The aquatic plant known as water chestnut (trapa natans) has shown its invasive
potential in recent years at many points along the Connecticut River and its
tributaries. In the Floating Meadows—the freshwater, tidal marshland formed
where the lower Coginchaug and Mattabesset Rivers converge between Middletown
and Cromwell— the presence of these plants was first recorded in 2009. The
Jonah Center and the Connecticut River Conservancy have been monitoring the
area closely since 2013, removing vast quantities of plants each year since
2016.
Water chestnut form expansive, dense patches on the water
surface. Left unchecked, these plants can choke off sunlight and oxygen,
threatening native plants, fish, fish-eating birds and other aquatic species. Some
waterways have become impassible by boat due to water chestnut infestation.
Work parties to remove plants (while they are still small)
are planned for Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m (rain date June 16), and Saturday,
July 13, at 9 a.m. (rain date July 14). Canoes and kayaks will start and finish
at the launch site at 181 Johnson Street in Middletown.
Water chestnut work parties are a fun and gratifying. How
often can you do something so specific and visible to help the environment
while enjoying such scenery from the water? Many new friendships are made while
the work is underway.
To receive updates on these and future work parties, subscribe to the Jonah Center Email Newsletter at
www.thejonahcenter.org. Your efforts will help save our
Floating Meadows and be much appreciated by everyone who takes part in this
effort.
From Rebecca MacLachlan.
From the Police Department
After the ribbon cutting, the 
John Basinger started committing all twelve books of John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” to memory in 1993. Since then, he has performed them at a variety of venues across the country, including; Poetry Alive in Asheville, North Carolina, 1997 National Slam Poetry Festival, The Connecticut Storytelling Festival, Bluffton University, Wesleyan University, Yale University, Three Rivers Community College, Trinity College (Hartford CT), Connecticut College, Southern Connecticut State University, Central Connecticut State University, South Congregational Church, Middletown CT, Middlesex Community College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Avol’s Bookstore in Madison WI, Edgartown (MA) Public Library, the University of Redlands, Regensburg University (Germany), Warren Wilson College, and Manhattanville College. He has also appeared at the Milton Academy in Milton, Mass., New London (CT) High School, Glastonbury (CT) High School, East Catholic High School (CT), The Buttonwood Tree (Middletown CT) and numerous living rooms, churches and theaters.
