NEWS & NEWSWORTHY
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Newsletter, Summer 2008
Newsletter, Spring 2008
STR-STH President, Fred Grimsey, Receives Federal EPA Award On Earth Day 2008
Newsletter, Winter 2008
Newsletter, Fall 2007
Results of the 4th Annual Niantic River Kayak Regatta, August 27, 2007
Newsletter, Summer 2007
Newsletter, Spring 2007
Newsletter, Winter 2007
Newsletter, October 2006
"Developer Will be Billed for Cleanup" Hartford Courant article, October 2006
Results of the 3rd
Annual Niantic River Kayak Regatta, August 26, 2006
Newsletter, July 2006
No Discharge Zone Extended - May 2006
Keeping the Sound Clean - February, 2006
Newsletter, July 2005
Public Hearing - Oswegatchie Hills Purchase January 2005
Niantic River Pollution: Causes and Cures Panel Discussion January 2005
Special Newsletter August 2004
News 2004
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President Fred Grimsey Receives EPA Award |
The USA Volunteer Service Award |
April 22, 2008, Boston, MA.
Fred Grimsey, President of Save The River-Save the Hills, Inc., received the President's Volunteer Service Environmental Merit Award from E.P.A. Administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, in a ceremony at Boston's historic Faneuil Hall this afternoon. Read the EPA 2008 Environmental Awards Ceremony Program here. The New London Day also carried the news - read about it here.
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| Fred & family await award presentation | Stephen Johnson speaking of Grimsey's achievements | Stephen Johnson and Fred Grimsey |
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Fourth Annual Niantic River Appreciation Day
Kayak Regatta
Kayak Regatta Held to Celebrate Fourth Niantic River Appreciation Day
August 27, 2007 (Waterford, CT) – 125 kayakers and volunteers celebrated the Fourth Annual Niantic River Appreciation Day by paddling in front of the Oswegatchie Hills this past Saturday. The free event, sponsored by Save the River-Save the Hills, Inc., included music by The Denise and Tony Band, Geoff Kaufman, a free drawing for a kayak and other donated items, and short kayak races. Participants also paraded the northern areas of the Niantic River and enjoyed close-up views of the unspoiled
Oswegatchie Hills on the East Lyme shore.
State Senator Andrea Stillman kicked off the event and East Lyme Town Selectman Beth Hogan announced the next Public Hearing for proposed development of Oswegatchie Hills will be held at 7:30pm on September 6th at Camp Rell. State Representative Ed Jutila spoke in favor of preserving the Hills before he pulled the first drawing ticket.
Free Drawing winners were: Kayak and paddle – Nick Caruso, Niantic; Personal Flotation device – Norman LaFleur, East Lyme; Gift Certificates: Perennial Harmony Garden Shop – Barry Gorfain, Niantic; Flanders Fish Market – Jan Almeida, Waterford; Constantine’s – Steven Finegan, Gales Ferry; Tri-town IGA – Mike Kraemer, New Bedford; Niantic Diner – Ken O’Pasek, Waterford.
The small kayak race winners: women - Danielle LaFleur, men – Ken Sylvestry. The long kayak winners: men - Jay Sullivan, Waterford, (defending his title) and women - Jan Almeida, Waterford. Each received a STR-STH’s T-shirt with their bragging rights.
Fred Grimsey, President of Save the River-Save the Hills, noted that “We had a good turnout once again, showing that the public cares about the Niantic River and the Oswegatchie Hills. We had excellent cooperation from the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 25-5 of New London, the East Lyme and Waterford police boats and the Town of Waterford. It was a colorful event with over 100 kayaks in and around Point Comfort”.
Save the River-Save the Hills is a non-profit 501(c)(3) grassroots environmental organization in Waterford & East Lyme, Connecticut, dedicated to preserving the health of the Niantic River Estuary and the natural beauty of the Oswegatchie Hills.
See you next year!
Developer Will Be Billed For Cleanup
By JOSH KOVNER
Courant Staff Writer
October 3, 2006
MIDDLETOWN -- Torrential rain Sunday morning triggered a mudslide from developer Glenn Russo's 23-acre construction site off George Street, sending a torrent of mud, water, brush and rocks coursing over front yards and backyards as far downhill as Boston Road.
About 3 inches of rain fell between 8 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday. At least a dozen residential properties had to be cleaned by Russo's excavating contractor later Sunday, and firefighters pumped mud and water out of a Boston Road basement and sand-bagged the basement bulkhead.
