Once a ‘floating sewer,’ changes to the Connecticut River contribute to rebirth, hardship

NEPM, NHPR, Vermont Public and the NENC | By Ben James

Published September 4, 2024 at 5:00 AM EDT

Liz O'Gilvie is a farmer and director of the Food Policy Council in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Connecticut River is a haven for raptors, sea birds and dozens of species of migrating fish. It was also once home to some of the most polluting industries in the country.

This summer, reporter Ben James rode his bicycle the full length of the river. In the second part of our series, he talks to people in those formerly industrial communities about changes on and alongside the river – for better and for worse.

“Life on the Connecticut” was made possible through a partnership between NEPM, NHPR, Vermont Public and the New England News Collaborative.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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