AREAS IN CONNECTICUT l NEW YORK sites
1. Barn Island Stonington, CT
Anchor Site: Barn Island Wildlife Management Area
Ecological significance:
Focus of over 50 years of continuous wetland research, including investigations into wetland degradation, and one of the few sites on the east coast to have pre-disturbance baseline mapping
Contains five tidal wetland restoration sites that have been the subject of almost 25 years of pre- and post-restoration research and monitoring
Exemplary salt and brackish marsh
Includes rare fen habitat
Recreational significance:
National Audubon designated Globally Significant Important Bird Area site
New marsh education and viewing area and native plant demonstration area
One of few extensive coastal trail systems in Connecticut (over 4.5 miles of trails)
Regionally significant coastal education outdoor classroom
Regionally significant waterfowl hunting area
Highly popular state-of-the-art marine boating access facility
2. Bluff Point Groton, CT
Anchor Site: Bluff Point State Park and Natural Area Preserve
Ecological significance:
Exemplary beach and dune habitat
Rare back barrier sand flat habitat with rare plant communities and species
Rare oligohaline wetland system
Includes coastal old growth forest and rare fen habitat
Recreational significance:
Undeveloped barrier beach provides a unique natural sandy beach experience
Car-top boat launch facility allows visitors to explore Poquonuck River salt marsh and popular coves along Fishers Island Sound
Coastal bluff provides extraordinary views of southeastern Connecticut coastal landmarks (e.g., Ledge Light, Bushy Point barrier beach, and Pine Island)
Recreational shellfish area
Regionally significant coastal education outdoor classroom
Nominated as a Connecticut Coastal Birding Trail Site
3. Charles Island Milford, CT
Anchor Site: Charles Island Natural Area
(part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge)
Ecological significance:
Provides nesting grounds for endangered roseate terns and other colonial water birds
Exemplary island habitat
4. Duck Island Westbrook, CT
Anchor Site: Duck Island Natural Area
(part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge)
Ecological significance:
Provides nesting grounds for endangered roseate terns and other colonial water birds
Exemplary island habitat
5. Falkner Island Guilford, CT
Anchor Site: Falkner Island Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
Ecological significance:
Provides nesting grounds for endangered roseate terns and other colonial water birds
Exemplary island habitat 
Back to top
6. Hammonasset Beach Madison, CT
Anchor Sites: Hammonasset Beach State Park and Natural Area Preserve
Ecological significance:
Extensive and exemplary salt marshes
Exemplary coastal barrier habitat and plant communities
Significant long-term research site
Recreational significance:
Provides outstanding coastal education services and interpretive programs
National Audubon designated Globally Significant Important Bird Area site
Extensive coastal trail system and opportunities for coastal camping
Most visited park in state park system
7. Great Meadows Stratford, CT
Anchor Site: Stratford Point
(Great Meadows Unit of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge)
Ecological significance:
Critical colonial water bird habitat
Largest complex of unditched high marsh in Connecticut
Provides habitat for rare plant and animal species
Recreational significance:
Provides swimming, fishing and boating opportunities
Onshore access for wildlife viewing
8. Great Neck & Goshen Point Waterford, CT
Anchor Sites: Harkness Memorial State Park and William A. Niering Natural Area Preserve
Ecological significance:
Exemplary coastal barrier beach and primary dune communities
Includes coastal grassland habitat
Recreational significance:
Unusual and outstanding historical/cultural tourism attraction
Provides a unique combination of coastal resource-based recreation and cultural tourism opportunities
Fourth most visited park in state park system Back to top
9. Lower Connecticut RiverOld Saybrook, Essex, Deep River, Lyme and Old Lyme, CT
Anchor Site: Connecticut River Ramsar Complex
Ecological significance:
Recognized as containing "Wetlands of International Importance" under the Ramsar convention
Outstanding brackish tidal fresh marsh complex
10. Milford Point Milford, CT
Anchor Sites: Milford Point and Wheeler Wildlife Management Area
Ecological significance:
Outstanding back barrier sand flats with rare plant communities and species
Exemplary primary dune habitat
Largest unditched brackish marsh complex dominated by low marsh in Long Island Sound
Includes intertidal shoals that, in combination with the brackish marshes, are a significant wildlife concentration area and provide habitat and foraging areas for colonial water birds
Recreational significance:
