Article on Sandspit in Sunday CT Post Today
Please take a moment to read the article published in the CT Post and Fairfield Citizen above. Please also read the replies to the article and make a comment.
It’s good that Bill Hurley, head of Fairfield’s Engineering Department, said that he agrees with the study’s conclusion that if the sand spit disappears then Great Marsh Island would follow. He’s quoted as saying, “That’s why we are taking it seriously.” He also said the town would look at the possibility of putting the sand back on the spit.
It was also good to see the DEEP go on record with the press stating that the DEEP has been in contact with us about our concerns and needs time to review the study and assess options before commenting. We know the state moves slowly and carefully. We will follow up with them.
It was disappointing to see that a spokeswoman for the City of Bridgeport stated that city officials haven’t seen the association’s report. We had sent the report to City officials in advance of our talk on July 2nd. Today, we sent the report to them again yesterday asking them to reply. There was no response last time.
We want to thank City Councilperson Scott Burns for taking your emails seriously and going to the sandspit with John Gomes, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for the City and Luis Burgos, Parks Department head. He’s also been in touch with Craig Nadrizny, the acting head of Public Works.
We also want to thank Rep. Steve Stafstrom for setting up a meeting with his counterpart in Fairfield, Cristin McCarthy Vahey who will both meet with the CT DEEP on this issue.
We now have the attention of the Town of Fairfield and the DEEP. The next step is to get the attention of the Mayor of the City of Bridgeport.
IMPORTANT
Please concentrate your email campaign on the Mayor’s office. mayor@bridgeportct.gov. We have had no response from the Mayor. This information needs to get attention above the level of the Parks Department, namely the Mayor’s office. Please ask the Mayor to respond to us on this issue.
$110 million in Federal funds will be flowing into Bridgeport. We have a shovel ready plan from 2014 to restore the sandspit. Let’s help Bridgeport see this as a priority to use some of those funds for habitat restoration of the sandspit, so that we prevent our sandspit from disappearing and with it, our tidal wetlands. Thank you!
We are providing a PDF copy of the slide show, so you can look closely at the photos (click on the link below) and more easily share the presentation with others:
We’ve also attached the scientific sandspit analysis from Bryan Quinn of OneNature and Dr. Stephen Danzer (2021). Click on the link above in blue.
Please express your concerns about the erosion of the sandspit. Ask that Bridgeport use federal funds for habitat restoration of the sandspit. You can forward this newsletter so that the Mayor cannot say he has not received a copy of the sandspit report and our presentation.
Send an email to the following:
Mayor Ganim mayor@bridgeportct.gov
Please also make a comment on the CT Post website on the article.
Thank you.
