3. PLAN FOR STILL RIVER

GREENWAY AND RIVER TRAIL

IN NEW MILFORD, CT

RIVER TRAIL MAIN PAGE --- MANAGEMENT PLAN
1. DANBURY STILL INVENTORY --- 2. BROOKFIELD STILL INVENTORY
3. NEW MILFORD STILL INVENTORY -- 4. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC THRU NEW MILFORD
5. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC FROM BRIDGEWATER TO MONROE

Note: Much of this section summarized the 2007 Still River Greenway Report prepared for the HVCEO by Kozuchowski Environmental Services.

BROOKFIELD TOWN LINE NORTH TO CROSS ROAD
This segment enters New Milford immediately north of the pedestrian bridge on the Still River Preserve (lot # 4/34). The River itself is characterized by “meanders”, which are a series of looping curves and oxbows. The gradient of the river in this stretch is approximately 0.45 feet per mile. The distance along the River in this segment is 0.94 miles.

A potential put in and take out access point at the Still River Preserve would be almost on the Brookfield - New Milford Town Line. Access is from Route 7 on a now abandoned section of Aldrich Road, adjacent to and just north of the Gallows Hill Cemetery, proceeding easterly to the vicinity of the Still River.

The road then crosses the town line and reaches a point where both riverbanks are just barely on the Brookfield side of the line. The distance from Route 7 easterly in to the bank of the Still River here is about 900 feet.

The river is bounded by an expansive floodplain. The proposed Greenway trail enters New Milford at the Weantinogue property, along the River through a floodplain forest for approximately 750 feet, at which point there is a small tributary, which will need a boardwalk crossing.

After the tributary, the environment transitions to a floodplain field, until the northerly border of this lot. This property is permanently preserved as open space.

Aldrich Road parallels the river from the Brookfield line to Cross Road, providing emergency access to paddlers if ever needed. The vicinity of the Cross Road Bridge is potentially a good put in location for the River Trail

Immediately north of the Weantinogue parcel, the proposed Greenway enters property of the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (lot 4/38). This is a very strategic property with regard to development of the Greenway for 1) it is flat and accessible from Old Aldrich Road, and can be a parking alternative for proposed parking area D, and 2) it is a floodplain field that can be developed into an environmental education area for observations and nature study.

As implied, this is a point of interest, as this floodplain field can provide the user with the experience of the dynamic interaction of a floodplain with a River. It also abuts a relatively large open field area on the two properties to the north (together comprising 47 acres), which provides a sweeping vista of the floodplain field, (see photo below).

As the Greenway proceeds north into lots 7/86 and 7/76, the River curves through numerous oxbows, in some cases branching into “oxbow off of oxbows”.
This provides an opportunity to educate the recreational users with field understanding of the dynamics of a River cutting through a floodplain with graphic features, such as undercut banks, trees being undermined and the River gradually breaking through the neck of an oxbow.

View of floodplain looking from
Old Aldrich Road toward Route 7

The accessibility of this flat floodplain field is dependent upon moisture regime. During spring melt and after major storm events, this area is likely to remain wet for longer periods, as the dynamics of the River utilize the “sponge” of the floodplain more intensively than other stretches of floodplain forest or fields in the project area.

Hence, there may be a long-term value for installing a continuous boardwalk along the approximately 3300 linear feet of River on this property. However, given the high budget scope of a continuous boardwalk, this can be deferred, creating a mowed walking path with use restrictions for flooding events.

The two properties to the north of the DOT parcel – 7/86 and 7/76 – are privately owned and require an easement or acquisition. These properties are extensively posted, with no trespassing prohibitions. However, immediately north of 7/76, the Greenway re-enters publicly accessible land at lot 7/77.1, owned by the Weantinogue Land Trust.

A floodplain forest, with pockets of swamp, dominates this parcel as it travels along the Still River. The property ends at Cross Road. At the intersection of Cross and Erickson Road, there is an opportunity for proposed parking lot E.

Approximate location of proposed Parking Area E

FROM CROSS ROAD NORTH TO
CANDLEWOOD VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
North of Cross Road, Erickson Road and Aldrich Road parallels the Still River to the east. This road also runs close enough to the Still River and its many meanders are visible to passing traffic.

The proposed Greenway Trail crosses Cross Road and re-enters the property of Weantinogue Land Trust at parcel 7/20. The Greenway would then traverse approximately 2500 feet through a floodplain forest, interspersed with floodplain fields, swamp and two tributary crossings.

Travel along this property is very difficult with scrub growth, wet areas and tributary crossings. A significant effort will be needed to clear this property and maintain it over the years. The Greenway travels past the New Milford Animal Shelter, which is the site of another potential parking area (see lot F on map above).

At a point about half way between Cross Road and the bridge taking Erickson Road over the railroad tracks, between the right bank of the Still and Erickson Road is the Regional Animal Control Shelter. This Town of New Milford owned facility should be studied as a potential River TRail take out point, especially as one is needed in this vicinity before the upcoming rapids. The Still River is especially close to the north side of this property.

The paddling distance from the Brookfield border to this location is relatively long, 1.7 miles, due to the meandering of the River. Then just beyond the animal control shelter, the river straightens.

