North Canaan to gain river access point

NORTH CANAAN — The Board of Selectmen announced at their regular meeting on Monday, March 1, that an access point in town to the Housatonic River has been secured.

In a preliminary report with more to come at the April selectmen’s meeting, Selectman Christian Allyn said that the town is the only town in the Wild and Scenic river corridor that does not now offer recreational access.  

He has been working toward a solution through his position on the Housatonic River Commission (HRC), to which he was appointed in 2014.

Commenting further on the news on Wednesday, March 3, Allyn shared credit with Bill Tingley, HRC chairman; Mike Humphreys of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP); and DEEP Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble.

The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) also provided assistance, Allyn noted, praising the work of Executive Director Lynn Werner and Regional Conservation Director Tim Abbott.

The riverbanks are quite high and steep as the river passes through town, Allyn told the selectmen, preventing safe and convenient access along the way at most places. However, the longest stretch of lower-elevation banks was found on the property of the former Masonic Lodge, which had years before been the property of the Knights of Columbus.

In late December 2020, the DEEP purchased the 1.92-acre property that had been for sale for more than a year. The purchase price was $140,000, Allyn noted, and the funding will come from the DEEP Fisheries Division. The property lies along Route 44 (Salisbury Road), about one mile north of Dutcher’s Bridge.

One of the beauties of the property is that the riverbank is only 4 feet high along most of the property, Allyn said, making the work of providing a boat launch ramp fairly easy to accomplish. On a neighboring property, the riverbank stands at 8 feet.

Because the river is placid at that point, offering a lake-like experience, Allyn expected that visitors would be attracted to it for boating, fishing and picnicking, but not so much for swimming. Looking ahead, Allyn envisions that visitors drawn to town by the launch park will also visit local businesses and attractions.

Paddlers who want to experience Bartholomew’s Cobble, for example, a limestone bedrock feature in nearby Sheffield, Mass., will be expected to want to use the North Canaan river access point, Allyn predicted. The Cobble is a 329-acre landmark attraction along the river to the north, boasting lookout elevations, trails and noteworthy biodiversity.

As the project develops, Allyn indicated that volunteers will be needed to provide maintenance and coordinate improvements with the DEEP, such as signage and creating a picnic area.

More details are expected to be shared at the April selectmen’s meeting including the HRC’s proposed name for the new river access park, Allyn said.

Housing and COVID tests

To meet a requirement that all towns have an updated Affordable Housing Plan, First Selectman Charles Perotti announced that a committee of five or seven members will be named at the April selectmen’s meeting. An updated plan is due in 2022, and an estimated nine months is needed to create the plan.

Two new free-of-charge, Town Hall parking lot drive-through COVID-19 testing dates are planned for Thursdays, March 11 and March 25, between 1 and 4 p.m., Perotti announced. 

Everyone of any age is welcome whether or not a resident of North Canaan and regardless of experiencing symptoms or not. No ID or insurance is required. No appointment is necessary. There is a form to be completed in advance of the test, either on site, or the form can be accessed at www.northcanaan.org.