Squannacook River Universal Access Project Press Release

"October 12, 2000

The Squan-A-Tissit Chapter of Trout Unlimited, based in Pepperell, MA. has constructed a Universal Access Fishing Site on the Squannacook River in Townsend, MA., at the end of Old Meetinghouse Road. The site consists of two casting areas connected by a 100' long path through a scenic hemlock grove, and can be used by spin cast, bait or flyfishermen. The Universal Access Site will provide safe and easy access to prime trout water on the Squannacook River for all fishermen, including men, women and children with disabilities, in wheelchairs or utilizing canes or walkers; for elderly anglers; and for parents with young children.

Trout Unlimited worked closely with the land owner, the MA. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and with Public Access, a department within the MA. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, as well as with the Townsend Conservation Commission, Board of Selectmen, and Highway Department, in order to complete the project. Work at the site was completed during the four weekends in the month of August, and involved approximately 20 volunteers. Over 250 man-hours of work was necessary to complete the project.

For the Squan-A-Tissit Chapter, selection of a site that offered quality, year round fishing was paramount. "This section of river has always been a great place to enjoy some quiet time fishing" said Chapter President, Michael Rosser. "While working on the project this August, we were always entertained by the many rising trout during the late afternoons. Hopefully these paths will enable others to enjoy the river and some great fishing."

While the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has constructed several other similar sites on lakes and ponds within the state, the Squan-A-Tissit Chapter believes this is the first such Universal Access Fishing Site on a major trout stream within the Commonwealth.

"We were thrilled to work with the Squan-A-Tissit Chapter of Trout Unlimited and with the land owner, the MA. Department of Environmental Management, on this worthwhile project" said Jack Shepard, the Director of Public Access, a department of the MA. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. "Its very unusual for a private organization to take the iniative to lead a project of this type through the local approval process and then to actually construct the thing. Based on this experience we would look forward to working with TU on other projects around the Commonwealth"

According to Don Stoddard, Regional Director of the Department of Environmental Management, the Squannacook River project fits nicely with recent efforts to make State Camping facilities at nearby Willard Brook and Pearl Hill State Parks, more accessible to people with disabilities. "Someone using the special facilities at Willard Brook or at Pearl Hill, can get into their vehicle and drive ten or fifteen minutes to the Universal Access Fishing Site and have a more complete outdoor experience. If the guys from Trout Unlimited hadn't approached us, we probably wouldn't have thought about or had the resources available to construct such a facility on our land at the Squannacook River."

The Squan-A-Tissit Chapter gratefully acknowledges the contributions of funding and/or materials from the following businesses, organizations and individuals, without whose help this Project would not have been possible: