Black River Action Team

It was a road trip kind of day today! Knapp Pond 1 and 2 to install LineKeeper units with two terrific volunteers, then up Route 100 to collect my water samples from a small stream and pick up the samples taken at other sites by four other volunteers...a quick pit stop for The Best Maple Creamee in the Known Universe () - thanks, Lydia, for adding some mouth-watering maple dust!...and a final spur-of-the-moment stop on the way out of Ludlow for a yummy hand-squeezed lemonade with Amanda. She's planning to be at the lot next to Knight's Hot Tubs every weekend, with her kiddos!

Our public fishing spots should be clean and available for all to use - it only takes one lazy or thoughtless person to make big mess that impacts everyone else. Garbage is often left behind at Hoyt's Landing in Springfield.

What can you do to help? Pack out whatever you packed in...properly dispose of your own trash.

Use the LineKeeper receptacle if there is one, to deposit your waste line, hooks, and tackle. Huge thanks to Kem and Svetlana for helping me install TWO LineKeepers, one at each of the Knapp ponds in Cavendish! They have also generously committed to emptying both receptacles when they visit the ponds for their regular seasonal water quality monitoring.

Switch from lead-based sinkers to other alternatives, available at many online retailers: https://fishleadfree.org/online-retailers/

Keep our waterways and wildlife healthy and safe for everyone, including waterfowl and other birds that depend on the rivers, lakes, and ponds for their habitat!

All our swimming holes are looking GOOD for bacteria levels again!