Site Analysis of the Washburn Property - Branford, Connecticut by Tom Siccama, Lecturer and Director of Field Studies, Yale School of Forestry The property was visited on April 19, 1976 with Charles Scott (TNC) and Peter Niell (Branford Land Trust) although I have been on the property at several other occasions over the past six years. The proposed acquisition consists of about five acres of upland and thirteen acres of salt marsh. It is located in the village of Stony Creek on Long Island Sound in the southeast corner of Branford (410 15' N, 720 44' 30" W. USGS Guilford quadrangle). Three general physiographic subsections occur on the land- 1) salt marsh, 2) upland forest, 3) abandoned quarries and quarry scree. A variety of vegetation types occur within these subdivisions. The salt marsh has long been of special note because it is one of the few unditched marshes on the Connecticut coast. It is the site of long-term studies on the rates of coastal subsidence and salt marsh aggradation. These studies were initiated by Professor Arthur Bloom, at Yale at the time and now at Cornell, and include marker beds for following rates of marsh building over time. I believe there have also been carbon 14 dating of logs found exposed in the eroding seaward edge of the marsh. The marsh also has the characteristic Pannes found in unditched marsh (see map accompanying this report). Vegetation of the marsh is typical, being dominated by Spartina patens. Some disturbance of the marsh occurred many years ago due to the quarrying operation and a trolley line crossing, however, these effects are local and now are of a positive value in that they provide walking access across the marsh. The upland forest occurs on the areas not disturbed by the quarry operations (see map). Several forest variants are present with oak and hickory dominating in some areas, mostly on the landward side of the bedrock ridges and maple, oak, basswood dominating on the seaward slopes and flats adjacent to the marsh. These forests are well developed (trees to 18" diameter and 40-50 feet. tall) and are typical of the forests to be found on rocky headlands all along the Connecticut coast. Abandoned granite quarries, their tailings, and the remains of an old trolley line occur in the central part of the site. These quarries are part of a series of quarries in the area of which a much larger one is on the adjacent property (see map). This larger quarry is listed in the Connecticut Natural Areas Inventory (area 145). About a mile north of this site some active quarries still exist and the Branford Land Trust is currently in the process of obtaining about 400 acres from one of the quarry operators. There are two or three small quarry holes on the Washburn property which are now ponds. There are areas of waste rock which have become vegetated with red cedar and pitch pine, also characteristic species of exposed rocky shoreline slopes in Connecticut. Some flat areas on and around the old trolley right of way are vegetated with an open forest of cedar and oak. Excellent vistas of Long Island Sound and the Thimble Islands are obtained from the high points of the ledges around the quarries. This property is interlaced by a well used trail system and, although it is posted private property, it has obviously been used by walkers. However, at the time of our visit no evidence of over use or human debris (cans, fires, junk) was noted. It is reported that the larger quarry on the adjoining property is used for swimming by local people (and some outsiders) and the smaller quarries on the property are also used, but to a lesser degree. This property and its associated rights of way would provide a continuous walking trail, mostly over the old trolley right of way, from Pine Orchard several miles west of the area, to Leetes Island area of Guilford to the east. This may also in the future be continuous with the extensive and well-known trail system of West Woods in Guilford. A trail following the dike (see map) in the northeastern corner of the property provides hiking access to a tide gate which provides a bridge across Stony Creek. In general, this property is a key link in a series of properties which provide (or may provide in the future) hiking access to a long Stretch of shoreline. It also serves as a protective buffer to the Stony Creek marshes which are surrounded by either undeveloped land or large private residences which effectively protect the margins of the marsh from development. Addendum: I called Dr. Bloom at Cornell to check on his studies. He reports that he started his marker beds on this marsh in 1963 and has been following the rates of marsh building for the past 13 years. This is one of 6 marshes in Connecticut where these studies are in progress and one of Bloom's Students has just finished a Master's Thesis using these data. These marker beds constitute a unique long range study which will become of more value the longer the record is kept. Bloom is also measuring the rate of marsh edge erosion in this area which has amounted to over 5 meters since 1963. No apparent reason is evident for this erosion. Partial Species List of the Washburn Property Since this property includes such a wide range of habitats, from salt marsh and fresh water ponds, through old fields to mesic and xeric forest a very large array of species is present. TREES Juniperus virginiana, red cedar Pinus rigida, pitch pine Quercus borealis, northern red oak Q. velutina, black oak Q. alba, white oak Acer saccharum, sugar maple A. rubrum, red maple Betula lenta, black birch B. populifolia, gray birch Ostrya virginiana, hophornbeam Carya glabra, [pignut] hickory C. cordiformis, mockernut hickory [Peterson's Guide to Trees and Shrubs says that C. cordiformis is bitternut hickory.] Prunus serotina, black cherry Sassafras albidum, sassafras Cornus florida, flowering dogwood Carpinus caroliniana, ironwood Fagus grandifolia, beech Tilia americana, basswood Ulmus rubra, slippery elm Amelanchier sp., shadblow Pyrus malus, apple SHRUBS Juniperus communis, common [ or dwarf] juniper Rhus radicans, poison ivy R. typhina, staghorn sumac R. copallina, winged sumac Vitis sp., grape Viburnun dentatum, southern arrowwood V. lentago, nanny berry V. acerifolium, maple leaved viburnum Vaccinium vacillans, low bush blueberry V. corymbosum, high bush blueberry Kalmia latifolia, mountain laurel Smilax rotundifolia, green brier S. glacua, cat brier Lonicera japonica, Japanese honeysuckle Rosa sp., rose Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey tea Elaeagnus sp., Russian olive Berberis thunbergii, barberry Myrica pennsylvanica, bayberry Iva frutescens, high tide bush HERBS Andropogon scoparius, little blue stem Polytrichum sp., hair cap moss Poa compressa, Canada blue grass Carex umbellata, sedge C. pennsylvanica, sedge Aster divaricatus, white wood aster Maianthemum canadense, false lily of the valley Smilacina racemosa , false solomon's seal Polystichum acrostichoides, Christmas fern Polypodium vulgare, rock polypody Achillea millefolium , yarrow Iris versicolor, wild iris Allium vineale, wild leek Dryopteris marginalis, marginal shield fern Fragaria virginiana, strawberry Anthoxanthum odoratum, sweet vernal grass Spartina patens, short cord grass S. alterniflora, tall cord grass Oenothera biennis, evening primrose Panicum virgatum, switch grass Rumex crispus, dock Daucus carota, wild carrot Dactylis glomerata, orchard grass