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Conservation Efforts in Ash Creek. Ash Creek Conservation Association, Inc. July 18, 2009. Ash Creek Wasn’t Valued in the Past.
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Conservation Efforts in Ash Creek Ash Creek Conservation Association, Inc. July 18, 2009
Ash Creek Wasn’t Valued in the Past • “Upriver to the Post Road bridge, is an estuary-traversed marsh, of no good to anyone. If this area could either be made into a safe inland pond or a suitable yacht basin, people innumerable, from both neighboring communities would be benefited.” Bridgeport Telegram, 1952
Here’s a Good Idea… Great Marsh Island as a “Rich Man’s Paradise”
And another great idea… Inland Lake with Dam
First Ash Creek Association • Formed in 1967 to preserve natural shoreline of Ash Creek and prevent fill and water pollution, preserve the remaining marshlands as a home for wildlife • They were catalyzed into action by a zoning permit on Livingston Avenue to fill in part of Ash Creek • Gathered the support of legislators and conservation groups throughout state
And We Think Our Cleanups Are Hard… Removed 28 Tons of Trash from Ash Creek
Do Kids Do This Stuff Any More… After this, we pull out the Chevy…
We Owe a Lot to Their Efforts • Active for about 20 years (1967 to 1987) • Like us they… • Worked closely with the Connecticut Audubon Society and CT Conservation Association • Fought long legal battles with state agencies Without their efforts, we would not have an Ash Creek to protect today
Thanks to Their Efforts • Ash Creek is one of the last healthy tidal estuaries in an urban area in the United States • It has been self-restoring itself for the past 30 years because of the clean ups and prevention of fills & development • Serves as a defacto wildlife sanctuary for nesting and migratory birds, shellfish, and finfish
Did You Know… • Ash Creek is one of the key stopover areas on the Eastern seaboard for palearctic shorebirds • Some migrate from the Arctic Circle to Argentina • Mudflats provide the food • Natural surroundings provide rest – afraid of docks and development Ash Creek is one of the last 15 stopovers for migratory shorebirds left in Connecticut
Did You Know… • Oysters have a high mortality rate – easily smothered by silt stirred up by powerboats • Commercial oyster growers rely on Ash Creek for seed oysters – very rare to find shallow water oyster bed – Bureau of Aquaculture considers Ash Creek to be a precious resource for seed oysters Lower part of Ash Creek is a statedesignated natural sea oyster bed
Present Ash Creek Association • 16 year interval between associations • April 2003, the Ash Creek Conservation Association (ACCA) was formed • The group was catalyzed into organizing by Ganim’s plan for a 50’ dock on Ash Creek • ACCA believed the delicate ecological balance that exists in lower Ash Creek could be disrupted by the presence of docks and powerboat activity
Why We Fight Docks in Ash Creek • Shoreline equivalent of urban sprawl – development destroys the fringing tidal wetlands and the natural beauty we all enjoy • Given the shallowness and small size of this tidal estuary, the impact of powerboats have more impact than in other settings • Presence of manmade structures along with noise and motion from powerboats disturb migratory and nesting birds
Dock Accomplishments • Reduced Ganim 50’ dock to 31’ • Reduced Mears 85’ dock to 35’ • DEP denied 60’ Toner dock and made historic ruling that could prevent docks from ever being built in tidal estuaries in Connecticut – DEP must now consider the use of docks in making its decisions
Other Accomplishments… • Great Marsh Island ownership transferred from developers to land trust & open space • Prevented utility bridge across Ash Creek • Annual Ash Creek & Sound Clean Ups • Education on ecological issues • Bird walks, historical tours, and other events
Events Sponsored in 2009… • March 15 – New Neighbors Social at the Fayerweather Yacht Club • April 18 - Beach Grass Plantings at Ash Creek • May 12 – Audubon Bird Walk at Ash Creek with Milan Bull • May 16 – Clean Up at Ash Creek • July 18 – Victory Party at Harborview Market
Events Sponsored in 2008… • February 2 – New Neighbors Social at the Fayerweather Yacht Club featuring Charles Brilvitch on the history of Black Rock • April 26 – Spring Clean Up at Ash Creek • May 15 – Audubon Bird Walk at Ash Creek with Milan Bull • May 17 – Project Limulus at Ash Creek • September 20 – Fall Clean Up at Ash Creek • October 7 – Public Hearing on Toner Dock • October 25 – Beach Grass Plantings at sand spit
Events Sponsored in 2007… • March 19 – Ash Creek/Rooster River Watershed seminar presented by Professor Kraig Steffen, Fairfield University at Black Rock Arts Center • March 21 – Ash Creek/Rooster River Watershed seminar presented by Professor Kraig Steffen, Fairfield University at Connecticut Audubon Society in Fairfield • March 24 – New Neighbors Social at the Fayerweather Yacht Club featuring Charles Brilvitch on the history of Black Rock • May 5 – Spring Clean Up of Ash Creek • July 26 – Audubon Bird Walk with Milan Bull
Events Sponsored in 2006… • January 28 – New Neighbors Social at the Fayerweather Yacht Club featuring Dr. Art Samuelson on the history of Black Rock. • March 27 – Backyard Birding & the Ash Creek Ecosystem by Professor Tod Osier from Fairfield University • April 29 – Spring Clean Up of Ash Creek • June 17 – Great Marsh Island Celebration for the preservation of Great Marsh Island by the Aspetuck Land Trust and Town of Fairfield with refreshments and a walking tour of Ash Creek led by Milan Bull. • October 6 – Utility Bridge public meeting with CL&P and Black Rock/Fairfield community. Slide show and mock ups by CL&P. Slide show by ACCA. Q&A followed. • September 16 – Fall Clean Up of Ash Creek • November 13 - DEP Public Hearing on Utility Bridge • December 5 – Victory Party at Harborview for Utility Bridge
Events Sponsored in 2005… • January 27 - Winged Migrationlarge screen showing of DVD at Connecticut Audubon Society Center in Fairfield – open to public • April 30 – Spring Clean Up of Ash Creek -for the first year the clean up on both sides of Ash Creek was coordinated • September 7 – Bird Tour of Ash Creek was held at 7 PM along Ash Creek by Professor Kraig Steffen • September 17 - Walking Tour of Historical Black Rock and Black Rock's maritime past by Charles Brilvitch will be held at 1 PM this Saturday starting at Harborview Market • September 24 – Fall Clean Up of Ash Creek which we also coordinated with Mill River Wetlands Committee
Some Memorable Moments… Bird Tours