Outstanding coastal outdoor education facility
Regionally significant waterfowl hunting area
11. Norwalk River Norwalk, CT
Anchor Ecological Sites: Chimon and Sheffield Islands
Anchor Recreation Site: Heritage Park
Ecological significance:
Critical colonial water bird habitat
Exemplary island habitat
Recreational Significance:
Key urban waterfront access points where recreational need is high for city population
Access opportunities provided by privately owned waterfront walkways
Includes public boat slips and moorings, boat launches for both small and trailered boats, and fishing access areas
12. Quinnipiac River New Haven, CT
Anchor Site: Quinnipiac River Marsh Wildlife Management Area and State Park
Recreational significance:
National Audubon designated Important Bird Area site
Important waterfowl hunting area
13. Rocky Neck East Lyme, CT
Anchor Site: Rocky Neck State Park
Recreational significance:
Woodland-marsh trail system and coastal camping
Coastal education nature center
Highly popular swimming beach
Historic and architecturally significant pavilion
Rocky-shorefront popular with salt water anglers
Diversity of recreation opportunities unique on Long Island Sound
Third most visited park in state park system Back to top
14. Sandy Point West Haven, CT
Anchor Site: Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary
Recreational significance:
3.5 miles of beach from Bradley Point Park to Sandy Point
Connected by a 1.7-mile urban waterfront greenway for pedestrians, bikes, and rollerbladers
Supports a variety of fishing, swimming and boating opportunities in an urban setting
Provides scenic views of the lighthouse located in New Haven Harbor
Wildlife viewing from Sandy Point and the Bird Sanctuary
15. Sherwood Island Westport, CT
Anchor Site: Sherwood Island State Park
Recreational significance:
Significant saltwater swimming beach serving New York/Bridgeport metropolitan areas
Nature trails
September 11th Living Memorial
State-of-the-art natural resource experiential learning facilities opening in 2005
Approximately 500,000 visitors each year, making it the second most visited state park
16. Watts Island East Lyme, CT
Anchor Site: Watts Island (owned by The Nature Conservancy)
Ecological significance:
Outstanding coastal barrier with the highest primary dune system in Connecticut
Supports the best developed coastal maritime shrub thicket
Site of tidal wetland research and sedimentation studies
17. West Rock Ridge Hamden and New Haven, CT
Anchor Site: West Rock Ridge State Park
Ecological significance:
Outstanding traprock ridge segment
Provides habitat for numerous rare plants and insects
Rare landform type in the Long Island Sound ecosystem
Recreational significance:
Site of extraordinary geological history interest
Includes a nature center
Provides boating access to the West River
Extensive trail system Back to top
AREAS IN NEW YORK
1. Alley Pond Queens, NY
Anchor Sites: Alley Pond Park and Fort Totten
Ecological significance:
Over 635 acres of forested hills, ponds, meadows, salt marshes, tidal flats and freshwater wetlands, habitats that are unusual in the northern Queens County and East River area
One of the few remaining natural resource areas in northern Queens
Important winter waterfowl area
Recreational significance:
Environmental Center serves over 20,000 visitors annual and offers programs in ecology and life sciences for students of all ages
Very important spring striped bass recreational fishery
Boating and fishing opportunities
2. Crab Meadow Huntington, NY
Anchor Sites: Crab Meadow Wetlands and Beach and Eatons Neck Point
Ecological significance:
One of the few large areas (approximately 300 acres) of undeveloped salt marsh ecosystems remaining on the north shore of Long Island
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Includes undeveloped barrier beach and wetland ecosystems that are rare on Long Island
Important nesting area for piping plovers and least terns
Recreational significance:
Includes two boat ramps
A winter striped bass catch-and-release fishery
Includes an important swimming beach and a popular surf casting fishing site
Coastal marine education center may be developed Back to top
3. Fishers Island Coastline Southold, NY
Anchor Site: Fishers Island Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Beds
Ecological significance:
Exemplary submerged aquatic vegetation habitat and rocky reef habitat
Includes 98% of the eelgrass meadows in NY waters of Long Island Sound
Provides critical habitat for bay scallops
Designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
4. Hempstead Harbor North Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Glen Cove, NY
Anchor Sites: Hempstead Harbor and Sands Point Preserve
Ecological significance:
Restoration of wetlands at Bar Beach and native plants on the Garvies Point bluff
