Recreation Committee, in conjunction with HooRWA, hopes to restore this trail, which was once the terminus of the Crest Trail. Joining Dick Schlesinger and John Case were Green Mountain Clubbers Tim Marr, Barb Hine, Celia Berkes, and Susan Lambert. We climbed on a beautiful spring day, virtually bug-free, with spring flowers just emerging. The trail is in great condition most of the way, wide and erosion-free. On the upper reaches some clearing needs to be done. If you are interested in replicating our trip, here is some important information:

The trail is not officially open, nor is the route particularly clear. If you have questions, you could contact John, Dick, or Lauren Stevens. The route begins at the end of Snake Hill Road through a gate onto the Armstrong property. Pownal is currently negotiating with the Armstrongs for an easement, but this transaction has not been completed at this time. Immediately past the gate, head right down a steep hill. There is no trail at this point. At the bottom of the hill, cross a brook and look for an established but unmarked trail heading up the other side of the ravine. At the top of the ravine you will find an old woods road paralleling the brook. Follow this road for about half a mile past the ruins of an old stone dam on the left. Shortly beyond the dam, you will see a trail veering off to the right where you can make out a marker from the original trail, an aluminum diamond with blue paint in the center. This route is possible, but it is preferable to continue on the road a little further until you come to the next right. The junction is quite conspicuous but it is currently unmarked. Follow this trail a short way where you will come to a trail crossing. On the trail straight ahead you will see the markers for the old trail. If you had come up the first trail on the right past the dam, you would turn right here.
From this point until the New York State line, it is easy to follow the old diamond markers. There are two junctions, but in both cases the markers indicating the correct trail are clear. After a steep climb, you will cross the New York State border. After the state line there are no more diamond markers, but there are a few orange ribbons remaining from when we flagged the route a year ago. The trail soon turns to the right, paralleling the ridge. It then turns left again, a complete U turn. At this point it becomes very obscure. Look for a couple of orange ribbons that appear to head off into the woods up the hill. If you head up the hill following these ribbons, in a very short way you will find a wide trail that is easy to follow. Go right (north) on this trail, and in a few hundred yards you will come to a junction. Look carefully at this spot so you can find it on the way back. There is a trail down the mountain here that looks very enticing, but resist the temptation to follow it on your return. It is badly eroded further down and goes over private land. The correct trail is particularly obscure right now, because there is a tree down just after the junction. Head left (west) at this junction on a wide attractive trail, and in no time you will be at the Taconic Crest. If attaining Crest Trail doesn’t fully satisfy you, head left (south) on the trail. In about a quarter of a mile you will find a clearing with good views to the east.

Look for future HooRWA messages about re-establishing this trail. We hope to have a work day soon when we can clear and mark this trail so it can once again be an easy route to the Taconics.

Briggsville-Bid

Bids are being accepted until September 13th from qualified contracts for the removal of the Briggsville Dam in Clarksburg, MA. A sight walk is scheduled for Monday September 13th, 2010

For more info contact
Pete Cote
(413) 663-3716
Cascade School Supply
1 Brown Street
North Adams, MA, 01247-3318

The Bid Package can be downloaded with the following two links:

Plan Set
click here to download the Plan Set.

Dam Specs
and click here to download the Dam Specs.

Briggsville Dam

Briggsville dam to come down this winter

The final specifications for the Briggsville Dam are available for download as a pdf file.

The Bid Package Planset is likewise available for download.

When in 2006 Cascade Paper Co., the new owners of the former Strong-Hewat woolen mill in the Briggsville section of Clarksburg, discovered they had also acquired liability for the dam beside Rte. 8, they called Trout Unlimited. Good move. TU called Massachusetts Riverways (Department of Fish and Game) and HooRWA. As a result, with a lot of help from friends, the dam will come down late this fall or early this winter.

The dam no longer impounds water, as the area behind it is totally filled with cobbles. The removal will restore habitat in a cold water ecosystem on the North Branch of the Hoosic River. This trout fishery is stocked and also contains wild trout. The North Branch will be free flowing 10 miles from its headwaters at Alpenwald to the dam at Natural Bridge State Park.

Dam inspectors estimated that repairing the 145-foot-long, 15-foot-high, 100-year-old dam, used to divert water to cool the building, would be $700,000, which would be borne by Cascade. Estimated cost for removing it is $400,000, of which Cascade’s share will be $10,000. The rest of money is pledged by project partners TU, Riverways, American Rivers, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Doris Duke Foundation through the Wildlife Conservation Society and Gillette and National Grid through Massachusetts Corporations Wetlands Restoration Partnership.

The firm of Fuss & O’Neil has completed the final engineering design, as modified by Milone and MacBroom, particularly in relation to protecting an upstream bridge on Cross Road. The engineers determined that there would be no threat to downstream structures or habitat from the project. Removal of the dam should alleviate flood threat to the former mill building and adjacent Rte. 8.

Permitting is nearly completed, with the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and the Environment granting a waiver from a full Environmental Impact Report. The state is monitoring biological life in the river before and after dam removal. There will be a public hearing before the Conservation Commission Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m., at Clarksburg Town Hall (on Rte. 8).

Hoosic River Ride

6th Annual Hoosic River Ride
Presented by the Hoosic River Watershed Association

Location: Bennington, VT

Date: Saturday, August 21, 2010

Roll out times
The Watershed Challenge 75 miles will start at 8:30.
The Hoosic 50 will start at 9:00 a.m.
The Two State Tour (approx. 28) will start at 9:30
The Monument Tour (family ride at 8 miles) will start at 10:30.

Online Registration Closes Friday, August 20, 2010 at 12:00 NOON ET
For online registration, click here to link to Bikereg.com.
Or at Active.com
Or register directly with HooRWA. See Registration page below.
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