Habitat Restoration & Protection Database
Project Details
Great Meadows Tidal Wetland Restoration, parcel 4
Project Name
Great Meadows Tidal Wetland Restoration, parcel 4
City/Town/Village
Stratford
Site Name
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge - Great Meadows Unit
Waterbody
Lewis Gut
Habitat View
| Habitat | Acres | Miles | Feet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tidal Wetlands | 9.80 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Tidal Wetlands | 9.80 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| TOTAL | 19.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Degradation Description
After a series of dikes were built throughout the marsh system in the 1950s, a large area of tidal marsh was filled when dredged sediments from Bridgeport Harbor were hydraulically discharged behind the dikes and onto the marsh. After having lost nearly all of its functions and values, the tidal marsh system became a dense monoculture of the tall invasive grass known as Common Reed (Phragmites australis). Prior to restoration, these wetlands were classified as formerly connected tidal wetlands as well as degraded inland wetlands.
Cause of Degradation
Berm/Dike/Levee
Fill - Dredge Disposal
Invasive Species - vegetation
Tidal Creeks/Channels Filling In
Restoration Technique
Creek/Channel Construction
Excavation
Fill Removal
Invasive Species Control - Vegetation
Land Acquisition
Mowing / mulching
Phragmites Control
Tidal Flow Restoration
Project Partners
Partners Organization
Stratford Land Development Company
Partners Organization
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection - Wildlife Division
Partners Organization
United States Fish and Wildlife Service - Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
Completed