Northeast Coastal Areas Study
Significant Coastal Habitats
Site 24 (CT)
I. SITE NAME: Greater Hammonasset Complex
II. LOCATION: This complex is located along the central coast of Connecticut on the north shore of Long Island Sound, between the Towns of Madison and Westbrook.
TOWNS: Madison, Clinton, Westbrook
COUNTIES: New Haven, Middlesex
STATE: Connecticut
USGS 7.5 MIN QUADS: Essex, Conn 41072-34;
Clinton, Conn 41072-35
USGS 30x60 MIN QUAD: New Haven 41072-A1
III. GENERAL BOUNDARY: The boundary of this complex extends west to east from the nearshore area of Tuxis Island and the adjacent Connecticut mainland to Menunketesuck Island, a distance of about 12 miles (19 km), and inland to the limits of anadromous fish passage up the Hammonasset, Indian, Menunketesuck and Patchogue Rivers. In addition to those areas mentioned, the following areas are also included within this complex: Tuxis Island, Hammonasset State Park and marshes, Cedar Island, Clinton Harbor, Harbor View Beach, Hammock River wetlands, Indian River wetlands and Duck Island.
IV. OWNERSHIP/PROTECTED STATUS: Ownership is a mixed pattern of public lands and waters and private lands, including Hammonasset State Park and Natural Area Preserve, Hammock River Marsh Wildlife Area, Black Pond Wildlife Area, Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge and Duck Island Wildlife Area (Town). Menunketesuck Island is privately owned; Tuxis Island is owned by the Town of Madison.
V. GENERAL HABITAT DESCRIPTION: The Menunketesuck River is one of several streams draining the south-central Connecticut coast and is tidal in its lower reaches. The river marsh is estuarine tidal marsh and grades from fresh into salt marsh as it enters Long Island Sound. In its lower reaches, it is dominated by saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), with saltmarsh cordgrass (S. alterniflora) growing along the tidal creeks and old mosquito ditches. Upstream, wild rice (Zizania aquatica) occurs in small stands. The adjacent upland is forested with hardwoods, predominantly red oak (Quercus rubra) and pignut hickory (Carya glabra). The marsh-upland edge includes cattail (Typha angustifolia), common reed (Phragmites australis) and various sedges. Menunketesuck Island is a rocky, shrub-covered upland dominated by bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) and beach plum (Prunus maritima), with a long sandy spit to the north. Duck and Tuxis Islands are small rocky islets with shrub thickets and rocky shorelines. The tidal estuarine wetlands, both salt and brackish, at Hammonasset and Hammock River and other areas in this complex are similar to those at Menunketesuck. There are extensive beds of eelgrass (Zostera marina) and intertidal flats at the mouth of the Hammonasset River. Several relatively small and undeveloped barrier sand beaches are found in this complex, often with dunes and beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) vegetation. Mean tidal range in this area is 4.5 feet (1.37 m).
VI. SIGNIFICANCE/UNIQUENESS OF AREA: The estuarine marshes of this complex, including Hammonasset and Menunketesuck marshes, are important areas for wintering waterfowl, especially American black duck (Anas rubripes), red-breasted and common mergansers (Mergus serrator and M. merganser, respectively) and bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), and for migrating and wintering raptors, including ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). Osprey and seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) nest in these marshes. Large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds use this area during migration; intertidal flats around the marsh are prime feeding areas for wading birds. At least four State rare plant species of intertidal mud flats occur here, including the regionally rare Parker's pipewort (Eriocaulon parkeri). Several of the beaches and islands (Tuxis, Menunketesuck and Duck) have nesting colonies of piping plover (Charadrius melodus), a U.S. Threatened species, roseate tern (Sterna dougallii), a U.S. Endangered species, common tern (Sterna hirundo), least tern (Sterna antillarum) and American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus). Menunketesuck Island contains one of the two largest nesting colonies of least tern in Connecticut, a species that has suffered greatly in the past from human disturbance. Common terns also nest here. The intertidal mud flats at the mouth of the Hammonasset River are one of the largest and most exemplary natural wetland areas of this type in the State, and are important feeding areas for many shorebirds, including willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus), which nests in this area, and great blue heron (Ardea herodias). The nearshore waters and sediments of this complex contain large concentrations of American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and are important spawning and nursery areas for winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus); this area is also significant for its high diversity of marine fishes. The rivers have important anadromous fish runs of sea-run brown trout (Salmo trutta), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), blueback herring (A. aestivalis), American shad (A. sapidissima), white perch (Morone americana) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).
VII. THREATS: Disturbances to nesting colonies of piping plover and terns on beaches and islands in this complex should be given high priority among resource issues. These colonies are extremely vulnerable to human-related disturbances ranging from trampling of eggs and nests by beach-walkers and picnickers and deliberate vandalism to predation by unrestrained dogs and cats and other mammalian predators. With increasing shoreline and marina development in the area, resulting in some instances in outright destruction of habitat, there are also serious potential threats to the water quality of rivers and nearshore waters from discharges of pesticides, road runoff, farmland fertilizers, and sewage discharges, which can greatly reduce habitat quality for the many significant populations and seasonal concentrations of fish and wildlife species using this area. Increased turbidity and alterations of channels and tidal currents due to dredging are also issues of concern, including deposition of spoils on inappropriate areas, although such materials can also be used for improving beach habitats of nesting birds. Erosion of sand dunes and bluffs in the Hammonasset area due to unregulated pedestrian access is a problem in this area.
VIII. CONSERVATION CONSIDERATIONS: Piping plover and tern nesting areas need to be afforded maximum protection, employing all available means to prevent the intrusion of humans and stray animals into these areas during the critical nesting season (mid-April to August), including fenced exclosures, posting, beach warden patrols, predator removal and public education. Efforts should also be made to identify and implement those tasks and objectives of the piping plover and roseate tern recovery plans that may be applicable to nesting areas in this complex, particularly those involving habitat restoration and enhancement of degraded areas. Protection of nesting areas on private property should be accomplished to the greatest extent practicable and feasible through the use of cooperative agreements and conservation easements. There are numerous opportunities and challenges throughout this complex for various governmental agencies, private conservation organizations and private landowners to work cooperatively in conserving and protecting this valuable complex of fish, wildlife and plant habitats.
Certain privately-owned parcels in the Menunketesuck area should be considered for acquisition by the Federal government as additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System (Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge) so as to protect and manage them for their significant regional biological values. These sites, along with Great Meadows Marsh and Norwalk Islands, were the subjects of a November 1989 Environmental Assessment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on proposed additions to the Stewart B. McKinney and Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuges.
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