National Estuarine Research Reserve proposal progresses
The marshes of the proposed National Estuarine Research Reserve are important habitat for American Black Duck. Painting by Patrick J. Lynch.
October 21, 2021 — Progress toward establishment a new estuary reserve in southeastern Connecticut reached a milestone this week, when the official period for commenting on the project’s draft environmental impact statement ended.
Connecticut Audubon is a strong supporter of the National Estuarine Research Reserve, and two of its representatives have been active and influential members of the reserve steering committee — Ralph Wood, former chair of Connecticut Audubon’s Board of Directors, and John Forbis, a member of the regional board of our Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme.
The reserve would encompass the Lord Cove and Great Island Wildlife Management Areas in Old Lyme, and Bluff Point and Haley Farm State Parks in Groton. It’s a project of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
We anticipate that the new reserve will bring more conservation funding to Connecticut and provide more educational opportunities. It will lead to more research and stewardship, which will give us a better understanding of the area’s natural resources.
As much as $1 million a year in funding for scientific research will be earmarked for both sections of the reserve, to be used by scientists engaged in researching water quality, habitat quality, fish and wildlife, and other topics.
The reserve will also be a source of funding, materials, and field trip locations for local education programs such as Connecticut Audubon’s Science in Nature, which has reached more than 75,000 school children in Connecticut and has thrived particularly in Old Lyme and New London, the heart of the estuarine reserve area.
A final decision on the reserve is expected in early 2022.
What follows is a letter of support from Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins, submitted this week:
October 18, 2021
Jeff Payne, Ph.D., Director
Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1305 East West Highway, N/OCM
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Erica Seiden
Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1305 East West Highway, N/OCM
Silver Spring, MD 20910
RE: Docket ID: NOAA-NOS-2020-0089. Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Management Plan for the Proposed Designation of the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve
The Connecticut Audubon Society commends the management committee and the entire team that has worked towards the establishment of a new National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) and on the development of a very thorough and well thought out DEIS.
The Connecticut Audubon Society strongly supports this process and the establishment of a NERR in Connecticut and appreciate all of the opportunities we have had to participate in the process to this point.
A new NERR in Connecticut will benefit not only the state, but also the existing national system of Reserves by providing unique features that are not represented in our network of reserves, including globally important freshwater tidal wetlands.
We anticipate the increased leveraging of economic and educational activities from a new Reserve will facilitate and catalyze further research and stewardship to better understand our estuarine natural resources and the communities that rely upon them.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in this process.
Sincerely,
Patrick Comins
Executive Director
