4 million in stimulus money for Conn. environment
By Martin Armstrong
Special Correspondent
Updated: 07/10/2009 12:43:02 AM EDT
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced on July 7th that a number of important environmental projects in Connecticut have been approved to receive $4 million in federal stimulus funds.
The funds will be used to enhance and preserve ecosystems along the Naugatuck River and the Long Island Sound shoreline.
The Governor said in a prepared statement that a $2.5 million grant from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be used to build a fish bypass around the Tingue Dam on the Naugatuck River in Seymour.
NOAA also has awarded $1.5 million to help restore 108 acres of tidal marsh and open habitat at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme and the West River in New Haven.
"Restoring and preserving these fragile ecosystems are a sound investment for our environment and the surrounding communities. Our rivers and coastline are irreplaceable natural resources," Governor Rell said. "The projects will generate jobs quickly in construction and strengthen local economies."
A passageway around the Tingue Dam would remove an in-stream barrier to diadromodous fish -- fish that move between salt and freshwater.
The project will help restore access to 29 miles of essential habitat for American shad, alewife, blueback herring and American eel. The state Department of Environmental Protection said construction is expected to start within 90 days of the award will be completed within 18 months.
The DEP is also working in partnership with the
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Connecticut Fund for the Environment on a culvert replacement project at Rocky Neck State Park. The improvements will make it easier for herring to swim upstream to spawn. In a separate project, three tidal gates will be replaced on the West River in New Haven.
For more information on stimulus projects in Connecticut visit www.ct.gov and click the CT Recovery link.
q
Regular readers of this column know that I often write about safety issues when out fishing.
In the past I have urged readers that if you are going out to an area where you can get stranded by a moving tide you need to keep some safety tips in mind.
Last week, Roberto C. Acevedo, 25, of Norwalk, was fishing with his father, Roberto, 53, from a breakwater in Bridgeport when they found themselves cutoff shore by the incoming tide. As they tried to swim back to the mainland the younger Acevedo got into trouble and drowned.
The moving tide also caused problems for onlookers who rushed to Acevedo's aid. Some of the would be rescuers had to be helped back to safety by park lifeguards.
Remember when you fish, even in areas that you know well, safety must be your top priority.
Pay attention to when the tides are changing. If you get stranded don't take any unnecessary risks. Call 911 for help. When out on the water remember to always wrap your phone tightly in a plastic bag so it will remain dry and usable.
q
A month ago fluke season opened and the annual Super Duper Fluker contest at Sportsman's Den started with a bang.
Lisa Loprinzo came in with her entry when the season was only a couple of days old. Lisa entered a 7.16-pound fluke that she caught while fishing in Greenwich waters from her kayak. Now, one month later, Lisa is still in first place.
The Super Duper Fluker contest ends on August 16th.
q
Depending who you spoke with fishing was either good or it was bad last week. Some bait and tackle shops had little or nothing to report while others said that their customers were catching lots of fish.
On Wednesday, Mike Noyes and John Windus sailed over to the New York side of the Sound where they found terrific fluke fishing. The only downside was that most of the summer flounder were too small to keep and had to be released unharmed. They were using squid and spearing baited in a Spro Bucktail lure.
Nick at Fisherman's World in Norwalk reported that Frank Chieffalo caught a nice fat fluke while fishing with his family in the Middle Passage. Frank, age 8, boated a 6-pound, 4-ounce fluke.
Last Wednesday night Alexander Espinoza and Juan Zular fished from a boat in front of Cummings Beach. