Canoe & Kayak Paddle -- July 2 on the “Floating Meadows”

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.