A city public works crew toiled for more than six hours with a payloader, dump truck, vacuum truck and street sweeper to clear a foot of standing water and mud from George Street. City police, the emergency-management unit, top public works officials and the zoning and wetlands officer also went to the soggy scene.
On Monday, city officials were tabulating a bill for the emergency response and were preparing to send it to Russo's company, Landmark Development LLC. Early last month, Russo began clearing his site - bounded by Route 66 and George Street, behind the Sagamore Hills apartment complex - to build 180 apartments.
"This can't happen again," William Russo, the director of public works, said Monday. "Homeowners living below that site are afraid something's going to happen every time it rains. This time, something did."
City Planner William Warner said the developer will be required to add flooding and erosion-control measures - such as a type of hay matting that's used to add stability to steep highway embankments.
"He missed the growing season, so he didn't get grass on the slopes. Grass will hold a lot of soil," Warner said.
Bruce Driska, the zoning and wetlands enforcement officer, said Russo's company would not be cited for any violations. Driska said the project was in compliance with city flood-control regulations. Banks of earth and other measures were overwhelmed by the heavy rain, and additional runoff from the nearby Woodgate condominiums added to the volume of water, Driska said.
"The city was present at the last two project meetings, viewed the erosion controls, and found them to be satisfactory," said Joseph Virgadula, project manager for Landmark Development. The statement was confirmed by Driska.
A few years ago, Russo sued Woodgate, alleging that water from the condominiums was flooding his property. A Superior Court judge in 2004 found Russo's complaint groundless.
Homeowners on George Street strenuously opposed Russo's applications to build the apartments, and the planning and zoning commission twice rejected his plans. The developer sued, and a Superior Court judge in April 2004 overturned the denial.
Contact Josh Kovner at jkovner@courant.com
Copyright 2006, Hartford Courant
Third Annual Niantic River Appreciation Day
Kayak Regatta
Kayak Regatta Held to Celebrate Third Niantic River Appreciation Day
August 28, 2006 (Waterford, CT) - Save the River-Save the Hills, Inc. would like to thank the participants in kayaks, canoes, and other non-motorized craft for celebrating the Niantic River and the Oswegatchie Hills on Saturday, August 26th at the Third Annual Niantic River Appreciation Day Kayak Regatta. Despite the cloudy weather, 127 participants registered throughout the day.
This free event included "songs of the sea, earth, heart and spirit" by Geoff Kaufman, a free drawing for a kayak and other donated items, and short kayak races. Participants also paraded the northern areas of the Niantic River and enjoyed close-up views of the unspoiled Oswegatchie Hills on the East Lyme shore.
Free Drawing winners were: Kayak and paddle - Harriet Rowley (who graciously has donated the kayak back to STR-STH for a future fundraiser); Personal Flotation device - Frank Gillig, East Lyme; Gift Certificates: Flanders Fish Market - Anne Frish, Waterford; Constantine's - Luther Gibson, Niantic; Unk's on the Bay - Ruth Tombari, Tri-town IGA - Priscilla Anson, Noank; Perennial Harmony Garden Shop - Jeff Wickersham, Waterford; Visor & T-Shirt - Laura O'Pasek, Waterford; Hat & T-shirt - Dominic Caruso, East Lyme.
The small kayak race winner was Susan Skewes, Niantic. The men's long kayak winner was Jay Sullivan, Waterford , and women's long kayak winner was Rosemarie LaFleur, Waterford . Each received a STR-STH's T-shirt.
Fred Grimsey, President of Save the River-Save the Hills, noted that "We had a good turnout considering the weather, showing that the public cares about the Niantic River and the Oswegatchie Hills. We had excellent cooperation from the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 25-5 of New London , the Waterford police and the town of Waterford. Geoff Kaufman was spectacular as he brought us his experience of environmental efforts on the Hudson River in stories and song. He said he had received many comments that the Niantic River needs more launch sites for small non-motorized craft and STR-STH will continue to work in pursuing more public access along the Niantic River.
Save the River-Save the Hills is a non-profit 501(c)(3) grassroots environmental organization based on the Niantic River Estuary in Waterford & East Lyme, Connecticut, dedicated to preserving the health of the Niantic River Estuary and the natural beauty of the Oswegatchie Hills. For more information, please call 860-442-8349.
NEWSLETTER July 2006
We're Saving the Hills!
