I hope you enjoy this overview of some of my experience with the Connetticut river. These accounts are remeniscent of warmer days. There are photographs which accompany this post, which can be viewed here  http://picasaweb.google.com/Dhpc.Raptor/BestOfCTRiver?feat=directlink -Aaron __________________________________________________________________________             I've been on the Connecticut just about every summer for the past six or seven years, and more recently, the fall and spring too. I'm sure there is no one living in Northampton or the surrounding oblivious to its existence (after all, everyone traverses it once and awhile while crossing the Calvin Coolidge Bridge, route 202 or 116 on their way to Hadley, Amherst, or any other eastern lying town), But to fully appreciate this magnificent body of water, one needs to find themselves in some sort of water transportation. Extending over 65 miles in the state of Massachusetts (with the most navigable sections being south of Sunderland) The Connecticut is truly a gem still waiting to be discovered by many. The quality of the water has been controversial in recent years, but strong efforts have been made to restore and preserve the waters. Contaminants vary by season, particularly after a large flood, or during the spring thaw when sediments from nearby fields, along with anything else the water has picked up are carried downstream. These fluctiations in water level are normal, and ofren follow a large rain. Overall, there are very clean sections of the river, where visibility in the water can extend 14 feet or more straight down.              There are a number of ways someone can find themselves on the Connecticut. For the casual observer, the Rail Trail Bridge allows a walk over the entire river, with a nice mile and a half of visibility downstream. Want to get up close and personal? A variety of human propelled watercraft are available for rental, and If you happen to have your own canoe or kayak, the state access ramp is located on Rt. 5. Most of my experience on the river has come from my family's pontoon boat, which we dock at the Oxbow Marina during the summer season. A motorboat can be preferable, as currents can vary, and there are many miles of waterway to explore. During the summer months the waters are filled with boaters, water-skiers, people fishing, and swimming. Several excellent beaches, only available from the water are put to good use, sometimes by over 100 boats at a time during the busiest weekends. But for those seeking solitude, don't shy away. Between The Oxbow and Hatfield is the most traveled leg of the river north of the Holyoke Dam. Head up toward Sunderland falls, or down towards the Holyoke dam and your likely to be the only boat in sight.          The waters and shores of the river provide natural habitat for a wide variety of species of bird, fish, and other critters. Bass, trout, shad, and a number of bluegill are just a few of the fish you can easily net, if you know where to look.I've even heard there are eel lurking in the waters as well (yuk!)  The Arcadia wildlife sanctuary lines much of the shore of the Oxbow, and birds and waterfowl are a common site when passing through any part of the river. Some native and some migratory, the most interesting of these feathered flighted friends are the Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, The occasional Osprey, and Bald Eagle. These magnificent birds find serenity among the branches of trees, fallen limbs, and tall reeds of the banks. All of the above feed on fish and their hunting rituals are truly a spectacle to see firsthand. An increasing phenomenon however, is the fleets of mallards that have become accustomed to perusing motor boats, and ‘asking’ for handouts.  When you see 10-30 ducks all quacking angrily, it’s often hard not to respond with breadcrumbs or handfuls of crackers. I just hope these creatures don’t become completely reliant on humans to provide food for them, to the point where they can no longer feed themselves. Maybe people food just happens to taste better than algae. I’m no ornithologist…just speaking from experience.                                                    The Eagles are the most fun to observe, and a rush of excitement fills you when someone spots one perched on a high branch. What was once (from my understanding) a very rare species has now made a significant comeback, and populations right in the area are doing significantly well. Mind you, that the Riverbanks and shores of the Oxbow are the only places you’ll spot one of these birds in the valley.          Especially at sundown, the full tranquility of the river is exposed. With the sun gleaming red, reflected in the glassy still water, you can see the outlines of the Mt. Holyoke range, cast in shadow by the sunset. On one occurrence, (I’m not really sure of the true meteorological factors) the humidity and temperature were just right, to produce a ghastly mist, flowing like liquid on the surface of the water. The lighting was just perfect to make this thick white mist was a very beautiful sight.  Within a few minutes, it had blown away, leaving the orange sky to leave a final streak in the water just as it sunk below the horizon.                  Rowing on the Connecticut is a slightly different experience, but I’ll get to that in Part II. Thank you all for reading. I’d love to hear from anyone who read this and is interested, or would like to know more. I can be contacted via email at dhpc_raptor@yahoo.com I’ve also contributed extensively to Wikipedia’s article on The Oxbow