Groton Open Space Association

When City Meets Sea

Judy Rondeau, natural resource specialist with the Eastern Conservation district has been leading a study of Baker Cove and the watershed of Birch Plain Creek and two other watersheds that feed it. Syma Ebbin, research coordinator at Connecticut Sea Grant, assistant professor at UConn-Avery Point and GOSA board member, served as the project’s local guide. A team of volunteers, including several GOSA members, found storm drains and outfall pipes discharging untreated runoff full of sediments, trash and vehicle residues from roadways and parking lots, and sewer manholes in wetlands. Tests of water samples collected behind the Big Y and along Leonard drive found some “extremely high” levels of E-coli bacteria, of about 10 times the state’s clean water standard.

A video of the kayak journey up Baker Cove into Birch Hill Creek, photos and a detailed article, “When city meets sea” by Judy Benson of the New London Day, was published on August 21, 2011 View the complete article here.