- The barrier spit at St. Mary's-by-the-Sea has been eroding, with a loss of 60 linear feet from 2006-2016. It is projected to disappear entirely by 2036 if changes are not made. - Fairfield's jetty, marina, and dredging activities since the 1950s have disrupted sand deposits and contributed to erosion of the spit and marshlands. - Rising sea levels from climate change are also a factor, as the marshland grows taller but cannot keep pace with rising waters. Restoration efforts have been ongoing but dredging activities continue to cause damage.

1. Our Disappearing Sandspit:
Current and Projected Changes
to the Barrier Spit at St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea
July 13, 2021

2. Overview
• Areas of Erosion
• Changes Over Time
• Projected Future Changes
• Areas Most Affected by Changes
• Habitat Restoration & Destruction - 1950’s
to Present
• ACCA Actions & Responses
• Next Steps

3. Aerial Views of Lower Ash Creek Video Courtesy of Barry Hyman

4. Simulated View of Lower Ash Creek in 2036

5. Sand Spit 2011

6. Sand Spit 2021

7. Sand Spit Changes
Scientific Analysis Commissioned by ACCA 2021
Bryan Quinn, RLA, One Nature & Steven Danzer, Ph.D.
• 2006-2016 loss of 60 linear feet
• Predicted to disappear by 2036
• Stable from 17th Century until 1950’s
• Loss of sand deposits due to Fairfield’s jetty
and dredging for marina
• DEEP allows Fairfield to take sand from
dredging and put on Jennings Beach
• 2019 dredging caused tremendous erosion

8. Sand Spit 2006-2016
60 Foot Linear Retreat of 4’ High Edge of Sand Spit Over 10 Year Period

9. Great Marsh Island Changes
Scientific Analysis Commissioned by ACCA 2021
Bryan Quinn, RLA, One Nature & Steven Danzer, Ph.D.
• Long-term loss of approximately 25,000 SF of
intertidal marsh (aerial geographic analysis, 1991 vs.
2020)
• May be due to increased wave action caused by
reduction in size of barrier spit

10. 1909 Great Marsh Island
(Palmquist, 1955)

11. 1951 Aerial View
View of Great Marsh Island (Palmquist, 1955)

12. 1976 Aerial View
Jetty and Marina Built, Dredging of Channel

13. 2019 Aerial View
Photo by Geoffrey Steadman, 2019

14. 2036 Projected Aerial View
Photoshop edits by Gail Robinson of original aerial photo by Geoffrey Steadman

15. Flood Zone and Storm Surge Maps

16. Ash Creek 2036
• 194 Black Rock homes at risk
based on flood surge map
• No attenuation of wave action,
erosion of land, water pushed
further inland
• Destruction of spartina and rest of
marshlands which acts as sponge,
more flooding

17. Reclaimed Marsh Land

18. What Led to This Problem?
• Filling in wetlands and building on reclaimed land
• Fairfield’s marina, jetty, & dredging since 1950’s
• Natural events, such as Irene & Sandy
• Rising sea levels from global warming – marsh land
grows higher, but can’t keep up with the pace

19. What Can We Change?
• Filling in wetlands and building on reclaimed land
• Fairfield’s marina, jetty, & dredging since 1950’s
• Natural events, such as Irene & Sandy
• Rising sea levels – marsh land grows higher, but
can’t keep up with the pace

20. Fairfield’s Dredging
• DEEP 10 year permit allows Fairfield to take sand from
dredging activities on the spit and put it on Jennings Beach
• Granted in 2007 and 2014
• ACCA had requested in 2013 that the DEEP permit require
the sand to be put back on the sand spit to no avail
• 2019 dredging caused tremendous erosion

21. Sand Spit – Dredging 2019
Alarming Amount of Erosion from Fairfield’s Dredging in 2019

22. Habitat Restoration & Destruction in
Ash Creek - 1950’s to Present

23. Town Boundary Changed in 1954

24. Major Dredging 1957 & 1967
• Channel excavated to 70’
wide and 10’ deep at low tide
in 1967
• Jetty caught the sand that
would have come to Black
Rock’s beach and retained it
in Fairfield
• Fairfield used sand from
dredging for Jennings Beach

25. Staged Dredging 2007-2008
• Heavy equipment used to dredge channel from sand spit to
save money
• Flattened dunes, destroyed vegetation

26. Dr. Orson’s Recommendations - 2008

27. Habitat Restoration – 2008-2009

28. Dredging 2010

29. Bridgeport’s “Beach Clean Up” 2011
June 24 & 28

30. Bridgeport’s “Beach Clean Up” 2011
BEFORE - September 2010 AFTER – June 28, 2011

31. Irene - August 2011

32. Irene – August 2011

33. Assessment
September 2011

34. Habitat Restoration - October 2011
On 10/6/11 the City planted:
300 containers of American
Beach Grass
50 Beach Plum shrubs
50 Sand Cherry shrubs
50 Staghorn Sumac bushes
Under order from the DEEP

35. Habitat Restoration Plan - 2011

36. Park Master Plan- 2011

37. Ash Creek Master Plan 2012
86 page scientific analysis &
recommendations by Bryan
Quinn, RLA of One Nature
and Steve Danzer, Ph.D.

38. Sandy 2012
Before
After

39. Dredging - 2013

40. Detailed Plan for
Habitat Restoration - 2014

41. Detailed Plan for
Habitat Restoration - 2014

42. Meeting w. Bridgeport & Fairfield -
2014

43. Dredging - 2019

44. Dredging Trends
2007 4,500 cubic yards
2013 22,000 cubic yards
2019 32,000 cubic yards

45. Action Steps
• Dredging should be scaled back. We don’t need deeper
and wider dredging for bigger boats.
• Sand should be put back on the sandspit when Fairfield
dredges
• Fairfield and Bridgeport should use federal funds for
habitat restoration of the sandspit and use the habitat
restoration plan from 2014 (updated version)
• Ten year dredging permit is too long, five year dredging
permit – reevaluate dredging based on health of tidal
estuary

46. Who We Have Contacted
TWO KEY PLAYERS:
• Bill Hurley, Fairfield Dept. of Engineering – in
charge of dredging
• Sue Bailey, DEEP – approves dredging permit
STAKEHOLDER:
• David Brandt, Aspetuck Land Trust – owns
half of Great Marsh Island – July 21
FAIRFIELD:
• First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, First
Selectwoman Fairfield
• Fairfield Conservation Commission – getting
on next agenda
• Fairfield Shellfish Commission
BRIDGEPORT:
• Steve Hladun, Bridgeport Parks Dept.
• Bridgeport Parks Commission –getting on
next agenda
• Scott Burns, City Council & NRZ
• Matt McCarthy, City Council
• Mayor Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport
• Jon Uriquidi, City of Bridgeport Engineering
• Joe Gresko, City of Bridgeport
• Dan Roach, Mayor’s Office
STATE:
• Steve Stafstrom, State Representative

47. Who You Can Contact
Need to put pressure on DEEP, Fairfield, and Bridgeport
Send e-mails to people on handout
Thank you!