Conservation Efforts in Ash Creek February 2011

Conservation Efforts

in Ash Creek

Ash Creek

Conservation

Association, Inc.

February 24, 2011

Our Mission

To preserve and protect one of the few

remaining tidal estuaries in an urban area in

the United States that provides an important

habitat for migratory shorebirds, oysters and

other shellfish, and an opportunity to

educate the public about this amazing,

fragile, and extraordinarily beautiful

ecosystem which has been self restoring

itself for more than 50 years.

Our Objectives - #1

To educate the public and

Bridgeport/Fairfield residents of the

significance of tidal estuaries such as Ash

Creek in their crucial role as delicate

environments for the maintenance of bird,

fish, and plant life

Our Objectives - #2

To educate about the potential source of

pollutants whenever there is human activity

in the area. For example, marinas and boat

usage increase toxins, affect nutrients, and

have an impact on the ecology of the Creek.

Our Objectives - #3

To advocate for the restoration and

protection of the Ash Creek tidal estuary

from ill-planned encroachments and

development which could significantly harm

the ecological balance of nature in the area.

Our Objectives - #4

To work for identification and designation

of especially sensitive areas in the Ash

Creek tidal estuary for special protection.

Our Objectives - #5

Obtaining designation of the Ash Creek

estuary as a wildlife sanctuary and

Connecticut coastal birding trail.

Our Objectives - #6

To develop sites and a trail along the Ash

Creek tidal estuary for visitor observations of

the variety of species of birds that visit and

nest there each year.

Our Objectives - #7

To encourage ecologically friendly uses of

Ash Creek and aesthetic enjoyment for the

people who live, work, and play in and

around it, including kayaking, canoeing, bird

watching, photography, painting, walking or

hiking and discourage destructive uses of

Ash Creek, including power boating and

docks.

History and Background

To understand our organization’s mission

and objectives, we need to take quick trip

back in time to the early 1900’s…

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

Notice that the tidal wetlands have

been eradicated completely…

Great Marsh Island as a

“Rich Man’s Paradise”

Replacing the tidal estuary with an

inland lake…

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

The first Ash Creek clean up…

Removed 28 Tons of Trash from Ash Creek

The entire community pitched in…

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 50 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 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 a

historic ruling that the DEP must now

consider the use of docks in making its

decisions, i.e. powerboat usage Update: after denying dock as a result of DEP

Adjudication Hearing process, DEP agreed to go to

mediation with Toner and now is allowing the 60’ dock, we

objected to this decision and are still awaiting final DEP

decision under new DEP commissioner)

Other Accomplishments…

Great Marsh Island ownership transferred from

developers to land trust & open space

Prevented utility bridge across Ash Creek (cables

went underground)

Habitat repair of Ash Creek sand spit after dredging

destroyed vegetation, ACCA volunteers planted

50,000 beach grass plugs

Semi-annual Ash Creek Clean Ups

Many interactive and education events involving

members and public

Events Sponsored in 2010…

February 28 – New Neighbors Social at the

Fayerweather Yacht Club, Speaker: Lisa Miro,

Conservation Director for City of Bridgeport

March 27– Spring Clean Up at Ash Creek

August 19 – Great Marsh Island Shorebird Hike at

Ash Creek (with Aspetuck Land Trust & led by Milan

Bull of CT Audubon)

September 25 – Fall Clean Up at Ash Creek


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

September 19 - Clean Up at Ash Creek

November 18 – Fall Event at Fayerweather Yacht Club

w. Prof. Mark Beekey, Sacred Heart University on

horseshoe crabs & migratory shorebirds


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


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


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


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


January 23 – Coastal Habitat Restoration in Black Rock –

presentation by Charles Brilvitch at Burroughs Community Center

March 18– Establishing National Wildlife Refuges in

Connecticut presentation by William Kolodnicki, Refuge

Manager, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

(USFWS) at Burrough Community Center


September 18 – Fall Clean Up of Ash Creek

November 19 – Ash Creek’s Importance as a Migratory

Flyway presentation by Milan Bull of Connecticut Audubon

Society at Burroughs Community Center



June 10 – Ash Creek Tidal Estuary as a Habitat for Nesting

and Migratory Shorebird presentation by Milan Bull, CT

Audubon, and Ecological History of Ash Creek presentation by

Ed Jones, Fairfield Department of Conservation, at Burrough

Community Center

September 13 – Ash Creek Bird Walk led by Milan Bull, CT

Audubon

October 18 – Ash Creek Photography Exhibit & Sale -

fundraiser at Burroughs Community Center

Grants Received…

2004 – $5,000 Rivers Alliance Grant for public watershed

education of Rooster River/Ash Creek watershed

RESULT – Created public watershed education road show with

PowerPoint presentation and handouts, including information on

stormwater runoff and what residents can do to prevent further

pollution. Program was readapted for use at St. Ann’s School in Black

Rock.

2003 – $2,000 NE Grassroots Environmental Fund to organize

and participate in DEP hearings against the construction of a 50’

dock in the Ash Creek Tidal Estuary

RESULT – Precedent setting ruling by DEP to not only reduce size of

dock, but to allow window of time during high tide when boat is allowed

to access the dock

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

Documents

Conservation Efforts in Ash Creek February 2011