Atlantic coast joint venture waterfowl implementation plan

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. Development of upland edges of saltmarshes threatens the loss of important buffer zones for these fragile habitats. Forest fragmentation due to development threatens the integrity of forest habitats at Salt Meadow Unit, as well as migratory corridors leading to this important land bird stopover area. Early succession habitats at Salt Meadow Unit are in need of active management to prevent conversion of declining habitat type to later successional stages.

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.

This marsh/barrier beach/river focus area encompasses 2,840 hectares (7,017 acres) and is located on the southwestern Connecticut shoreline of western Long Island Sound between the mouth of the Housatonic River and Bridgeport Harbor. Portions of the lower Housatonic River are also included. The area boundary includes all of Long Beach, Pleasure Beach and Great Meadows Marsh, just east of Bridgeport Harbor, eastward to Lordship Beach, the mouth of the Housatonic River, Milford Point, Charles Island, and the Charles E. Wheeler State Wildlife Area (Nells Island marshes) and from there northward up the river to Derby Dam.

Most of the Great Meadows marsh is in public ownership. The majority of the marsh is owned by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Stewart B. McKinney NWR). Long Beach is owned by the Town of Stratford. There is a colony of beach cottages at the western end of Long Beach that is leased from the Town. The Town cooperates with State personnel in managing the shorebird nesting area on Long Beach. Milford Point includes Federal (Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge) and privately-owned (CT Audubon) parcels. The Connecticut Audubon leases this piece of Milford Point from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Nells Island/Wheeler State Wildlife Management Area and several marshy islands upstream are owned and managed by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

Approximately 111 hectares (275 acres) of tidal wetlands within the focus area need acquisition and/or enhancement. Of this figure, approximately 81 hectares (200 acres) are privately owned and could be considered in need of acquisition. New programs in place, such as the Landowner Incentive Program, could allow for the restoration and enhancement of many of these privately-owned wetlands. Statewide, no estimate of wetlands in need of acquisition and/or enhancement is available.

Since 1988, approximately 16 hectares (41 acres) of wetland habitat within the focus area have been enhanced. Enhancement has been achieved through the use of open marsh water management techniques. An additional 10 hectares (25 acres) have undergone intensive vegetation control (Phragmites control). Statewide, in areas outside of ACJV focus areas, approximately 187 hectares (463 acres) of inland wetlands have undergone either enhancement or restoration activities. An additional 182 hectares (452 acres) have been controlled for exotic vegetation.

Special Recognition:

Milford Point, Great Meadows, Charles Island, and Nell’s Island are all designated as Important Bird Areas (IBA) by the National Audubon Society.

Great Meadows is of high regional significance in that it contains the largest block of un-ditched high salt marsh 91 hectares (225 acres) left in the State of Connecticut. The marsh provides an important wintering, nesting and migration habitat for many waterfowl species, including Atlantic Brant, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Canvasback, and Greater and Lesser Scaup. The near shore waters along the coast from Bridgeport to Milford often harbor large wintering flocks of scaup and scoters.

The entire area is heavily used during migration by numerous species of shorebirds, especially the mud flats. Willet, Red Knot, various species of sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, and Whimbrel are prevalent in the area during migration. Wading birds breeding on the Norwalk Islands also utilize the mudflats around these marshes for feeding. The marsh is used as a feeding area by migrating and wintering raptors such as Northern Harrier, Osprey, Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green-backed Heron, American and Least Bittern and Pied-billed Grebe have been recorded as nesting in the Great Meadows marsh. Undisturbed portions of Long Beach support small nesting populations of Piping Plover, a U.S. Threatened species, American Oystercatcher, Common and Least Tern, Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper. Roseate Tern, a U.S. Endangered species, historically nested in this area. During migration, upwards of 5,000 shorebirds roost on the beaches above high tide. Some of the State's best examples of backdune sandflat communities occur on Long Beach and Pleasure Beach.

