Westfield River Waterfront Cleanup

Photo Galleries: 2024 | 2023 The Westfield River is a high priority, ecological conservation area in southern New England and one of the healthiest tributaries of the Connecticut River. Its watershed includes both urban and rural communities and supports scenic, historic, and natural resources while providing a myriad of opportunities for outdoor recreation (WRWA, 2024). In recent years, the Western MA Chapter's Conservation Committee has collaborated with the Westfield River Watershed Association (WRWA) in their twice-yearly waterfront cleanup events. Led by AMC's Heather Wyman (a WRWA board member), we coordinate cleanup efforts in the area of the West Springfield levee in West Springfield, MA (see map). This levee is one of the largest systems in New England, helping to protect parts of western Massachusetts from flooding, while the surrounding area provides local families with a quiet place to enjoy the river. Throughout the year, trash accumulates in and between the homeless encampments that line the riverbank, and along the makeshift trails that residents use to access the river. Since 2020, we have removed over two tons of material from this area. This serves to protect native species, improve passageways for fish and wildlife, and preserve natural habitats, while making the area safer for families to visit. Today there is notably less trash on the trails.