The developer has pulled his fourth application for building in the Oswegatchie Hills. The latest application had 1720 condos planned for the waterfront side of the Niantic River! Landmark submitted this application even while its second application is still under appeal. Save the River-Save the Hills continues to participate in the legal battle as an intervener, together with the Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve. Our intervention was helpful in the denial of the first appeal, but now we anticipate another.
Once more we are asking for help from our membership and the public. The East Lyme Town Attorney has told us that the presence of non-profit groups as interveners is very helpful to his legal position in the zoning case against the developer.
Robert DeSanto, Ph.D. of The Institute of Environmental Stewardship LLC, has joined our efforts. He has prepared a report of a study he has done on the effects of the latest application on the river and Latimer Brook. This professional report provides scientific backup for the contention that this level of development will cause serious pollution of the river and the brook. It will be included as one of our exhibits to be presented at the upcoming public hearing.
It is a typical tactic of developers to continue to file applications after being turned down in hopes of "wearing down" the opposition. We think it important to be steadfast in our opposition which means we must continue to raise monies for our Legal Defense Fund. Please look into your hearts and pocketbooks and send a check to ensure we truly Save the Hills.
Send your contribution today, online, from this website!
Thank you in advance for your support!
Third Annual " Niantic River Appreciation Day" Kayak Regatta!!
Puppies Enjoy Kayaking too! Picture taken by Jack Sauer at our (First) 2004 Kayak Regatta.
The Third Annual Niantic River Appreciation Day Kayak Regatta sponsored by Save the River-Save the Hills, Inc., will be held on Saturday, August 26th from 9:00am-3:00pm.
Last year we had over 130 kayaks enjoying the river, the music and the prizes. Once again we will have music, fun kayak races for T-shirts and bragging rights. This year we will be GIVING AWAY a kayak and other prizes to a lucky participant or volunteer!!
New this year - a kayaking safety clinic given by the Auxiliary Coast Guard. We'll also be selling sweatshirts, visors, hats, and t-shirts to raise funds for our Legal Defense and Water Quality Testing program. Visit our website www.savetheriver-savethehills.org throughout the summer for updates on parking, new launch sites, prizes and the agenda for the day or call Deborah Moshier-Dunn at 860-444-9247.
Come celebrate the diverse wonders of the Niantic River in front of Oswegatchie Hills!
Come join the fun!
Did You Know?
On May 5, 2006, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency extended the No Discharge Zone from the Thames River to the mouth of the Connecticut River including the Niantic River , the Bay and up the CT River to the Massachusetts border. Our Pumpout Program is a large factor in this decision!
The Pumpout Program began its fourth summer promptly on Memorial Day weekend with a slow start in business due to excessive rain and the cool spring weather. Marinas also reported slow starts this season.
Our thanks go out to the Niantic Dockominium Association who installed a new dockside pumpout station connected to the Niantic sewer system last season. In addition to providing a new pumpout opportunity for boaters at the NDA gas dock, this greatly simplifies the offloading of the pumpout boat at a perfect location, saving gas and time. The Bayreuther Boatyard donated storage for the pumpout boat and trailer this past winter as an in-kind service. In addition they are providing us with a slip when the boat works in Smith Cove and the upper river.
We have two young men running the boat: Justin Smith and Brian Kren. Our thanks go to them and to Cliff Kramm who hung up his pumpout hose last year. He ran the boat as a volunteer in 2003 and was largely responsible in 2004 for the education aspects of the program. He has been a tireless advocate for a clean river and continues to work on our River Safety Project and as a Pumpout Trainer and Consultant.
The pumpout boat can be reached on VHF Channel 68.
NEWSLETTER July 2005
RIVER SAFETY PROJECT
The River Safety Committee has examined the situation on heavily used weekends, and has determined the following:
- Excessive speed and wakes cause damage to docks and erosion to beaches and river banks.
- Personal watercraft are appearing in greater numbers on the river. While the majority of operators observe Connecticut State DEP regulations for operation, a significant number of operators exceed speed limit (6 MPH) within the 200 feet boundary from shore and moored or anchored vessels. The increased popularity of kayaks means a greater chance of serious accidents.
We have started a modest demonstration project on the north end of the estuary by the Boston Post Road bridge. We have placed two speed limit buoys well within the 100 foot line from shore, and the situation locally has improved.
Note that we are providing posting and education, not enforcement. We continue to encourage the police boats in East Lyme and Waterford to deal with lawbreakers.
We would like input from waterfront property owners on this issue. We also need volunteers and funds to buy more buoys, as well as place and maintain them.
