The Monroe Town Council unanimously approved a $40,500 Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection grant to fund a plan to improve the water quality of Great Hollow Lake, which is part of the Poquonnock River.
Landscape architect Wayne Clarke worked with Monroe Land Use Dir. Scott Schatzlein to come up with a plan involving improvements to the river bank with plantings that may include blueberry bushes and Chestnut trees.
Marven Moss said the plantings will act as a filter, removing pollutants from runoff going into the river.
Public Works and Parks & Recreation employees will work with a private crew, hired with the grant money, to reshape and improve the river bank.
Moss said flat stones will be laid along the banks and riprap (smaller stones) will fill in space between the rocks to prevent erosion.
A footbridge will get new footings and a delta at the mouth of the river will be removed to improve water flow, according to Moss.
The the volunteers will prepare the land and do the plantings.
The town must pay a 40-percent match or $16,000 to use the grant funds and Moss said Clarke working pro bono and all of the volunteers' hours will account for the match.
Moss said the goals of the project are:
- Serve as a filter to improve water quality.
- Field mitigation and prevention of soil erosion.
- To beautify the landscape with plantings and trees at the most visible part of the Poquonnock River.
- Provide habitat for restoration of wildlife like turtles, rabbits and birds.
In past years Great Hollow Lake has had to be closed to swimming numerous times after runoff caused unsafe levels of E. Coli in the river. Though, last summer there were no closings for the first time in years. But Moss said it's believed that was due to less rain.
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