It’s a jewel of the Connecticut shoreline.
After decades of erosion from rising seas that have eaten away at the coastline of Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, a plan is underway to restore dozens of acres of salt marsh that provide critical habitat for thousands of native species.
Audubon Connecticut, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society, has received funding to kickstart a major salt marsh restoration project at the state’s largest public beach. Hammonasset Beach features 936 acres of coastal ecosystem for birds, plants and aquatic wildlife.
“Hammonasset Beach is an essential ecosystem that features a unique combination of marshland, grassland and coast that benefits wildlife and neighboring communities alike,” said Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, director of bird conservation at Audubon Connecticut. “The park is home to Saltmarsh Sparrows, Piping Plovers and Brown Thrashers. Restoring this site is essential to maintaining its ecological, recreational and economic value.
Over the last two decades, yearly erosion rates have nearly doubled due to rising seas brought on by climate change, according to Folsom-O’Keefe. Erosion has contributed to the loss of 27 acres of salt marsh since 1934, leading to the erosion of the beach’s eastern shoreline and the decline of essential habitat for many protected species.
Bob MacDonnell / Hartford Courant
The Piping Plover Is an endangered species that nests only in the open, sandy beach areas in Connecticut.
Once restored, officials say Hammonasset Beach will see a reduction in erosion rates and salt marsh loss along 3,000 feet of coastline, according to officials. This will ensure that the state park will continue to provide critical habitat for thousands of species for decades to come, she said.
“We are currently completing assessments and preliminary designs for a living shoreline and culvert replacement that will protect park marshes and provide habitat for birds. Simultaneously, staff have been working with CT DEEP educators to provide teacher trainings and field trips for their students to the park,” she said.
The announcement comes after just over $2.6 million in congressionally directed spending was awarded last year for the project. The federal dollars came from the 2024 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, according to Audubon. U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal both worked with Audubon Connecticut to secure the funding.
“Because of the combination of beach, forest and grassland landscapes, this site has special educational value to young people to learn about conservation in their area, and provides a place for the community to enjoy the outdoors,” said Jack Matthias, manager of coastal resilience for Audubon Connecticut. “This funding will not only help conserve the park, but also provide opportunities for everyone to play a role in maintaining local outdoor spaces.
Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection led the first phase of the project. This included site assessments, data collection and developing project design plans. The next step is to get the public involved in the process through community engagement and events, according to officials. The third phase will be implementation and the restoration of coastline.
As part of a community engagement initiative, Audubon is set to host a public meeting on Dec. 8, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Scranton Library in Madison. The public is invited to learn more about the project at Hammonasset Beach State Park and share concerns they may have. Registration is required to attend the event at scrantonlibrary.org.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com.
