Upload
maina
View
26
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Conservation Efforts in Ash Creek. Ash Creek Conservation Association, Inc. July 18, 2009. Ash Creek Wasn’t Valued in the Past. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
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
1977 Aerial View of Ash Creek
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 state designated 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 Migration large 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
2004 Blue Heron Ball
Ganim Dock…
Ash Creek Art Fundraiser…
2006 Blue Heron Ball…
2006 Utility Bridge Fight
Utility Bridge Victory Party…
2008 Project Limulus…
Ash Creek Clean Ups…
Thank you