Housatonic River Natural Resource Restoration
 
 
  
 




USFWS


Mass EOEEA
 

 

 
Stantec Consulting
 Services Inc.

 

 

 

 

 
Natural resources of the Housatonic River Basin have been injured by the release of chemical wastes, primarily polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs"), from the General Electric facility in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.  The contamination has affected aquatic organisms and their habitats, as well as water-related natural resources such as waterfowl and predators that consume contaminated aquatic organisms.  In addition to the harm done to natural resources, natural resource services have been impaired.  Natural resource services are functions provided by natural resources for the benefit of humans or other natural resources, such as recreational fishing for humans or nesting habitats for birds.

Restoration is managed by a group of federal, state, and local stakeholders. A group of Trustees as well as Connecticut and Massachusetts SubCouncils have been convened to guide the restoration process and to solicit input from the public.

The MA SubCouncil has retained the assistance of Stantec Consulting (Stantec)1 through a contract with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to coordinate restoration activities. 

 

Latest News

  • Round 2 Habitat Restoration Update: Final Round 2 Restoration Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment Approved (08/9/11) - On June 14, 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs approved the Final Round 2 Restoration Plan And Supplemental Environmental Assessment (RP/SEA). The Final Round 2 RP/SEA may be found here:
    Final Round 2 Restoration Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment
     

  • Housatonic River Adventure Source-to-Sound Paddle Trip
    (05/03/11 – 05/12/11) –     The MA and CT Sub-Councils are sponsors of this trip which highlights many restoration projects that have been funded by the Trustees. Housatonic Valley Association, in partnership with Housatonic Heritage and local groups, has coordinated this event to provide educational, historical, and cultural programs for a 10-day period along the entire Housatonic River. Activities will include guided paddling trips on the Housatonic River, educational events highlighting various projects funded by the Housatonic Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration program, and other river related activities.
     

  • Additional information highlighting completed and ongoing restoration projects within Massachusetts and Connecticut portions of the Housatonic River Watershed may be found here:
    “Restoring the Housatonic River Watershed”

     
   

 

 

website
maintained by:
Stantec Consulting
Services Inc.

   1Field work and subsequent report filings performed prior to October 1, 2007, were done so as Woodlot Alternatives, Inc.  On October 1, 2007, Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. was acquired by Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.  
     
 
  

Massachusetts SubCouncil
100 Cambridge, 9th Floor| Boston, Massachusetts 02114
(617) 626-1000