Private development, storm water discharges, marine sand and gravel mining, marina construction and channel dredging are of immediate and potential threat to the habitats in this complex, particularly surrounding the Great Meadows marsh area, both in reducing available wildlife habitat area and increasing the level of human disturbance and the risk of contaminants and degraded water quality in the general area. Lead is a major contaminant in the vicinity of Lordship Point, the result of this area being a popular trap and skeet range for over 60 years. During this time an estimated 4.8 million pounds of lead shot may have been deposited into the sediments around Lordship Point. Current remediation of the area, however, is underway. Further studies will be conducted to determine whether lead is still a potential problem to migratory birds. Non-point source pollution from the river watershed is thought to be a significant problem to the coastal waters in this area; studies are underway to further define this problem and to seek solutions. Human-related disturbances to colonial beach-nesting terns and Piping Plover, whether unintentionally or the result of purposeful intrusions into nesting areas and acts of vandalism, or from stray animals and unleashed cats and dogs, are of major concern at all known nesting localities in this area. Populations of Piping Plover, Common and Least Tern and other shorebirds nesting on beaches in this complex are subject to disturbance by people passing through the area or sunbathing on or near the nesting areas and by predation from stray or unleashed pets. Disturbance of roosting migratory shorebirds and lack of high tide foraging habitat for them are also key problems. There were significant tidal and freshwater pools at Stratford Great Meadows historically, and those have either been filled in or overgrown with Phragmites. Phragmites threatens to displace cordgrass marsh vegetation in several areas.

Acquisition of privately-held salt marsh adjacent to publicly owned habitats should be aggressively pursued. Diverse partnerships between governmental and non-governmental groups need to be developed to pursue funding for acquisition and continued habitat restoration. It is essential that nesting beaches of Piping Plover and terns in this complex be protected from human-related disturbances during the critical nesting season (mid-April to August), using all available methods to exclude people and stray animals from these areas. Fenced exclosures, posting, predator traps, beach warden patrols and public education should all be considered in a protection strategy. Efforts should be made to identify and implement those tasks and objectives of the piping plover recovery plan that may be applicable to these beaches, including opportunities to restore or enhance degraded beach habitat. State and Federal programs to protect and enhance water quality in Long Island Sound and adjacent waters should continue to focus on protecting tidal freshwater and brackish wetlands and coastal water quality through the regulatory process and in addressing the problems of hypoxia, oil spills, non-point source pollution, sewage and waste disposal and heavy metal contaminants in these waters to restore and maintain important fish and wildlife habitat.

This area encompasses the lower tidal reaches of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut from New London and Groton at the mouth to Norwich. The boundary of this site includes the river channel, waters and shoreline wetlands of the lower tidal reaches of the Thames River from the confluence of the Shetucket and Quinebaug Rivers a few miles north of Norwich to the mouth of the river at New London and Groton where it enters into the eastern end of Long Island Sound, a river length of approximately 19 miles (31 kilometers). Specific areas of biological significance, in addition to the river itself, include the Mamacoke Island marshes, Horton Cove, Poquetanuck Cove marshes, Smith Cove, Greens Harbor and small rocky islands at the river mouth. The focus area is 2,121 hectares (5,242 acres) in size.

This area is primarily Public Trust waters and State and private conservation and research lands. Connecticut College owns and manages Mamacoke Island Natural Area.

Approximately 20 hectares (50 acres) of tidal wetlands within the focus area need acquisition and/or enhancement. All of these wetlands are privately owned and could be considered in need of acquisition. New programs in place, such as the Landowner Incentive Plan, could allow for the restoration and enhancement of many of these privately-owned wetlands. Statewide, no estimate of wetlands in need of acquisition and/or enhancement is available.

