Like a physician administering a check-up, the state looks at whether the biological, chemical and physical condition of the state’s waterways support specific uses like drinking and recreating, and whether the water is healthy enough to support aquatic life. Long Meadow Brook is one of those two-way green corridors connecting the Naugatuck River and the Gunntown Passive Park & Nature Preserve. The Naugatuck Environmental Network (NEN) is concerned about the impact of these pollution events on wildlife. On or before November 15, 2017, the Respondent shall certify to the Commissioner in writing that actions in paragraph a. i. have been completed and provide written details of actions performed. SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is suing the owners of the Electron dam for violating the Clean Water Act by polluting the Puyallup River. The river’s size and steep gradient, made it ideal for hydropower development, causing a surge in industrial development in the 1700 and 1800’s. In the Naugatuck Watershed, there are impaired reaches along the mainstem Naugatuck River, Steele Brook, Great Brook, Mad River, Hop Brook and Long Meadow Pond Brook. Photo courtesy of the Naugatuck Historical Society. The steel and grain industries along the Buffalo River dumped toxic chemicals into the river. River advocacy groups have conducted river cleanups, fish stocking, revegetation projects, river celebrations and have volunteered to conduct water quality monitoring. Unfortunately, much of the mid-to-lower portion of the Naugatuck River suffered through decades of industrial use, with chemicals and other industrial pollution damaging the water quality and severely impacting the river's wildlife. There have been four pollution episodes in the Naugatuck River in the last 10 months. The Naugatuck is the largest tributary of the Housatonic River, and it is the only major river in the state contained entirely within Connecticut’s borders. DEEP officials say that many rivers, streams and lakes are now cleaner than they have been in the past 100 years, and that once badly polluted rivers, such as the Willimantic, Naugatuck, Pequabuck, Quinnipiac, Connecticut and Farmington, are now used for many recreational pursuits. Beginning in the 1700’s, the Naugatuck Valley became attractive for industrial development. Consequently, the river is a predominantly rapidly flowing river for most of its length, characterized occasionally by rapids. The Naugatuck River Greenway Trail. Its waters carve out the Naugatuck River Valley in the western reaches of the state, flowing generally due south and eventually emptying into the Housatonic River at Derby, Connecticut and thence 11 miles (18 km) to Long Island Sound. A report by the state Sewage Commission dated 1899 stated that the Naugatuck River had reached the limit of permissible pollution due to the discharge of industrial wastes and municipal sewage. At the same time, industries were required to begin using “best available technology” to treat their wastewaters, leading to further reductions in pollutants entering the river. Here, the river is walled by steep, forested hillsides, inhospitable to development. With their passage now unheeded, fish were once again able to swim upstream. Extensive pollution control efforts have resulted in a clean—up success story for the Naugatuck. What is Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)? Streams not only connect our lands to the river but also connect the river to our lands. Due to its size, constructing a new WWTP in Waterbury without temporarily impacting the river, proved difficult. "There's some really good stuff happening on the river," said Peterson, who grew up in Litchfield and remembers in her youth seeing different colors of industrial pollution staining the Naugatuck. The State of Connecticut has also been a dedicated partner in the reversal of the river’s declining health. Costing $124 million and taking three years (1997-2000) to construct, this advanced wastewater treatment facility features ammonia removal, total nitrogen removal and ultraviolet light disinfection – upgrades critical to ensuring continued improvements in the health of the Naugatuck River as well as Long Island Sound. Pollution and dams were the demise of the atlantic salmon along with other species. Among other things, the plan required removal or construction of fish passage facilities at several major dams within the watershed. About the Naugatuck River The Naugatcuk River follows Route 8 for most of its course, emptying into the Housatonic River near the Derby Dam. Industrialization of its valley and use of the river as a receiving stream for municipal sewage, and a wide variety of industrial wastes followed. NAUGATUCK — What most surprised Courtney McGinnis once she began to study the state of the Naugatuck River were the letters she received from people who lived near its banks. This region serves as a reminder of what the stunning river valley likely looked like before the Valley’s industrial revolution left its lasting footprints. By the time it reaches its confluence with the Housatonic, just 12 miles north of Long Island Sound, it is considered a ‘fourth order’ stream. Cuyahoga River was among the most polluted rivers in the US in the 20th century. A plan was therefore proposed to allow only very limited treatment at the existing facility while the new plant was being built. Waterbury's Sunday Republican-American newspaper on Oct 7 had an excellent look at the Naugatuck River one year after a power failure caused 5 million gallons of untreated sewage to enter the river. Because of its steep gradient, the Naugatuck River was well suited for waterpower and it was developed for this use very early in the history of Connecticut. The river's neighbors need to see that the Naugatuck's transformation from pariah to community asset is … In addition, eleven areas were selected for planting enhancements, which help improve water quality as well as habitat adjacent to and within the stream. Today, land use in the watershed is quite varied. These waterbodies were