To give input, funds for buoys, and/or volunteer, contact Fred Grimsey
at (860) 442-8349 or
president@savetheriver-savethehills.org .
Keeping the Sound Clean: EPA Considers Ban on Dumping Treated Waste From Boats - February 06, 2006
Fred Grimsey was so fed up with boaters dumping their sewage into the Niantic River that he bought a pump-out boat and started pumping out tanks for free.
"People around the marinas will tell you - sometimes in the summer it's really bad there. You can see material floating in the water," said Grimsey, a retiree who sits on the Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission and volunteers for the non-profit group Save the River/Save the Hills.
Three years later, he's still the only pump-out boat on the river and he's still pumping out boats for free - sometimes 15 a day - with the help of a few high school-age hires.
It costs about $23,000 per year to run the boat and pay the help, Grimsey said; 75 percent of that is funded through a grant from the Connecticut Office of Long Island Sound Programs.
"It's a full-time job for me," Grimsey said. "In some ways it's cut into my work at Save the River/Save the Hills."
Grimsey refuses to take money from boaters, arguing that their gasoline and fishing tackle excise taxes are supposed to fund pump-out programs.
"I tell them, 'You guys paid for this already,'" Grimsey said.
So far, Save the River/Save the Hills has helped Grimsey raise the remaining 25 percent as part of their fund-raising efforts, but starting this summer, his one-man crusade could see a lot more help.
Within the next two months, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to decide whether to make the area from the Thames River to the Connecticut River a "no discharge zone," which would make it illegal for boaters to dump sewage of any kind into the Long Island Sound. Right now, boats that treat their waste before dumping it are within the law, but according to Ann Rodney at EPA New England, "treated" waste can mean anything from composted sewage to chemically treated waste containing active ingredients like formaldehyde.
"We want clean waters in the United States, and if we can prevent sewage - treated or untreated - from going into the Long Island Sound, we'd like to do that," Rodney said.
But some say the effort is fruitless as millions of gallons of treated sewage are already pumped into the sound from waste treatment plants in Groton, New London and Stonington, and those facilities would not be affected by the "no discharge" designation.
But Grimsey and his allies are fighting hard for the change for the sake of the Niantic River, which, as the only major inlet between the Thames and the Connecticut rivers, is at a much greater risk for pollution than the sound because waste sours longer and in higher concentrations, they say.
"It sits there for a while and fouls the river," he said.
Meanwhile, according to Rodney, in order to make the portion of the sound from Groton to Guilford a "no discharge zone," as it is in Mystic, Groton and Stonington as well as Rhode Island, the state Department of Environmental Protection must provide, among other things, evidence that the infrastructure is there to support the number of boats requiring pump outs - which, in the Niantic River's case, means Fred Grimsey.
Last year, East Lyme began paying $2,500 to keep his pump-out program going, and Waterford's Board of Selectmen agreed last week to match that donation starting this summer, which would make up for the 25 percent difference not covered under the grant.
Meanwhile, through a series of discussions with Grimsey, the Niantic Dockominium Association, a marine cooperative, installed a dockside pump-out station at the end of last summer, making it easy for Grimsey to safely unload his 270-gallon tank nearby. Before that, he had to travel to the Waterford side of the river and run a hose from his holding tank into giant buckets at Niantic Bay Marina.
The DEP has begun a watershed study of the Niantic River in order to better pinpoint the sources and types of pollution mucking up the river and its wildlife.
Grimsey is looking forward to seeing the "no discharge" designation move forward, something he sees as long overdue.
"Connecticut, in my opinion," he said, "is a disgrace as far as the environment is concerned."
The proposed "no discharge" area is from Eastern Point in Groton to Hoadley Point in Guilford and includes New London, Waterford, East Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton, Madison and Guilford. It also includes the navigable reaches of the Hammonasset River, Menunketesuck River, Niantic River, Thames River and the Connecticut River.
Source: The Association of Marine Industries
PUMPOUT PROGRAM 2005
The Pumpout Program began its third summer on Memorial Day weekend with a slow start, mostly due to the cool spring weather. Marinas also reported slow starts to the season. It has since picked up and compliance is up about 25% from last year. The pumpout boat can be reached at 860-287-2774, on VHF Channel 68 and through this web site (click here).