Since 1988, no wetland acreage has undergone restoration or enhancement. Statewide, in areas outside of ACJV focus areas, approximately 187 hectares (463 acres) of inland wetlands have undergone either enhancement or restoration activities. An additional 182 hectares (452 acres) have been controlled for exotic vegetation.
Special Recognition:

Mamacoke Island, Smith Cove, and the adjacent coves are designated by the National Audubon Society as Important Bird Areas.

Several of the shallow tidal coves and associated brackish marshes in the lower Thames River contain regionally significant concentrations of wintering and migrating waterfowl, especially of several species not commonly found elsewhere or in similar concentrations in the region. These include relatively large numbers of Canvasback, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Redhead, Common Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser. Also found here are Common and Red-breasted Merganser, and Greater and Lesser Scaup.

Table 1. Waterfowl species identified in the Lower Thames River System Focus Area.

Species	Breeding	Migration	Wintering
American Black Duck	X	X	X
American Wigeon		X	X
Atlantic Brant		X	X
Great Scaup		X	X
Lesser Scaup		X	X
Canvasback		X	X
Gadwall		X	X
Mallard	X	X	X
Redhead		X	X
Common Goldeneye		X	X
Hooded Merganser	X	X	X
Red-breasted Merganser		X	X

Other Migratory Birds:

Osprey breed at several places along the river. Small rocky islets in the river mouth contain nesting populations of Common and Roseate Tern, the latter a federally-listed endangered species.

Industrial, commercial and residential development along the river corridor impacts fish and wildlife populations and habitats largely through direct losses of habitat and degradations in habitat quality, particularly water quality. Heavy metal contamination, sewage, stormwater and waste discharges, shoreline marina development and dredging are all of concern in the Thames River aquatic environment. The river is reported to have significant water quality problems, particularly in certain upstream areas and at the mouth of the river.

Particular attention needs to be focused on restoring and protecting the water quality of the Thames River and its high value to fish and wildlife populations, especially anadromous fish and overwintering waterfowl. Protective measures should include stringent regulatory overview and enforcement of existing Federal, State and local environmental regulations, as well as developing and implementing environmentally sound planning and zoning policies and restoration programs. Additionally, exotic species such as Mute Swan and Phragmites need to be aggressively managed in this focus area.

Sub-Focus Areas: None

This complex consists of 10,751 hectares (26,566 acres). The focus area is centered primarily along the central coast of Connecticut on Long Island Sound, in the New Haven Harbor area and areas to the east. The outer, shoreward boundary of this largely nearshore water and tidal flat-dominated complex extends from Merwin Point, just south of Woodmont (Milford) east to Sachem Head (Guilford), a distance of approximately 14.5 miles (23 kilometers). Enclosed within this boundary are the east and west shoreline areas around New Haven Harbor to the limit of anadromous fish passage on the West and Quinnipiac Rivers, including the Quinnipiac Meadows wetlands area and the North Haven and Wallingford sand plains north of New Haven Harbor. To the east of New Haven Harbor, the boundary incorporates the Branford River, Leetes Island and Joshua Cove marshes and tidal flats and nearshore waters of Long Island Sound for a distance averaging 1-2 miles (2-3 kilometers) south of the shoreline. A number of important wildlife islands in the Branford-Guilford vicinity are included within this nearshore water boundary, most notably The Thimbles and Kelsey Island.

A significant portion of this complex includes public coastal and river waters and wetlands, while the rest represents various mixtures of publicly and privately owned lands. Several of the islands are privately held, as is most of the sand plains area along the Quinnipiac River.

Approximately 242 hectares (598 acres) of tidal wetlands within the focus area need acquisition and/or enhancement. Of this figure, approximately 210 hectares (520 acres) are privately-owned and could be considered in need of acquisition. New programs in place, such as the Landowner Incentive Program, could allow for the restoration and enhancement of many of these privately owned wetlands.