Designated by New York State as a Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Designated by Audubon New York as an Important Bird Area
Provides habitat for at least 10 osprey pairs
Recreational significance:
Numerous preserves surrounding the Harbor offer public access to natural areas and educational opportunities
Access to public beaches, walkways and a marina
Additional trails and a boat launching area planned for the southern end of the Harbor
5. Huckleberry & Davids Islands New Rochelle, NY
Anchor Sites: Huckleberry and Davids Islands
Ecological significance:
Largest colonial waterbird rookery in western Long Island Sound
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Recreational significance:
Provides opportunities for sport fishing and SCUBA
Historically, an important commercial lobstering area
Opportunity for potential park on Davids Island following the cleanup of toxic materials
6. Jamesport State Park - Mattituck Inlet Southold, NY
Anchor Sites: Jamesport State Park and Preserve and Mattituck State Tidal Wetlands
Ecological significance:
Includes a variety of freshwater wetland types that are not typical on the north shore of Long Island
Undisturbed tidal wetlands provide habitat for nesting osprey
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Recreational significance:
State-owned properties will provide public access opportunities for all state residents in the future
Includes two municipal boat ramps
Excellent swimming, fishing, and SCUBA diving opportunities
Includes newly-renovated facilities
Only protected harbor for small boats (for refuge and for mooring/access) from Mt. Sinai to Orient Point
7. Lloyd Neck Huntington, NY
Anchor Sites: Caumsett State Park and Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Ecological significance:
Largest and most diverse coastal forest on the north shore of Long Island, including coastal oak-hickory forest, oak-tulip tree forest, tidal mudflats, a maritime beach, mature woodlands, a freshwater pond, bluffs and open fields
Includes a site designated as a Bird Conservation Area
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Provides forage areas for least terns, common terns, and black skimmers
Recreational significance:
Features miles of bridle paths, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and nature trails that provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities
Provides access for fishing, swimming, and SCUBA diving
Recreational fishing areas
Outstanding environmental programs and field studies Back to top
8. Manhasset Bay North Hempstead, NY
Anchor Sites: Manhasset Bay and Mitchells Creek
Ecological significance:
A major waterfowl wintering area and exemplary embayment area
Provides significant nursery and feeding habitat for striped bass, winter flounder, menhaden and other forage species
Provides nesting areas for least tern and osprey
Includes an undeveloped stream/wetland community
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Recreational significance:
Excellent boating access and opportunities
Important wildlife viewing area
Includes remnant open space in a densely populated area
9. Marshlands Rye, NY
Anchor Sites: Marshlands Conservancy, Edith Read Sanctuary and Rye Playland Park
Ecological significance:
One of the largest contiguous areas of undeveloped coastal land and the largest tidal marsh system in Westchester County
Provides nesting and feeding habitat for native shorebirds and rare birds, including the wood sandpiper, black rail, little gull, sedge wren and yellow-headed blackbird
Part of the Westchester County Parks System
Recreational significance:
Provides dockside accommodations for both power and sail boats
Includes the only general admission swimming beach on Long Island Sound in Westchester County
Excellent opportunities for fishing and bird watching
Environmental education programs provide opportunities for informal nature study
10. Mt. Sinai - Port Jefferson Harbor Brookhaven, NY
Anchor Sites: Mt. Sinai and Port Jefferson Harbors
Ecological significance:
Large area of undeveloped coastal wetlands and barrier beach
Provides habitat for wading birds, waterfowl, and commercially and recreationally important shellfish (e.g., hard and soft clams) and finfish (e.g., winter flounder)
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Includes areas designated as part of the National Coastal Barrier Resources System
Important nesting site for piping plovers, least terns, and common terns
Recreational significance:
Exemplary boating opportunities provided by eight marinas and three boat ramps
Includes excellent swimming beaches and great access for saltwater fishing
Coastal education nature center Back to top
11. Nissequogue River Smithtown, NY
Anchor Sites: Nissequogue River State Park and Sunken Meadow State Park
Ecological significance:
