In early 2008, the Town of Fairfield conducted a dredging project for the entrance to the South Benson marina that resulted in the destruction of sand dunes and sea grass at the mouth of the Ash Creek Tidal Estuary in an area we call the St. Mary’s sand spit. ACCA retained the services of an environmental consultant, Richard Orson, Ph.D., to obtain an expert opinion on habitat restoration. We then met with the City of Bridgeport and the Town of Fairfield to develop a habitat restoration plan, obtain funding, and restore the area to prevent flooding of homes, shoreline erosion, and the destruction of the fragile ecological balance of the tidal estuary.
Our journey began in March 2021 with the first scientific study which we commissioned to understand the extent of the erosion in Ash Creek after a particularly drastic dredging operation in the channel to the marina that affected the barrier…
There are many studies required before any restoration technique can used in a tidal wetland. The fieldwork includes: a historic aerial analysis, cultural/indigenous land use history, topographic/bathymetric surveys, habitat assessment (marsh plants, fish, shellfish), tidal monitoring/datum, resource delineation, sediment/geotechnical characterization,…
On February 6, 2024, Laura Wildman, PE, Vice President of Ecological Restoration at Save the Sound (STS) announced a $600,000 grant had been awarded to STS for restoration planning at Ash Creek. This grant will cover a one year period.…
On October 10 & 11, 2023 we completed the work of planting 500 American Beach grass plugs inside the enclosure at the barrier spit. We want to thank 17 students from Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science & Technology Education Center, teachers Holly-Turner…
On June 27th, CT DEEP sent a letter to the City of Bridgeport Parks Department instructing them to repair the damage to the mudflat and prevent further damage. The City was told to “prepare and submit a plan to restore…
The signs are now up. but we don’t know the restoration plan yet as the City is reaching out for guidance from CT DEEP on the plantings. The City’s Restoration Plan is expected to be submitted to DEEP by early…
We last reported that on June 27th, CT DEEP sent a letter to the City of Bridgeport Parks Department requiring the City to repair the damage to the mudflat and prevent further damage. ACCA met with Bret Caulfield, Parks Superintendent…
THE PROBLEM Over the past few years, the digging for sandworms in the Ash Creek mudflat has accelerated. There are now over a thousand holes in the mudflat from the diggers, because the holes accumulate. The mudflat can’t restore itself…
Oliver Nurseries installed native ornamental grasses and pollinator friendly perennials near the bench at the corner of Gilman & Balmforth streets. This project was funded by community and ACCA member donations. This was part of the fall 2022 tree planting project.…
Ash Creek Conservation Association’s Habitat Protection Committee celebrated Earth Day by roping off areas at the Barrier Spit for the protection of nesting birds, reptiles, and arthropods. These measures, approved by the Bridgeport Parks Commission, are temporary during the nesting season. Rick Landau led the…
