MONROE, Connecticut (WFSB) – Dangerous debris is polluting valley waterways following Sunday’s devastating floods.

There are miles of debris scattered along the Stevenson Dam on Lake Zoar, and it’s not just sticks and branches, but also propane tanks, boats, jet skis, and even a small shed.

The Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection is working quickly to repair the damage, some of which poses a safety risk.

“We’re really talking about petroleum, gasoline and chemicals like that that we know pose a threat to the environment and, in certain quantities, pose a threat to public health,” said Emma Cimino, deputy director of environmental quality at CT DEEP.

According to Deputy Commissioner Emma Cimino, the Naugatuck, Housatonic and Little River areas are the areas where the most hazardous materials are found.

So far this week they have pulled out 30 propane tanks.

The cleanup work is extensive and could take months.

“Anyone who plans to navigate these waters should exercise extreme caution and perhaps stay away for the next week while we make sure everything is safe,” Cimino said.

The boat ramp at Lake Zoar was busy Wednesday evening as many people assessed the damage and began cleanup efforts, including Tim Kirby, who lives right on the lake.

He witnessed the enormous amounts of water during the storm.

“My wife and I stood on the back porch of our house as we watched docks and boats drift down the lake,” Kirby said.

Behind the boat ramp, right next to where the road was completely washed away, is the Lake Zoar Drive-In.

Owner Michael Basso is patiently waiting for health authority approval to reopen because there is a lot of hazardous waste in the area.

“For safety reasons, we had to have our water tested and hopefully we will get the results tomorrow,” Basso said.

The restaurant, built in 1920, still exists.

“My heart was pounding because I didn’t know if I would have a business after this,” Basso said. “We were lucky, very lucky. I like to say that we have angels watching over us.”

CT DEEP and First Light, the company that operates Stevenson Dam, will be out with drones Thursday to search for hazardous materials in the water and dig up as much of that debris as possible.

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