The Jonah
Center invites kayakers and canoeists to a group paddle in Middletown’s Floating
Meadows – a 1000 acre freshwater tidal marshland -- on Saturday, July 2, from
12 noon until 2:30 p.m. Paddlers will launch from the City of Middletown’s new
Phil Salafia Canoe and Kayak Launch at 181 Johnson Street, travel down the
Coginchaug River for a short distance to the Mattabesset River, and from there
paddle on the Mattabesset River upstream toward Cromwell. Water level in these
rivers is currently low, but the trip is timed to coincide with high tide.
Group
activities will include searching for and removing invasive water chestnut
plants, which pose a potential, serious threat to the health of local ponds and
waterways. Margot Burns from the RiverCOG (the regional planning agency) will
be with us to assist in this effort. Paddlers will also learn about the CT
Turtle Atlas as a way to help monitor and protect turtle populations. Photos of
turtles taken with cameras or smartphones using location services and submitted
via the app iNaturalist will help scientists document the need for measures to
protect all turtles whose numbers are in serious decline.
Paddlers
need to provide their own boats and lifejackets, as well as water and snacks
(if desired). Pre-registration is not required, but participants will be asked
to sign a liability waiver and photo use permission slip. The Jonah Center
requests a donation of $10 from each participant.
For more
information, contact John Hall at 860-398-3771.
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