Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game helps Town of Lee and partners provide access to the Housatonic River
Looking for a new stretch of the Housatonic River to explore? In the final days of 2025, a consortium including the State of Massachusetts, the Town of Lee, the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA), and a private consultant purchased a 4-acre parcel in South Lee for public access and a canoe take-out. The parcel is located upstream of Willow Mill Dam and opens a reach that has been difficult to access for lack of a safe take-out.
This reach is described in HVA’s A Paddling Guide to the Housatonic River in Berkshire County as featuring “magnificent views of Beartown Mountain and opportunities to see a variety of wildlife: blue herons, muskrats, beavers, deer, bald eagles, and more.”
According to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Conservation Restriction, in addition to its open space and recreational value, the parcel includes areas designated as “Priority Habitats of Rare and Endangered Species, “Wetland Core Habitat,” and “Wetland Core Buffer,” as defined by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
“This project reconnects people to an extraordinary stretch of river and ensures it will remain accessible for generations to come,” says Erik Reardon, Berkshire Watershed Director for the Housatonic Valley Association.
Whether fishing, birding, or floating for fun, paddlers will see an extensive network of protected lands along this stretch of the river. The run starts at the Lee Athletic Fields, owned and protected by the Town of Lee, then passes through reserves held by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MassWildlife’s Hop Brook Wildlife Management Area, past private Agricultural Preservation Restrictions, and past part of the Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Beartown State Forest.
“It is a stretch of river that has seen tremendous public investment in land conservation, but until now, it has been difficult for the public to experience and enjoy,” says Narain Schroeder of Tanager LLC.
The new access and canoe take-out spot is located directly upstream from Meadow Street Bridge and is permanently protected for public access. Partners include the Town of Lee, who will own the property; Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and its Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (“MassWildlife”), whose purchase of Conservation Restriction helped make the acquisition possible; the Housatonic Valley Association; and Schroeder whose consulting firm, Tanager LLC, applied for and received a Community Preservation Grant of $100,000 for the acquisition. Schroeder donated his time.
“The town is very appreciative of all the individuals and organizations that made this possible. The town will continue to work with these organizations to create parking on the parcel and cut a simple trail to the water,” says Town Administrator, Chris Brittain. “Plan to get your canoes down from the rafters this spring and come enjoy this magnificent reach of the Housatonic.”
“We are pleased to work with the Town of Lee and the other local partners in the conservation of this land and improved access to the Housatonic River,” says Department of Fish and Game Commissioner, Tom O’Shea. “Biodiversity protection and improved outdoor recreation are important to DFG and MassWildlife, and we look to partners such as municipalities and local conservation organizations to achieve these key priorities.”
