The health of the Still River has improved immensely since the Clean Water Act of 1972...
The Clean Water Act and local efforts to address end-of-pipe pollution have made great progress, but the job of restoring the Still River's full value as a community amenity is not complete. Many waterways are still listed as Impaired by the 2014 State of Connecticut Integrated Water Quality Report, and concentrations of pollutants in the waters of the Still regularly spike above levels considered safe for human contact.
The watershed management issues we face, (i.e. persistent pollution from non-point sources, flooding, and the desire for people to use the river for fishing and boating even when it is regularly not safe) all must be addressed at a watershed scale.
Watershed municipalities, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders have come together to develop a watershed-based management plan for the Still River. Ultimately, the Watershed Plan will provide a framework for stakeholders to work together to address shared concerns, and serve as a road map for restoring the Still River's full potential as a community amenity.