If you drive by St. Mary’s, you’ll see a beautiful split rail fence at the barrier spit. This is for the purpose of directing foot traffic away from fragile vegetation. In the next two to three weeks (just to the north) some landscaping and planting will take place, along with completion of the last portion of fence.

We want to thank the Orange Fence Company, and most importantly Roger Ludwig and the Weny Foundation, for the installation and funding of the fence. Thanks also to Rick Landau for leading the project and team members: Pete Spain, Kate Spain, Diane Vulcano, Maxine Greenberg, Kraig Steffen, and Jen Groves.

On the northeastern slope, next to the Blue Star Garden, we will be planting native shrubs. The shrubs will include: Rosa Carolina and Red Osier Dogwood, Northern Bayberry, Inkberry, and Beach Plum. A split rail fence, matching the one at the Preserve, will be installed to protect the plants from trampling and create an entrance to the area.

Find out the latest updates on our restoration efforts in the Ash Creek tidal estuary.

ACCA Board Members, Rick Landau and Gail Robinson met with Laura Wildman, PE, Save the Sound's Regional Director of Ecological Restoration on October 18th to discuss a large scale restoration project for Ash Creek.

Oliver Nurseries planted two large native trees (Flowering Cherry & Sweet Bay Magnolia) at the bench site, corner of Gilman & Balmforth streets on the banks of Ash Creek. These are to replace the three fallen trees.

On October 13 & 14, Oliver Nurseries removed invasives, planted native trees, shrubs and perennials on the back dune of the barrier spit.

On October 13th, Oliver Nurseries planted 3 native trees and 6 native shrubs in the sunny eastern area of the Preserve at St. Mary's.

Senator Tony Hwang moderated an expert panel of state, town and non-profits working on coastal resiliency programs to protect, preserve and at time reclaim buffer meadows and estuaries from erosion and rampant development. Rising water level and frequent and severe weather is causing havoc and damage to CT coastlines along the Long Island Sound. This forum also offered recommendations on grant proposals for federal and state grant funds addressing coastal resilience.

Join Milan Bull, Director of Science and Research for the Connecticut Audubon Society, on a bird walk around Ash Creek on September 15th.

Join Milan Bull, Director of Science and Research for the Connecticut Audubon Society, on a bird walk around Ash Creek on September 3rd.

State and local officials gathered by Ash Creek on Monday, August 8th to laud the enhancement of Connecticut’s shellfish restoration program.

Fairfield and Bridgeport planted 42,000 American beach grass culms (Ammophila Brevilgulata) on barrier spit.

While the longer term restoration effort has yet to be addressed, we made significant progress on a short-term planting effort to prevent further erosion on the sand spit through an agreement to plant 42,000 plugs of American Beach grass. The cost will be split between Bridgeport and Fairfield. The plantings should be completed by March 2022.

Fairfield and Bridgeport unveil plan to protect Ash Creek and prevent worsening flooding.

We want to bring you up to date on our progress with getting the Town of Fairfield, the City of Bridgeport to address the erosion issue in the Ash Creek tidal estuary.

Fairfield and Bridgeport will be meeting on October 6th to discuss the erosion on the sand spit. Please encourage Mayor Ganim to work with the Town of Fairfield on the interim plan of planting 42,000 plugs of American Beach grass and committing to working with the Town of Fairfield, CT DEEP, CIRCA, and MetroCOG on a long term plan for restoration of the sand spit, which likely will require going after federal funds.