classified as impaired due to high levels of indicator bacteria.The majority of these segments are found in the southern section of the watershed (see map on DEP TMDL factsheet). Help improve the vitality of the Naugatuck River as a 2018 River Brigade Sponsor. Naugatuck River from bypass discharge location to at least the confluence with Beacon Hill Brook. However, the largest river fire of 1952 damaged several boats worth $1 million, a bridge, and a riverfront office. A subsequent report by the state Board of Health in 1915 described the river as badly polluted throughout its length and listed six municipal and 29 industrial waste sources on the river. Title: Summit Corporation of America, Final Permit, CT0001180, 12/21/2007 Author: US EPA, Region 1, Office of Ecosystem Protection Subject: Contains NPDES permit for Summit Corporation of America in Thomaston, CT to discharge to Naugatuck River In Watertown, the Fire District eliminated its discharge to Steele Brook, an important tributary to the Naugatuck, by linking instead to the new Waterbury WWTP, which received its own upgrades as well. Robushi and others in … The NRG Trail, a non-motorized multi-use trail, is being developed that will follow the river for 44 miles through all 11 Naugatuck River communities: Litchfield, Harwinton, Thomaston, Watertown, Waterbury, Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Ansonia and Derby. Particular emphasis was placed on improving the Waterbury WWTP, by far the largest wastewater plant on the river. The headwaters of the Naugatuck River, the ‘east branch’ and ‘west branch,’ originate in the towns of Winchester, Norfolk and Goshen in northwestern Connecticut before converging to form the main stem of the Naugatuck River. From Torrington south to Thomaston the river flows through a landscape dotted with rural, agricultural and suburban sections. At least 13 fires incidences have occurred on the river with the first fire occurring in 1868. The Naugatuck River was in a perilous state and the DEP worked in conjunction with local chapters of Trout Unlimited, the Naugatuck River Watershed Association and other advocacy groups and residents to revitalize the river. In the mid 1980s, the Connecticut Department of Energy & the Environment (DEEP, then known as the Department of Environmental Protection) took additional permitting measures based upon the biology of the river to further reduce toxic substances in industrial discharges. The Naugatuck River is the largest tributary of the Housatonic River, draining 311 square miles and portions of 27 towns. Streams not only connect our lands to the river but also connect the river to our lands. The plan required upgrades at nearly all of the WWTPs along the river. Unfortunately, much of the mid-to-lower portion of the Naugatuck River suffered through decades of industrial use, with chemicals and other industrial pollution damaging the water quality and severely impacting the river's wildlife. 2018 Naugatuck River Brigade After years of rehabilitative efforts, recent sewage spills have put a strain on the Naugatuck River ecosystem as it continues to heal from years of industrial pollution. Large quantities of industrial wastes from the brass mills and related metalworking industries, as well as wastes generated by the manufacturing of rubber, synthetic chemicals and textiles, were discharged to the river along with municipal sewage. The Naugatuck River, the Housatonic’s nost i ortant tributary, has historically been known for extremely poor quality. Massive pollution has characterized the river. “This is not a criminal investigation,” Deputy Police Chief Fred Spagnolo told The Waterbury Observer this afternoon. The ‘watershed’ that feeds water to the Naugatuck River drains 311 square miles, including portions of a total of 27 towns. Courtesy: Naugatuck-Pomperaug Chapter Trout Unlimited). An electrical accident at the Water Pollution Control facility in Waterbury on Columbus Day had uncorked 5,000,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Naugatuck River, effectively killing a several mile stretch of the watershed. In 1845, the largest brass mill in the United States was built in the City of Waterbury and by the early 1900s the Naugatuck Valley was one of the principal brass manufacturing regions of the world, a distinction, which remained through the 1960s. The Housatonic River (/ ˌ h uː s ə ˈ t ɒ n ɪ k / HOOS-ə-TON-ik) is a river, approximately 149 miles (240 km) long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. A workman's touch ignited the fire. But after so many years of abject pollution, few people know that. Fortunately, major changes in state and federal pollution control laws, upgrades to municipal waste water treatment plants, natural and intentional dam removal, and the transition away from heavy industry in the Valley have all contributed to vast improvements in the river’s water quality and wildlife population. Buffalo River is a holding basin for industrial and municipal waste. “They were stories of how the river has impacted their lives,” said McGinnis, an assistant professor of biology at Quinnipiac University in Hamden. The main stem flows 39 miles south from Torrington through Litchfield, Harwinton, Thomaston, Watertown, Waterbury, Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, and Ansonia before reaching its confluence with the Housatonic River in Derby, Connecticut. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant that the waterbody can absorb while still meeting waterquality standards. Naugatuck River Upper Section: From RT 118 (Harwinton-Litchfield) downstream to the Thomaston Dam ; Lower Section: From Prospect Street (Naugatuck) downstream to Pines Bridge Road (Beacon Falls) Shetucket River From the Scotland Dam (Scotland) downstream to the Occum Dam (Norwich) The regulations in Atlantic Salmon Management Areas are complex with specific gear restrictions, catch … The pollution they left behind, drew this reaction from the Waterbury river Brigade: “Honestly quite repulsive,” said Zak Robushi. 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