Since 1988, approximately 5.6 hectares (14 acres) of wetland habitat within the focus area have been enhanced. Enhancement has been achieved through the use of open marsh water management techniques. An additional 43 hectares (107 acres) have undergone intensive vegetation control (Phragmites control). Statewide, in areas outside of ACJV focus areas, approximately 187 hectares (463 acres) of inland wetlands have undergone either enhancement or restoration activities. An additional 182 hectares (452 acres) have been controlled for exotic vegetation.
Special Recognition:

Sandy Point in West Haven and Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven are recognized by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area (IBA) for migratory birds.

The open water areas and tidal flats in New Haven Harbor and the nearshore area south of Guilford, Branford and East Haven contain some of the largest and most important concentrations of wintering and migrating waterfowl along the Connecticut coast, especially American Black Duck, Canvasback, American Wigeon, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye and three species of scoter. The New Haven tidal flats are one of the most important wintering areas for American Black Duck in Connecticut. The Quinnipiac Marshes are extremely productive biologically, in spite of the heavy industrialization that lines its banks and its chemically polluted waters and soils, especially with heavy metals. Migratory waterfowl using these marshes for nesting include American Black Duck, Mallard and Gadwall.

The sand and mud flats at Long Wharf, City Point and Morse Point/Sandy Point in New Haven Harbor are regionally significant staging areas for large concentrations of migrating sandpipers, terns, including the federally endangered Roseate Tern, plovers, turnstones and other shorebirds and waterfowl that feed on these flats to sustain them on their long journeys southward or northward. Shorebird species of special note include Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Least Sandpiper and Sanderling. Tidal flats in New Haven Harbor in the vicinity of Long Wharf historically hosted thousands to tens of thousands of foraging migratory shorebirds, but shorebird use of this area has been much reduced since the 1970’s. Jetties at the mouth of New Haven Harbor support regionally significant numbers of wintering Purple Sandpiper. Morse Point currently supports nesting populations of Piping Plover, a U.S. Threatened species, Least and Common Tern and Black Skimmer. Lighthouse Point Park has been the site of a hawkwatch continuously since 1974. On average over 5000 raptors are counted from this location. Lighthouse Point Park is also an important stopover area for migratory landbirds in fall migration. The Quinnipiac River Tidal Marsh hosts nesting Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, which is listed as globally “near threatened” by BirdLife International, as well as nesting populations of Least Bittern, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Moorhen and Seaside Sparrow and is an important foraging area for long-legged wading birds. Elsewhere in the complex, Common Tern nest on a few of the islands to the east of New Haven Harbor. Wading bird rookeries are established on a few of the outer Thimbles, mostly Snowy Egret, Great Egret and Black-crowned Night-Heron. The nearshore areas also contain abundant shellfish beds, particularly for American oyster and hard-shelled clams.

The large seasonal concentrations of wildlife utilizing the extensive tidal mud and sand flats and open waters of this complex are extremely vulnerable to an oil spill or hazardous chemical discharge, particularly in New Haven Harbor. Numerous other activities potentially threaten natural ecosystems and fish and wildlife populations in this industrialized zone, including waste and sewage disposal, storm water discharge, shoreline development, erosion control projects, channel dredging and wetland alterations. Heavy metal and PCB pollution of soils and waters is of special concern, as are contaminated sediments in portions of New Haven Harbor and Mill River due to storm water, sewage treatment plant and industrial discharges. Invasion of Phragmites is a serious problem in many areas of the Quinnipiac tidal marsh and in Old Field Creek marsh. In spite of it all, however, significant wildlife populations continue to persist in this area, albeit at much reduced levels from former levels of abundance. Human-related disturbances to colonial beach-nesting terns and Piping Plover, whether unintentionally or the result of purposeful intrusions into nesting areas and acts of vandalism, or from stray animals and unleashed cats and dogs, are of major concern at all known nesting localities in this area. There are several historical, but presently unoccupied, localities for breeding birds in this area, particularly for Roseate Tern, a U.S. Endangered species. Such areas were likely abandoned due to disturbance.