We have two college-bound young men running the boat: Kellin Atherton and Clay Hoadley. Our thanks go to Cliff Kramm who hung up his pumpout hose this year for, hopefully, bigger and better things. Cliff ran the boat as a volunteer in 2003 and was largely responsible in 2004 for the educational aspects of the program. He has been a tireless advocate for a clean river and continues to work on our River Safety Project.
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency is presently working on extending the No Discharge Zone from the Thames River to the mouth of the Connecticut River including the Niantic River and the Bay. Our pumpout program is a large factor in this decision.
We are again recipients of funding from the Federal Clean Vessel Act Grant Program through the CT DEP Office of Long Island Sound Programs. Assistance has also been provided by the Pfizer Volunteer Fund. The towns of Waterford and East Lyme have also been approached for funding and we are waiting to hear from them.
Oswegatchie Hills Purchase Public Hearing - January 2005
$2 million in State funds proposed for Oswegatchie Hills purchase
Legislation has been proposed to provide
$2 million in State funds
for purchase of land in Oswegatchie Hills.
A bill is being submitted to the State Senate Environmental Committee
by Senator Andrea Stillman and Representatives Ed Jutilla and Betsy Ritter.
A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, Jan 31, 2005, at 9:30 am,
in the Legislative Office Building, Room 2E, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Even though the notice is short a good turnout is important.
If you cannot make the trip, Fred Grimsey can hand
carry Letters of Support
to the Committee, read them into the record and leave them for submittal.
Niantic River Pollution: Causes and Cures
Panel Discussion
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
East Lyme Town Hall, Main Floor
7:30 PM
Introduction by Fred Grimsey, President, Save The River-Save
The Hills, Inc.
Overview of the Clean Water Act and the Storm Water problem as it pertains
to the Niantic River
Panel members: (in order of speaking)
Chris Stone, Storm Water section, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Phase II Stormwater Permitting and the National Pollution Elimination System
(NPDES)
John Rozun, University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Service,
The Non-Point Source Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Program
Mike Giannatasio, Director of Public Works, Town of East Lyme, Connecticut
Overview of East Lyme's Response to compliance with Phase II Storm Water
regulations
Joe Bragaw, Town Engineer, Stonington, Connecticut
The Storm Water Task Force in Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Coffee break followed by Q&A session with audience
Event sponsored by Save The River-Save The Hills, Inc., and the Town of East Lyme, Connecticut
For further information, contact Fred Grimsey
email ~ president@savetheriver-savethehills.org
phone ~ 860.287.2774
From Newsletter 2004
VISIT OUR TABLE AT CELEBRATE EAST LYME 2005
Look for us at Celebrate East Lyme, on July 16 in Niantic. We’ll be near the Niantic Inn, with information about our organization, and we’ll be selling Save the River-Save the Hills tee-shirts, hats and visors as well as our raffle tickets.
Show your support by wearing our logo, and help us raise money for the legal defense fund, as well as the organization’s ongoing expenses.
OSWEGATCHIE HILLS ZONING
True to form, the developer has submitted a new application for building in Oswegatchie Hills. This in spite of the fact that the denial of his last application is still under appeal. Save the River-Save the Hills continues to participate in this process as an intervener, together with the Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve. Our intervention was helpful in the denial of the first appeal, but now we have the second one and once more we are asking for help from our membership and the public. The Town Attorney of East Lyme has told us that the presence of nonprofit groups as interveners is very helpful to his legal position in the zoning case against the developer.
Is it embarrassing and frustrating to be asking again for money to fight this battle? You bet it is! We have engaged in lengthy discussions over the wisdom and effectiveness of continuing. We have decided "to hang in there" if we can raise the funds. Please look into your hearts and pocketbooks and send a check to: Barbara Eberle, Vice President and Membership Chair, 23 Oswegatchie Road, Waterford, CT 06385.
RIVER POLLUTION
We have agreed to work with the Town of East Lyme Public Works Department on storm water mitigation grants as part of the Pine Grove Sewer Project. There are proven technologies that can be applied to the storm water sewer outfalls that now empty into the river. These sewer lines are considered point sources of pollution under the Clean Water Act.
Most experts agree that storm water runoff through these sewers is the primary source of degradation of coastal and estuarine waters such as the Niantic River.
We believe that storm water is the primary source of manmade pollution in the mix, now that our Pump out Program is effectively controlling marine sewerage.
Photo
credit header photos - Jack Sauer
© 2004-2008 SAVE THE RIVER - SAVE THE HILLS, INC. All rights reserved
PO Box 505 • Waterford, CT 06385 • Tel: 860.287.2774