THE CUSH MISSION
The mission of CUSH, Inc. (Clean Up Sound and Harbors) is to clean up and protect Fisher's Island Sound and its coves, inlets, bays, rivers and harbors. Read More >
Latest News
A little Mystic history will slip away
By David Collins
Publication: The Day
Clean Up Sound and Harbors (CUSH,) has encountered up and down the river big pieces of a barge, which has been lodged on the bank of the river so long it is deteriorating and breaking up. It is about a third shorter than it used to be, and pieces of it floating in the river have become a hazard to navigation.
Removing the remains of the barge, spearheaded by CUSH, is no easy task. Local dock design and dredging companies have agreed to donate a lot of time and effort for the project. Surrounding property owners, including the seaport, have donated to the effort. The harbormaster has taken part and signed off.
Another $4,000 or so is still needed, and CUSH will welcome donations of any amount, either through Paypal or by mail: P.O. Box 883, Stonington, CT 06378.
Read More …
Continued monitoring of Mystic River urged in efforts to confront water quality
By Judy Benson
Publication: The Day
With the increasing presence of invasive species such as Japanese shrimp and sea squirts and signs of declining water quality, continued monitoring of conditions in the Mystic River has perhaps never been more important.
That was one of the messages conveyed by speakers at the annual meeting of the nonprofit environmental group CUSH - Clean Up Sound and Harbors - at Mystic Seaport Wednesday.
"We're seeing these drops in water quality in 2012, and it could be a simple blip, or it could be the wave of the future," Claire Gavin, director of the group's water quality testing program, said during her presentation, addressing an audience of about 50. "The only way to find out is to keep testing."
Read More …
"Boot the Barge" is Almost a Reality!
Attention boaters, fishermen, and sightseers along the Mystic River:
The remains of the old coal barge are well on the way to their final resting place — out of the Mystic River!
CUSH, the Town of Stonington, Mystic River Harbor Master, Mystic River Harbor Commission, Twisters Ice Cream and Docko have worked together to get the go-ahead for voting the barge in October, 2013. The permit, signed by CUSH and the Harbor Master, has now been authorized by the CTDEEP, the US Army Corps of Engineers.
An additional $10,000 is still needed to pay for the job. Read More…
To donate, please send checks to: CUSH, PO Box 883, Stonington, CT 06378
or donate online through PayPal by clicking the donate button below.
(All donations are tax deductible.)
Deteriorating Barge In River Will Be Removed
By Joe Wojtas
Publication: The Times
For decades anyone aboard a boat on the Mystic River or driving along Route 27 has seen a large rotting coal barge behind what was Kitchen Little and is now Twisters Ice Cream.
While it may have been an interesting topic of conversation, more recently it has begun to rapidly deteriorate sending timbers and rusty spikes into the river, posing a danger to both boats and people walking along the shoreline, according to Frances Hoffman, the president of the Clean Up Sound and Harbors.
She said the danger became apparent last year during a large coastal cleanup with Save the Bay and Clean the Bay when timbers and spikes from the barge were found in other areas of the river and along the shore. But the money and permits needed to remove the hulk were not available.
Read More …
