Ash Creek is one of the last remaining tidal estuaries in an urban environment in the United States. Over 50 years of citizen participation and activism have protected this tidal estuary from development and disruption of its fragile ecosystem. Years of industrial pollution and dumping took its toll on this ecosystem, but it has been self-restoring itself for the past 50 years.
Ash Creek is one of 15 stopover areas for migrating shorebirds along the Connecticut coastline. Palearctic shorebirds travel as far as from the Arctic Circle to Argentina and back. They need shallow tidal estuaries with mudflats upon which to feed and rest. There were hundreds of shallow tidal estuaries in Colonial times along the Connecticut coastline, but most have been lost to development.
This tidal estuary is also a natural shellfish bed and has played an important role in oyster seed production. There are many oyster beds along the shoreline of Connecticut, but very few in shallow tidal estuaries. The seed oysters are taken by commercial fishermen to Montauck Point to continue their growth before harvest.
To learn more about the Ash Creek tidal estuary, please visit our website at www.ashcreekassoc.org and consider joining as a member to help us continue to protect this precious natural resource. Thank you.
Gail Robinson, Ph.D., President, Ash Creek Conservation Association, Inc.
501 (c) 3 charitable organization (your membership and contributions are tax deductible)
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