Working Together to Restore Alewife Cove
Community members know that Alewife Cove faces a number of challenges, including continual desiment deposition in the Cove inlet. This issue persists despite dredging in 1987, the construction of tidal jetties, and maintenance dredging behind the New London jetty in 1988 and 1990. As a result, the cove faces diminshed water quality due to restricted tidal flushing, declining fish and shellfish populations, and a build up of organic sediemt in Upper Bay. Historic mosquito ditches and invasive species are also disrupting the Alewife Cove ecosystem.
Community members know that Alewife Cove faces a number of challenges, including continual desiment deposition in the Cove inlet. This issue persists despite dredging in 1987, the construction of tidal jetties, and maintenance dredging behind the New London jetty in 1988 and 1990. As a result, the cove faces diminshed water quality due to restricted tidal flushing, declining fish and shellfish populations, and a build up of organic sediemt in Upper Bay. Historic mosquito ditches and invasive species are also disrupting the Alewife Cove ecosystem.
Partially funded by two grant programs, the City of New London, the Town of Waterford, and Alewife Cove Conservancy are undertaking two projects to study the sediments and hydrodynamic processes in Alewife Cove and to determine the next steps for water quality improvement and resilience. We are just getting started and plan to share the progress of this work in a series of workshop-style meetings. we hope you will join us and provide input to the poject team at those meetings.
Partially funded by two grant programs, the City of New London, the Town of Waterford, and Alewife Cove Conservancy are undertaking two projects to study the sediments and hydrodynamic processes in Alewife Cove and to determine the next steps for water quality improvement and resilience. We are just getting started and plan to share the progress of this work in a series of workshop-style meetings. we hope you will join us and provide input to the poject team at those meetings.
Lower Cove
Lower Cove
Work on the Lower Cove is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the City of New London and the Town of Waterford. The project aims to complete the necessary analysis and develop a feasibility study for stabilizing the Cove outlet, restoring tidal exchange to improve water quality and marine habitat within the Cove estuary, and preparing for future impacts due to changing sea levels and storm surge. Work will include data collection, modeling, and analysis of alternatives alongside public outreach and engagement.
Work on the Lower Cove is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the City of New London and the Town of Waterford. The project aims to complete the necessary analysis and develop a feasibility study for stabilizing the Cove outlet, restoring tidal exchange to improve water quality and marine habitat within the Cove estuary, and preparing for future impacts due to changing sea levels and storm surge. Work will include data collection, modeling, and analysis of alternatives alongside public outreach and engagement.
Upper Cove
Upper Cove
Work on the Upper Cove is supported by the Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund and the Community Foundation of Eastern CT. The project focuses on analyzing accumulated organic sediments and their potential impacts to water quality and identifying opportunities for nature-based solutions to improve the ecological health of the cove.
Work on the Upper Cove is supported by the Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund and the Community Foundation of Eastern CT. The project focuses on analyzing accumulated organic sediments and their potential impacts to water quality and identifying opportunities for nature-based solutions to improve the ecological health of the cove.
What to expect
What to expect
The projects will not result in shovel-ready designs, so additional phases and funding will be needed for design and implementation of recommended actions to achieve desired outcomes.. The projects will place priority on nature-based solutions such as stabilizing dunes and shorelines, improving resilience of salt marsh habitats to Sea Level Rise through thin layer deposition and mosquito ditch remediation, and enhancements to existing jetties and breakwaters. Sediment removal in select locations may also be a recommended action after careful analysis of study findings.
The projects will not result in shovel-ready designs, so additional phases and funding will be needed for design and implementation of recommended actions to achieve desired outcomes.. The projects will place priority on nature-based solutions such as stabilizing dunes and shorelines, improving resilience of salt marsh habitats to Sea Level Rise through thin layer deposition and mosquito ditch remediation, and enhancements to existing jetties and breakwaters. Sediment removal in select locations may also be a recommended action after careful analysis of study findings.