From Mayor Finch:
Beach Plantings to Enhance ‘the spit’ at St. Mary’s by the Sea
Starting today, City public works crews will begin planting beach grass and three different types of shrubs to help stabilize and re-establish the dune environment along ‘the spit’ in Ash Creek near St. Mary’s by the Sea. The plantings will include a mix of American Beach Grass (Ammophilia breiviligulata), Beach Plum (Prunus martima), Sand Cherry (Prunus depressa) and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina). This project is part of Bridgeport@Work.
“Enhancing the dune environment and ecology while making the beach area an accessible and welcoming spot for everyone is part of the City’s plan to increase access to our waterfront for all residents and visitors,” said Mayor Finch.
Representatives from the City’s Public Works department, Mayor’s staff, Sasaki Associates, the City’s Parks Master Plan firm, and City Council members from Black Rock met with members of the Ash Creek Conservation Association on Wednesday to outline the City’s plan.
“These planting enhancements will help to stabilize the dune and create a welcome environment for coastal wildlife, thereby increasing the biodiversity for this unique location,” said Ted Grabarz, Deputy Director of Public Facilities. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has given preliminary approval to the City’s planting project, he added.
Planting is scheduled to begin today, Thursday, Oct. 6 and should be completed by Friday afternoon. A snow fence will be erected to help shield the plants during the winter months. The plantings cost approximately $5-6,000 dollars.
The St. Mary’s Spit came into play in 2011 when Council persons, by their own statement, received “numerous complaints” grass and various human detritus and leftovers made the sandy area at the Spit less than hospitable for persons coming for a picnic or to sunbathe on a towel. (Swimming is not allowed on the Spit and is so signed.)
The City promptly reacted with machines and manpower and removed about half of the beachgrass on the water-facing side of the Spit. That activity produced more complaints from others in the neighborhood about the City destruction of a ‘fragile’ area accompanied by photos of stalled City machinery stuck in Long Island Sound water below the tide line, a NO-NO without permitting. Two camps divided and were noisy, but all were in favor of Saving the Seashore at St. Mary’s, whatever that vision included.
Fast forward to Irene (the hurricane or tropical storm, perhaps by the time the storm surge and high tides rose) and any observer could see the area where the beach grass was removed was scoured to a stony scrabble more than the area where the grass was allowed to persist. Significant damage and a potential new channel into the Ash Creek Marsh system.
Fast forward, again, past discussions among some or all parties, to today’s announcement. Unanswered question: will there be a small section for the tables or the solitary sun bathers? Not that the snow fence will bother anyone for the next eight months or so! But getting clarity on what the work contemplates will be healing for the community.
It may also be noted it takes four days to restore with planting while it took less than two days to “clean” the beach by a City department when the seagrass was removed earlier this year.
Building something usually takes more time than tearing down, especially in Bridgeport. And now, will we have harmony once again in Black Rock? Time will tell.
I am in agreement, BEACON2. It was a shame all the grass was removed without a community discussion beforehand. Thanks to the Ash Creek Association’s hard and consistent work in this matter, we can again look forward to proper protection of the sand spit.
… or it’s a plan to make people happy and get votes in November in the place where Torres is strongest.
My thoughts exactly, burman. It’s all about the general election now, and we can expect these little “gems” reporting progress and improvement to roll out until November.
Hey burman, Shalom!
Hey Ronin, what is your problem?
… and again, I guess you have a hard time reading and comprehending things. I am not Jewish.
Either way the city benefits, no? I hope there isn’t another green sign!
Steve, remember they who have the jewels, make the rules. There will be a sign. Like Mario says, now they have to come to us.
Bull!