The Oct. 14 Day story on the Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment (PAWSA) for the Thames River shed light on the Coast Guards efforts to assess river safety. (“Thames River users share successes and concerns of waterway navigation”) The report was circulated to some 24 parties, one of whom shared the draft with The Day.

The Thames has wide use, and challenging proposed future uses. The PAWSA, if made transparent for public input prior to finalization, could be a very useful forum for helping maintain safe use of the Thames River.

Current transportation, educational, fisheries, oyster aqua farming, recreational, commercial and DOD use requires all users to maintain vigilance and careful choreography in exercise of their vessels. The challenges are increasing with proposed offshore wind-related activities pending on State Pier, and the very large increase in river traffic the proposed Cashman Intermodal dredge spoils transfer facility in Gales Ferry and salt storage in Montville would introduce.

It would serve the public interest if The Day could help lead a comprehensive look at the future of the Thames and help generate a forum for all to exchange ideas on how to best balance competing interests. Getting the draft PAWSA into the public’s hands would be a good start.

Gabriel Stern

Gales Ferry