Exemplary riverine habitat the only major tidal river draining into Long Island Sound where the coastal portion remains in relatively undisturbed condition
One of the largest coastal wetlands on the north shore
Includes diverse habitats, including intertidal mudflats, brackish tidal wetlands, freshwater wetlands, a rare red maple-black gum swamp and coastal forests
Supports a sea-run fishery for brown trout
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Includes a 100-acre site designated as a Bird Conservation Area
Recreational significance:
Fisheries resources support recreational fishing of regional significance
Excellent fishing and boating access and wildlife viewing opportunities
Includes hiking trails that are part of the Greenbelt Trail
Important swimming beach
Coastal education opportunities at nature center and museum
12. Oyster Bay (Mill Neck) Oyster Bay, NY
Anchor Sites: Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Shu Swamp Nature Preserve
Ecological significance:
Exemplary embayment area that provides critical habitat for wintering waterfowl and is a highly productive area for marine finfish and shellfish
Includes New Yorks only remaining commercial oyster farm, which produces up to 90% of New Yorks oyster harvest
Provides important habitat for diamondback terrapin and wintering bald eagles
Supports the only known spawning population of native brook trout in Nassau County
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Includes red maple - black gum swamp habitat
Provides habitat for American strawberry bush and sweetbay magnolia, both state endangered plants
Restored riverine migratory corridor for upstream passage of alewives, herring, and sea run trout
Recreational significance:
Excellent swimming facilities and boating access
Marine education and coastal recreation opportunities
Includes undeveloped county parkland, interpretive trails, excellent wildlife viewing and extensive recreational fishing opportunities Back to top
13. Pelham Bay Bronx, NY
Anchor Sites: Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach
Ecological significance:
Almost 500 acres of relatively undisturbed tidal wetlands one of the few undisturbed wetland areas remaining in the Bronx
Provides productive nursery and feeding habitats for a variety of marine finfish and shellfish, including striped bass, bluefish, silversides, menhaden, winter flounder, hard clams, oyster, and horseshoe crabs
Recreational significance:
Largest municipal park in New York City
Provides opportunities for unparalleled fishing, birdwatching, boating access, and informal nature study
Environmental Center attracts students and visitors throughout northern New York City for educational nature study
Includes the premier swimming beach in the Bronx
14. Plum, Little and Great Gull Islands Southold, NY
Anchor Sites: Plum and Great Gull Islands
Ecological significance:
Exemplary colonial waterbird habitat, including sites that are of national if not international significance
Small rocky islets dominated by grassy and herbaceous vegetation
Colonized by over 6,000 pairs of common tern and approximately 1,200 pairs of roseate tern, making this the second largest breeding population of this endangered species in North America
Identified by the USFWS as a Significant Coastal Habitat
15. Shoreham - Baiting Hollow Riverhead, NY
Anchor Sites: Wildwood State Park and Wading River Tidal Wetlands
Ecological significance:
Relatively undisturbed salt marsh and maritime beach complex that are rare on the north shore of Long Island in Suffolk County
An important nesting site for piping plover and least tern
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Includes over 15 acres of barrier beach
Provides habitat for silverweed, a state-threatened plant species, and saltmarsh bulrush, a state-endangered plant species
Exemplary bluff habitat supports a globally-rare maritime beech forest
Sand shoal habitat supports sandlance, which is a food source for tern populations
Recreational significance:
Excellent swimming beaches, over 11 miles of hiking trails, camping opportunities and significant saltwater fishing access
Includes a boat ramp for small boats to enter the Sound
Potential areas for public access and recreational opportunities exist
16. Stony Brook Harbor Brookhaven/Smithtown, NY
Anchor Sites: Flax Pond State Tidal Wetlands and Laboratory and Long Beach
Ecological significance:
Over a 1,000 acres of diverse tidal wetlands
Provides habitat for diverse species of colonial waterbirds
Provides important spawning sites for horseshoe crabs
Research and education marine laboratory
Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Includes a site designated as a Bird Conservation Area
Recreational significance:
Excellent swimming, boating and fishing access
New opportunities for ecological restoration, environmental education and expansion of recreational opportunities exist Back to top