North of the animal shelter, the Still River and the proposed Greenway enters the property of Candlewood Valley Country Club (lot 10/21). The river flows past the golf course, with fairways abutting the river on both the east and west sides.

About .27 miles downstream from the animal control shelter the golf course has a pedestrian bridge over the Still River. This is a landmark and potential emergency access point. After this point the golf course is on both banks of the Still River. From the perspective of paddlers, the golf course provides a scenic quality.

The extension of the Greenway through this property poses the single most formidable challenge to the feasibility of this project, due to the extreme proximity of the River to the fairways of the golf course and the incompatibility and liabilities of walkers of the Trail and golfers playing the fairways.

The 2007 feasibility study prepared by Kozuchowski Environmental Consultants (KEC) identified alternatives for allowing users of the Greenway to safely pass through the fairway of the course along the River. An easement would be required with the owners of the golf course.

The alternative is to detour users of the Greenway entirely around this property. This would detour the user up to Erickson Road from Lot 7/20, walking along the road for approximately 1600-2400 feet, before re-entering the proposed Greenway from the east, into HarryBrooke Park.

However, this detour would require another easement from one of the four private residential properties along Erickson Road to the north. Although Erickson Road is not one of high traffic volume, there is a long-term drawback of this detour in that it “disconnects” the continuity of the Greenway, detracting from the functional integrity of the trail.

HARRYBROOKE PARK NORTH TO HOUSATONIC RIVER
The final property along this proposed River Trail section is Harrybrooke Park (lot 14/1). This Park is private – managed by the HarryBrooke Trust, which is under the direction of a Board of Directors. An easement would be required to allow passage through the Park (see KEC feasibility study for details).

Across from the northern end of the Candlewood Valley Country Club, the river flows to the west of HarryBrooke Park. The river descends steeply due to rapids and a waterfall: 20 feet in 0.1 miles. The severe rapids on the Still River abut the western edge of HarryBrooke Park.

A description of the Park states “There is a very nice area of small waterfalls and lots of white water as the river descends quickly over bear rock ledges heading northeast.” Park activities include picnicking, walking, playground use, fields for sports, Still River fishing in summer, hiking and cross country skiing.”

The 650 feet of the southerly end of Harrybrooke Park is a” no paddle zone.” Due to these rapids a mandatory take out location before or at the Park, coupled with the development of an overland portage route, are important planning issues. Across from Harrybrooke Park a landmark on the west bank is the Harrybrooke Condominium complex.

Paddling in from the Housatonic River to the
first Still River rapids. Source: hvpaddleclub.org.

The proposed Greenway path through the Park can initially pass close to the River, but would detour at the pavilion to the roadway that leads to the exit at the northern end of the Park.

At the end of the exit road there is an existing parking lot, which is designated as proposed parking lot G (see map above) for the Greenway. This parking area, within sight of the mouth of the Still River at the Housatonic River (across Still River Road) marks the northern terminus of the Greenway.

Proposed parking lot area G at end of Greenway

Downstream from the little entrance bridge into Harrybrooke Park there are three more bridges over the Still River as paddlers landmarks. The first is the old bridge that once carried Lanesville Road over the River. This bridge is now closed to vehicular traffic and open to pedestrians only. The parking for Harrybrooke Park, accessed off of Still River Road, is at the eastern end of this bridge.

Next along the watercourse is the bridge carrying Still River Road. This opened in the 1990's as a replacement for the Lanesville crossing just discussed.

A put in portage for long distance Still River paddlers needs to be developed in this general vicinity, in conjunction with the proposed Harrybrooke take out.

Just before it enters the Housatonic River, the Still River then flows under a bridge carrying the Housatonic Railroad. Then it enters the Housatonic River, which is part of Lake Lillinonah at this point.

According to its FERC permit, Lake Lillinonah elevations may vary from 193.8 feet to 198.3 feet. From the Marriott Courtyard in Danbury to the Housatonic River, there is an elevation drop of approximately 95 feet.

Finally, it should be noted that the extensive and scenic trail network that is being developed as Lover’s Leap is approximately one mile northeast of the Still River Greenway terminus. Users would be able to spot cars to travel this short distance or even hike along the side of the road to Lover’s Leap. This would be a significant dimension of interconnection of these two open space corridors.

The feasibility study prepared for HVCEO by KEC identifies the details regarding environmental points of interest and construction cost estimates.

SUMMARY OF RIVER TRAIL’S STILL
RIVER PADDLE DISTANCES IN NEW MILFORD CT:
.94 MILES, BK TOWN LINE TO CROSS RD. BRIDGE
.81 MILES, BRIDGE TO ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER
.27 MILES, SHELTER TO GOLF BRIDGE
.85 MILES, BRIDGE TO HARRYBROOKE RAPIDS
.39 MILES, RAPIDS TO STILL RIVER RD
.45 MILES, STILL RIVER RD. TO HOUSATONIC
3.71 MILES, TOTAL

RIVER TRAIL MAIN PAGE --- MANAGEMENT PLAN
1. DANBURY STILL INVENTORY --- 2. BROOKFIELD STILL INVENTORY
3. NEW MILFORD STILL INVENTORY -- 4. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC THRU NEW MILFORD
5. INVENTORY FOR HOUSATONIC FROM BRIDGEWATER TO MONROE