Bountiful Biodiversity of Ash Creek

This StoryMap showcases biodiversity observed at Ash Creek and the Penfield Mills Open Space area, documented over a six month period of time through field visits and remote wildlife cameras. It serves as a resource for the public to learn about the biodiversity of Ash Creek and its importance in the community.

We chose this project because Campbell had previous experience with Ash Creek through a school project, and we were both was interested in the biodiversity of the property. In Campbell's past projects, he had learned more about the property and its wildlife. We were excited to dive deeper into the aspects of biodiversity yet to be discovered in Ash Creek!

Ash Creek stands on the lands of the the Indigenous Pequonnock and Paugussett tribes. These lands were unceded territory from which the Pequonnock and Paugussett were forced. We give gratitude for their land stewardship, culture, and traditions.

Ash Creek played an important role in the development of Fairfield, serving as its main harbor for many years. Mills powered by the tides were also built along the creek, and a dam was built across it. A wooden bridge was also built, connecting the Fairfield and Bridgeport sides over the marsh.

In the early 1900s, parts of what is now the open space were mined for sand and gravel, which was used in the building of houses around the upland portion of the creek. These dug-out holes were filled with debris from construction.

In 1968, the town purchased the land that is now Penfield Mills and started restoring it. In 2007, the town and the Aspetuck Land Trust purchased Great Marsh Island, which is the island in the middle of the creek.

Ash Creek is an estuary.  Estuaries  are bodies of water found where rivers meet the sea, often called the “nurseries of the sea” because they provide places for many marine animals to reproduce and mature. Because they are affected by the tides, estuaries have a wide variety of habitats. They are also a major stopover point for migrating animals like waterfowl or salmon. 

There is also a synergistic relationship between the biodiversity of an estuary and the estuary itself. The estuary supports the wildlife and provides a habitat, and the wildlife in turn provides benefits to the estuary. For example, Ash Creek is a habitat for oysters, and oysters are prey for crabs, seabirds, and humans. This relationship and others alike demonstrate how biodiversity helps maintain the ecosystem of an estuary. The estuary also brings benefits to the whole environment. Estuaries help absorb floods and storm surges. They also filter out sediments and pollutants from the water flowing through them.

Humans also benefit from estuaries. Estuaries provide a bountiful environment for fishing. Estuaries are also used for recreational activities like hiking, biking, or walking, and Ash Creek is no different. Ash Creek straddles the town line between Fairfield and Bridgeport. Though it is divided in this way, it is still important to both towns. Ecologically, Ash Creek provides flood control and stabilizes the shoreline. Its history within the towns gives it significance, and it also has modern significance. People use it as a recreational area, and it is also used for environmental education for several schools and programs in Fairfield and Bridgeport.

Biodiversity is a term that describes the variety of life on Earth. It encompasses all levels of life, from genes to whole ecosystems. Biodiversity is important because it provides benefits to humans. It helps fulfill basic needs, and biodiverse ecosystems also provide agricultural benefits. Finally, biodiversity also has cultural importance to humans, for example through the importance of different species in many cultures or religions.

We highlight some of the important flora and fauna that are a small part of the overall rich biodiversity within the Ash Creek Estuary.

Even a relatively small area like Ash Creek has biodiversity. There are many different species represented. In our time on the property, we saw many different species of birds, plants, and mammals.

When Campbell first visited Ash Creek, he spent a lot of time at the water, watching the flocks of birds there. Campbell observed an osprey nest on Great Marsh Island, with adults and babies seen there. Different types of seagulls and ducks were also common.

Wildlife Cameras

We set up two  wildlife cameras  for this project in different locations across the  Penfield Mills Open Space  part of the Ash Creek property. Periodically every week or two, Campbell moved the cameras to different locations to try to capture as much of the property as he could. Highlighted below are some of the main locations that Campbell used.

Flora and Fauna

Through the wildlife cameras we set up, we were able to see a glimpse into the animal population of the area. Deer were the most common animal that we saw, but we also caught foxes,  opossum , mice,  chipmunks ,  raccoons , squirrels, and a  fisher . We also saw a night heron through the cameras.

Campbell also documented different types of plants he identified. The most common plants observed were  smooth cordgrass , which makes up nearly all of Great Marsh Island, and common reed, an  invasive species  that was more common on the shore. Marsh elder, common mugwort, and sea lavender were other common species near the shore.

The ecosystem of Ash Creek provides habitat for its biodiversity to flourish. In the synergistic relationship between the Ash Creek estuary and its biodiversity, both parties benefit. The estuary receives multiple benefits from the biodiversity. In the case of some of the plants growing, they help stabilize the edges of the estuary and protect the rest of it from the tides. Plants also get nutrients from the estuary, and when they decompose, those nutrients are returned to it.

“Despite all the benefits provided by wetlands, the United States loses about 60,000 acres each year.” - United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Estuaries are fragile ecosystems. They can be damaged by natural forces, like the wind, waves, and temperature. Human activity can also harm estuaries. Stream and river banks can be damaged by construction close to the water or other human-caused erosion.  Urbanization  destroys the nesting and feeding grounds for fish in the estuary, lowering their population. Chemicals from stormwater runoff and some agricultural methods pollute estuary waters. These aspects of life damage the ecosystems of estuaries, which hold incredible biodiversity and benefit for animals and humans.

This project speaks to the impact that biodiversity can have on a community. Campbell chose Ash Creek as the area in which he carried out the community conservation project because this area is a pillar in his community, and its preservation is necessary for the benefit of plants, animals, and people. Ash Creek is uniquely placed in an urban area, which is uncommon for most tidal estuaries. Many estuaries in this position have been destroyed by development; this being one of the reasons as to why the conservation of Ash Creek is so important. 

Ash Creek plays a critical role in benefitting its surrounding communities such as  Bridgeport, Connecticut  because of the many key roles it plays in the ecosystem. This estuary holds abundant plant life which then aids in water absorption, preventing flooding to surrounding residential areas in times of heavy rain and flooding. It also holds beds of shellfish, clams, and oysters that are essential to the surrounding ecosystem. Migratory shorebirds rely on aspects of Ash Creek to rest, feed, and reproduce. Bridgeport also has few natural open spaces, and Ash Creek is one of its most vibrant spaces due to the robust biodiversity. Ash Creek also serves the community as a place for individuals to recreate, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. It has been a goal for Connecticut government officials to bring awareness to environmental stewardship to Ash Creek because of its many benefits to the City of Bridgeport.

View some of Ash Creek's biodiversity below:

This project was made possible by our participation in our  Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA)    Conservation Training Partnerships (CTP)   project. We applied new knowledge and tools from the CTP workshop to share what we learned about wildlife through our local conservation project focused on biodiversity.

We would like to thank the NRCA, specifically Nicole Freidenfelds and Laura Cisneros, for helping plan the StoryMap and providing us with equipment to carry it out, and finally Mr. Landau and the Ash Creek Conservation Association for proving helpful information about the property.