KENT, Conn.—Informal discussion following the adjournment of the Inland Wetlands Commission meeting Monday night centered on the continued misuse of a stretch of the Housatonic River off North Kent Road.
The stretch of river attracts hordes of people during summer months but is unmanaged and has no lifeguards. The visitors often leave behind debris, neighbors complain of noise from groups partying along the river and there are no sanitary facilities, leading to unhygienic conditions.
North Kent Road, which exits off Route 7, has been closed this summer and parking is restricted on Route 7. Nevertheless, visitors continue to access the place in large numbers.
“They have been talking about a 100 people down there,” said IWC Chair Lynn Werner. “I’ve been there when there were 200 people. I’ve seen people walking across the river [from the west side] with their coolers, boomboxes and babies! It’s unfortunate, it’s been a problem for years.”
IWC member Ken Deitz remarked at Monday’s meeting that the approach from the western side is “steep and narrow with a Death Star ravine” and that he had difficulty traversing even on foot.
The topic came up at the last Board of Selectmen as well, when First Selectman Eric Epstein said the road closure would continue through Labor Day. Selectman Lynn Harrington encouraged him to continue it until Columbus Day, saying, “It’s beautiful here in September.” She also suggested a police presence to turn visitors away.
“The state police and I have been down there every weekend,” Epstein said. “The police are getting tired of it. We’re looking into installing steel gates, but we need DOT approval for that.”
Werner said it is unfortunate the spot cannot be made public. “It’s an ideal access spot and a fantastic swimming hole. We should all be able to enjoy it, but there is no management.”
She noted that there are multiple owners of shoreline properties, including the town, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Kent Land Trust and utility/railroad companies. “When something happens, everyone throws their hands up and nothing happens,” she said. “There is no clear understanding of where ownership starts. Nobody has money or resources.”
She expressed the opinion that the town could take a leadership role if it found some grant money and got the various stakeholders to the table to devise an enforceable agreement.
“It would take a lot of time,” she said. “You would have to find a way to allow people access and, when it is full, to shut it down. But that requires a person or people enforcing the agreement—and that takes money. It is not an easy problem to solve.”
During its regular meeting IWC members agreed to recommend Rick Osborne as a new alternate to the commission. The ordinance governing the IWC was recently altered at town meeting to allow town employees to serve on the commission. The Board of Selectman will make the appointment.
The commission quickly approved an application for tree removal at 69 Davis Road when Inland Wetlands Office Tai Kern reported that all the data required by the commission has been provided.
Kern also reported that the site plan for restoration planting at 43C Bridge Street had been provided and the work is in compliance.
