ACC Accomplishments

• Long Island Sound Futures Fund awarded the City of New London a grant valued at $399,865 for the Alewife Cove Restoration Project. This funding will support studies of the Alewife Cove watershed.  The City of New London, Town of Waterford, and Alewife Cove Conservancy will also contribute funds and in-kind services to support this project.

• ACC received an additional $40,000 from the Community Foundation of Eastern CT and $10,000 from the Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund to study the Alewife Cove Basin.

The Plan for this collaborative grant of over $579,000:

• ARCADIS, one of the world’s leading environment design and environmental consultancies, is undertaking two projects to study the sediments and hydrodynamic processes in Alewife Cove to determine the next steps for water quality improvement and resilience.

• Remaining funds and in-kind services will also be used to support on-going studies of Alewife Cove.

Work is underway - Learn more about it!

• Received $4,000 from NL Water Authority Community Fund Grant/Veolia Grant that provided field trips to Alewife Cove for 3 rd and 4 th graders from New London and Waterford in conjunction with Project Oceanology.

• Awarded a NL Water Authority/Veolia Grant to purchase 4 Enviroscapes Teaching Displays ($1,500 each) for distribution to local schools and colleges. These are 3-dimensional landscapes illustrating sources of water pollution and its effect on the environment.

• Board members represented the ACC during court hearings following the attack on an egret at Ocean Beach.  The Judge ordered the defendant to donate $1,500 to ACC.

• At the encouragement of ACC members, Senator Martha Marx, CT Representatives Christine Conley, Aundre Bumgardner and Anthony Nolan proposed Bill 5076: An Act Concerning the Restoration of Alewife Cove in New London and Waterford. The bill passed!

Host ACC Annual Bash in November at Ocean Beach with 400+ in attendance each year!

• ACC established two $500 annual scholarships for two graduating seniors:

The Louise Fabrykiewicz Alewife Cove Conservancy Environmental Scholarship for a New London High School Multi-Magnet Campus senior

and

The John A. Schillieri Alewife Cove Conservancy Environmental Scholarship for a Waterford High School senior

Criteria for these scholarships: students must plan to attend college/tech program and have an interest in marine biology, environmental science or related field. The funds will be donated to the New London Education Foundation and the Waterford Scholars Program for selection and disbursement.

• ACC awarded young Jack Perch with the first-ever ACC Outstanding Citizens Award for his part in organizing a vigil in honor of the egret that was attacked on Alewife Cove, 2023

• Sponsored the successful Alewife Cove Art Festival in May 2024, featuring internationally known artist Mark Shasha, who offered a Master Class in painting to 25 artists on the shores of Alewife Cove.  The day was enjoyed by many artists, aspiring art students, and awe-struck observers.  Mark generously donated his beautiful painting of Alewife Cove to ACC (worth $850).

• ACC supported the Celebrating Children’s Music Conference & Performance at Mitchell College in April 2024

• Sponsored the Annual Earth Day event for New London/Waterford public school students at Waterford Beach/Alewife Cove to learn about conservation using Enviroscapes donated by ACC.

• ACC Board Member and retired educator, Tim Visel, spoke at the international World Aquaculture Society Symposium in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he discussed the tenuous state of Alewife Cove.

Community Engagement:

• Established an alliance with UCONN Sea Grant & Connecticut College Arboretum

• ACC Representation at:

- Annual July 4th Flotilla on Alewife Cove with up to 70 participants each year

-Annual New London Cup Paddle Board Race at Ocean Beach

-EARTHFEST Environmental Fair in Niantic, CT since 2021

• Coordinated with Steve Fagin of The Day and TV Show “EXPLORE NEW ENGLAND” for a segment that aired in February 2024, featuring kayaking on Alewife Cove. See ACC website for video.

• Alewife Cove was pictured on the cover of the new book, CONNECTICUT SANDY SHORES (Barrett, Lewis, et.al)

• ACC was featured in 4 front page articles in The Day.

• ACC connected with world-renowned environmental artist WYLAND and helped dedicate his new Whale Wall in New London, CT.  See more about Wyland's Whale Wall here.