Habitat Restoration & Protection Database

During the 1950s, portions of the Hammonasset wetlands were used as disposal areas for sandy sediment that was dredged from the nearby Clinton Harbor. Low earthen dikes were constructed around certain wetland areas and the sand was hydraulically pumped to the Park. At this particular location, certain areas of the wetland were converted to upland supporting grasses and red cedar, while others still remain or became degraded salt marsh. More recently, the invasive plant common reed (Phragmites australis) colonized most of the degraded wetland portions.