Ash Creek (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
Ash Creek is a tidal creek
and intertidal wetland in Fairfield County
, Connecticut
that serves as a border between the city of Bridgeport
and the town of Fairfield
. It is the last salt water estuary in the area, extending from Long Island Sound
and up the Rooster River
.
at the Bridgeport-Fairfield town line on March 24, 2009. It is in recognition of ConnDOT Chief Engineer Gruhn's work by Connecticut Light & Power
and the United Illuminating Company for his work allowing for the Middletown-Norwalk transmission line
upgrade. Engineer Gruhn's work provided for a practical electric system upgrade while environmentally preserving Ash Creek.
Ash Creek Open Space, which includes a public access (handicap accessible) boat launch at the mouth of the river. Fishing, crabbing, picnicking, walking trails, and other activities are permitted. The preservation area is approximately 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) in size.
Creek (tidal)
A tidal creek, tidal channel, or estuary is the portion of a stream that is affected by ebb and flow of ocean tides, in the case that the subject stream discharges to an ocean, sea or strait. Thus this portion of the stream has variable salinity and electrical conductivity over the tidal cycle...
and intertidal wetland in Fairfield County
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
that serves as a border between the city of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
and the town of Fairfield
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. It is the last salt water estuary in the area, extending from Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and up the Rooster River
Rooster River
Rooster River is a river in Fairfield County, Connecticut that lies on and serves as the border between Bridgeport and Fairfield. It has flooded on numerous occasions and so has its own flood control project....
.
History
The area was known on colonial maps as the Uncoway or Fairfield River. Ash Creek has served as Fairfield's main harbor since the founding of the town in 1639.Memorial plaque
The Arthur Gruhn Memorial Cable Crossing plaque was erected on Connecticut Route 130Connecticut Route 130
Route 130 is a state highway in southwestern Connecticut, running from Fairfield to Stratford, generally parallel to I-95.-Route description:...
at the Bridgeport-Fairfield town line on March 24, 2009. It is in recognition of ConnDOT Chief Engineer Gruhn's work by Connecticut Light & Power
Northeast Utilities
Northeast Utilities is a publicly-traded, Fortune 500 energy company headquartered in Berlin, Connecticut, with several regulated subsidiaries offering retail electricity and natural gas service to more than 2.1 million customers in New England....
and the United Illuminating Company for his work allowing for the Middletown-Norwalk transmission line
Middletown-Norwalk transmission line
The Middletown-Norwalk Transmission Line is a 69-mile , 345-kilovolt AC transmission line between Middletown and Norwalk in the U.S. state of Connecticut...
upgrade. Engineer Gruhn's work provided for a practical electric system upgrade while environmentally preserving Ash Creek.
Public Use and preservation area
The town of Fairfield began accumulating land in 1931 forAsh Creek Open Space, which includes a public access (handicap accessible) boat launch at the mouth of the river. Fishing, crabbing, picnicking, walking trails, and other activities are permitted. The preservation area is approximately 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) in size.