SOUTHWICK – Spring is finally here, and for many residents, that means getting boats ready for the water.
The Citizens Restoring Congamond (CRC) is kicking off boating season with its first meeting of the year tomorrow at Crabby Joe’s.
CRC Vice President Deb Herath said the group’s mission continues to be to preserve, protect, maintain and enhance the environmental, aesthetic, recreational and economic values and to promote watershed management of the Congamond Lakes and to provide education.
“The CRC’s mission is basically to keep the Congamond Lakes healthy,” Herath said. “Through membership and fundraisers, we contribute to the treatments of the lakes.”
The group is also raising funds to restore Babb’s Park, the site of a summer concert series hosted by the CRC.
“We’re trying to keep that park open to the communities of Southwick and Suffield and have it be a safe, fun place for children and families,” Herath said.
The CRC is seeking members, at a cost of $25 in dues per family, to help promote the lakes.
Herath said while many members are lake area residents, membership is not limited to those on the lakes.
“Everyone with an interest in the lakes is welcome,” Herath said. “We have people who come as far as New London (Conn.) to enjoy the lakes.”
Members participate in discussions about the lakes and are eligible to become officers, as well as vote on officers. Members also participate in the annual CRC Boat Parade.
The CRC lists the following as its objectives:
Encourage community involvement through volunteerism; Promote educational initiatives; Promote excellence in water quality standards; Promote sound watershed ecology; Promote the control of nuisance aquatic species; Promote water and boating safety; Interface with local, state and federal governmental bodies to facilitate financial support and to encourage continual process improvements in environmental regulations pertaining to lake management; and to provide a unified voice for the benefit of the Congamond Lakes.
Herath said Harbor Master and Police Chief David Ricardi will speak to the membership this year about boating safety at a future meeting, and other speakers and events are planned. The main focus of the meeting tomorrow will be the budget.
The CRC is registered with, and has received a certificate of appreciation from, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of it’s commitment to the protection and restoration of the nations water source. It has also won three times the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Green Circle Award. CRC has testified to the Connecticut legislature in support of funding to help clean up the lakes.
The CRC is a member of COLAP (Mass. Congress of Lakes and Ponds), LAPA West (Lakes & Ponds Association of Western Mass.) and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and is a member of the Southwick Association of Businesses and the Suffield Chamber of Commerce.
Herath said the CRC also supports canal restoration.
“We want to keep the lake outlets flowing,” she said.
Herath hopes anyone interested in the lakes will attend the meeting tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. to help keep the lakes healthy.
“There’s nothing finer than an afternoon on the lake,” said Herath.
