Ondatra Odyssey

Site Name

River Island

Meeting Location

We will launch from Linear Park, Vibert Rd Boat Launch, 4 Vibert Rd, South Windsor, CT. We will be bringing the trash out from there as well.

An alternative downstream landing site is the Bissel Bridge boat launch (265 E Barber St), 0.8 miles downstream on the west bank of the river in Windsor.

Event Description

Our site is an island in the Connecticut River! Teeming with mink, a nesting site for swallows, and occasional perch for bald eagles, this island is also a receptacle for trash stranded there at high tide, and left behind by partiers.

It is accessible only by water, about 0.3 miles south (downstream) of the launch site, Linear Park’s Vibert Rd Boat Launch in South Windsor. You may have seen the island to the north while driving over the I-291 bridge. It is forested with large sandy stretches at both ends during low flow. The upstream end is higher ground. We’ll be cleaning up a combination of items deposited during high flows and remnants of parties thrown on the island (stryofoam coolers, grills, cans, food packaging, floats, chairs). Note that the return trip will be upstream along the Connecticut River, unless folks want to arrange to leave vehicles at The Bissel Bridge boat launch (265 E Barber St), 0.8 miles downstream on the west bank of the river in Windsor. If you don’t have your own boat, I have a limited number of kayaks to lend for the event courtesy of the Connecticut River Conservancy – likewise, PFDs and gloves. We will primarily transport the trash using a jon boat and canoe. The event is timed to take advantage of the tide, and paddling is easy enough that I have done it with small children aboard. Nonetheless, it is a mighty river, so please only plan to make the trip if you are fairly confident in your paddling skills. We could also use support from shore.

If you’re wondering about the name – Ondatra is muskrat, a species declining in Connecticut. There is an old tale of Muskrat creating the world from the waters by diving deep to bring up a bit of earth. When we reach deeper to find time and motivation to dedicate ourselves to our community and environment, we help create the world in which we want to live.