Protection of the nearshore waters and intertidal flats from catastrophic events such as an oil spill or hazardous chemical discharge needs to be given the highest priority among resource concerns in this area. Attention needs to be focused not only on formulating oil spill contingency plans, but developing the highest degree of readiness to respond to such an event, particularly during critical times of the year when wildlife populations are at their peak and most vulnerable, such as spring and fall migrations and winter. Measures should also be sought and instituted, whether by regulation, zoning, planning, cooperative agreements or full-scale restoration programs such as the National Estuary Program, to restore, maintain, enhance and protect aquatic and terrestrial resources in this complex. Opportunities should be identified to restore or enhance degraded wetlands, including control of common reed, and other coastal habitats in this complex to increase their value to fish and wildlife. Studies should be conducted into the reasons for the decline in the numbers of migratory shorebirds using the mudflats in the area of Long Wharf and possible remedial action to restore the value of this area as a shorebird foraging area. The Old Field Creek area has significant potential for restoration and creation of shorebird foraging habitat.

Sub-Focus Areas: None

The Norwalk Islands are located in western Long Island Sound, approximately one to one-and-a-half miles (2 kilometers) offshore (south) of the city of Norwalk, along the southwest coast of Connecticut. The mainland portion of this focus area occurs between Rowayton and Sherwood Island State Park. This focus area encompasses 3,778 hectares (9,335 acres) and includes all of the Norwalk Islands (Sheffield Island, Shea Island, Copps Island, Chimon Island, Betts Island, Long Beach Island, Grassy Island, Goose Island, Cockenoe Island and several smaller islands) and the mainland tidal wetlands and mudflats at Fivemile River, Village Creek (Hoyt Island), Norwalk Harbor (Harborview and Seaview Park), Shorehaven-Canfield Island, mouth of Saugatuck River, Compo Cove and Sherwood Millpond, as well as the intervening embayed waters of Long Island Sound. The length of this focus area in a southwest-northeast direction is approximately 6 miles (16 kilometers), and 2 to 3 miles (3-5 kilometers) in width. Also included in this focus area are the mainstem channels of the Norwalk River up to the vicinity of the Silvermine River, and the Saugatuck River to its confluence with the Aspetuck River, near Sipperly Hill.

Most of the larger islands are publicly-owned (Federal National Wildlife Refuge, Town), while many of the smaller ones are in private ownership. The waters and mudflats along the mainland are in the Public Trust (below mean high water). A few of the mainland wetland areas are privately-owned. Many of the larger islands are designated under the Coastal Barriers Resource Act.

Approximately 64 hectares (160 acres) of tidal wetlands within the focus area need acquisition and/or enhancement. Of this figure, approximately 61 hectares (150 acres) are privately owned and could be considered in need of acquisition. New programs in place, such as the Landowner Incentive Program, could allow for the restoration and enhancement of many of these privately owned wetlands.

Since 1988, approximately 24 hectares (60 acres) of wetland habitat within the focus area have been enhanced. Enhancement has been achieved through the use of open marsh water management techniques. An additional 23.8 hectares (59 acres) have undergone intensive vegetation control (Phragmites control). Statewide, in areas outside of ACJV focus areas, approximately 187 hectares (463 acres) of inland wetlands have undergone either enhancement or restoration activities. An additional 182 hectares (452 acres) have been controlled for exotic vegetation.
Special Recognition:

None at the moment.

Both the waters and tidal flats around these islands as well as the mainland marsh and cove sites, particularly Five Mile River, Village Creek, Norwalk Harbor, Canfield Island and the mouth of the Saugatuck River, are significant concentration areas for wintering waterfowl of special emphasis, especially American Black Duck, American Wigeon, Atlantic Brant, Greater and Lesser Scaup and Gadwall.

