Contributed photo
SEYMOUR — After public outcry on social media, state and local officials are taking a closer look at a trash-clogged canal off the Naugatuck River.
(UPDATE: Selectwoman Annemarie Drugonis, a member of the Seymour Board of Selectman, posted a comment on the Valley Indy Facebook page May 3 saying the canal at the center of this story had been cleaned)
Firefighters Monday rescued a dog who was stuck in the canal, which is next to MetroNorth train tracks and the Kinneytown Dam. The photos and video of the rescue showed water stuffed with plastic bottles, a few car tires, and other debris.
Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller said it’s not clear who owns the canal.
“We are trying to determine who’s land it actually is,” he said. “It is by the rail tracks so there is a lot that would go into cleaning the area. Hopefully we will have something in the next few days.”
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection also said that agency is looking into the matter.
“These images demonstrate the unfortunate impact that litter, especially plastic containers, can have on our waterways. DEEP’s waste management staff will evaluate to see if any violations of environmental standards have occurred,” said Will Healey, a spokesman for the department.
The Kinneytown Dam next to the canal is owned by Kinneytown Hydro Co., Inc., which is part of Enel Green Power, a multi-national energy company.
The circle shows the spot where the dog and trash were found.
In a Facebook post a Monday, Seymour Fire Department Chief Michael Lombardi warned residents not to wade into the canal to clean the junk.
“While we appreciate everyone’s eagerness to clean up the area, we advise you not to enter the water attempting to clean it up yourselves. We are working with the appropriate authorities to determine the next steps on how to remove the debris,” Lombardi said.
The Naugatuck River Revival Group, a nonprofit environmental group, said canal is often clog with debris.
In an interview with WTNH, Kevin Zak, the group’s president, said garbage makes its way into storm drains from all the towns along the Naugatuck River. He suggested the towns look at installing “trash excluders“ into the storm drains or catch basins. The excluders are devices that filter out things such as plastic water bottles.
The dog, by the way, is fine and was reunited with her owner.