The Norwalk Islands are of high regional significance to breeding colonial wading birds. These rookeries are mostly dominated by Black-crowned Night-Heron, but also include Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Green-backed Heron and Glossy Ibis. A large colony of colonial waders is found on Cockenoe Island. These birds utilize the other islands, mainland marshes, and intertidal flats for feeding. The most important wading bird feeding areas in this focus area are the tidal flats around some of the islands and on the mainland at Village Creek-Hoyt Island, Norwalk Harbor, Shorehaven-Canfield Island, Saugatuck River mouth and Compo Cove-Sherwood Millpond. Birds from these islands also utilize the mudflats at Great Meadows (Stratford) for feeding. Small nesting colonies of herons and egrets occur on Shea and Grassy Islands and others. Also nesting on beaches on a few of the Norwalk Islands are Piping Plover, a U.S. Threatened species, Least Tern, Common Tern, and American Oystercatcher. Problem species also nesting in this area include large numbers of Great Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull and increasing numbers of Double-crested Cormorant. Roseate Tern, a U.S. Endangered species, historically nested on Goose Island.

Although most of the Norwalk Islands are already in public ownership and are not likely to be developed, they are still subject to varying degrees of human disturbance, especially to the wading bird rookeries and nesting colonies of beach-nesting Piping Plover and terns. Human disturbances in the form of intrusions into nesting areas during the critical nesting and fledging season can cause colonies to be temporarily or even permanently abandoned. Predation of eggs and young birds by Norway rats, raccoons, and gulls are also a threat to these colonies. The heavily urbanized mainland shoreline in this area poses threats to water quality through chemical contamination, oil spills, sewage and storm water discharges, waste disposal, marina development, dredging and numerous other activities that potentially degrade both terrestrial and aquatic habitats of fish and wildlife resources. The waters of western Long Island Sound are subject to low oxygen levels (hypoxia) during the summer months, which can stress and even kill marine organisms if prolonged.

The protection and management of colonial wading bird rookeries and colonies of beach-nesting terns and Piping Plover need to be given high priority in this area. Because these birds are very sensitive and vulnerable to human disturbances during the critical nesting season (mid-April to August), protective strategies and measures should be designed to prevent people and unleashed pets from entering these areas, using such measures as closed areas with fenced exclosures, posting, warden patrols, trapping and removal of pets or feral animals, rats, etc., and public education. Small mammal control should be pursued on these islands. Educational programs to inform the general public of the need for avoidance at certain critical time periods need to be initiated.

The Upper Thames River Watershed Planning Area is located in northeast Connecticut and encompasses 376,548 hectares (941,371 acres). This entire watershed, most of which lies within the administrative boundaries of Connecticut, contains 10 individual river sub-basins and is critical to breeding and staging waterfowl in Connecticut. Wetland habitat is distributed throughout the planning area, often in the form of forested wetlands or small emergent-wetland complexes. The entire watershed lies within that portion of Connecticut that is presently least developed. The Upper Thames River Watershed is predominantly forested, with large tracts of privately owned agricultural land. Development pressure, however, is increasing, and from the period 1990-2002, the percent of the watershed classified as developed has increased 9.4% (University of Connecticut 2004). Developed land now comprises 11.9% of the entire watershed. With increased development come declines in water quality and loss of habitat. Degradation of water quality in the upper reaches of the watershed becomes magnified downstream as flow enters the Thames River and, ultimately, spills into Fisher’s Sound and Long Island Sound.

The 376,548 hectares (930,466 acres) of the watershed that lie within Connecticut is a patchwork of both private and public land holdings. The state of Connecticut owns significant acreage throughout the watershed in the Goodwin State Forest (SF), Natchaug SF, Nipmuck SF, and Pachaug SF. Several Department of Environmental Protection-owned wildlife management areas are also within the boundaries of the watershed. Private conservation groups such as the Windham Land Trust and Audubon Society have small, but significant, holdings within the planning area.

New programs in place, such as the Landowner Incentive Plan, could allow for the restoration and enhancement of privately owned wetlands within the planning area. Within the planning area, there are 32,732 hectares (80,884 acres) of wetlands or open water. There is no reasonable estimate of acreage to conserve within that figure, however, of the total watershed, approximately 20,234 hectares (50,000 acres) of forested and non-forested emergent wetlands exist in the watershed. Less than half of those acres are currently protected either through their location on state controlled or non governmental organization (NGO) controlled lands. Statewide, no estimate of wetlands in need of acquisition and/or enhancement is available.

Two of the major sub-basins in the planning area are designated as a National Heritage Corridor (Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor). The National Audubon Society has targeted several areas within the planning area as potential Important Bird Areas.

This entire watershed is the major production area for Wood Duck in the state. Wood Duck nesting success and production within the watershed are significantly higher than any other area of the state. In addition to Wood Duck production, the Thames River Watershed also harbors some of the remaining nesting Black Duck in the state. The incidence of breeding Hooded Mergansers is increasing within the planning area. Gadwall and Blue-winged Teal are occasional breeders.

Table 1. Waterfowl species identified in the Connecticut River Focus Area.

Species	Breeding	Migration	Wintering
American Black Duck	X	X	X
Gadwall	X	X	X
Mallard	X	X	X
Blue-winged Teal	X	X
Hooded Merganser	X	X	X

Other Migratory Birds:

Several of the inland marshes in this watershed are important breeding and stopover areas for various rallid species such as Sora and Virginia Rail. Breeding Pied-billed Grebe are known to occur in at least one locale within the planning area. State endangered American Bittern breeding records occur within the watershed boundary.

Although wetlands in Connecticut are regulated by State and Federal laws, such areas and the species which depend upon them continue to be adversely impacted by various types of human disturbances and activities (e.g. development and un-permitted wetland destruction) and habitat alteration of upland borders and tributaries. Stormwater discharges, non-point source pollution, and increased sediment loads pose significant problems for living resources throughout the planning area. Invasive species such as Mute Swan, Phragmites, and purple loosestrife threaten the marsh vegetation and native biota of numerous wetlands in the planning area.

Land-use planning that maximizes wetland conservation and open space needs to be actively pursued by municipalities within the planning area. Many towns within the planning area are developing plans that maximize biological diversity and open space. On a regional scale, this must continue. Regional planning committees comprising several adjacent municipalities have arisen in other parts of the state, and it is not unreasonable that these types of regional arrangements will proliferate into this watershed. Aggressive management of invasive species such as the Mute Swan, Phragmites, and purple loosestrife need to be pursued. Manpower and funding constraints have resulted in habitat degradation of protected areas in this planning area. Additionally, water level manipulation on state owned impoundments is necessary. Acquisition of adjacent upland habitats should be actively pursued to provide buffers to existing wetlands.

Figure 7.3. Delaware waterfowl focus areas.

Focus Area: Bayshore Focus Area, Delaware

The Bayshore Focus Area encompasses approximately 165,054 hectares (407,857 acres) of land of. Approximately 23,876 hectares (59, 000 acres or 15 %) is protected at the federal or state level or by private interests. The area stretches south from the Cedar Swamp Wildlife Management Area approximately 84 kilometers (52 miles) to Lewes and is bounded on the eastern edge by the Delaware Bay and Estuary.

The Bayshore Focus Area contains some of the most natural and undeveloped wetlands remaining in the state of Delaware. Salt marshes in this region are composed of primarily smooth cordgrass, salt meadow cordgrass, spike grass, glassworts, marsh orach, sea lavender, salt marsh aster, black grass and common reed (Tiner, 1985). Smooth cordgrass, salt hay grass, narrow leaved cattail, big cordgrass, common reed and rose mallow dominant the irregularly flooded brackish marshes (Tiner, 1985). In the regularly flooded tidal marsh areas smooth cordgass and water hemp, arrow arum, pickerelweed, and soft stemmed bulrush are the primary plant species (Tiner, 1985).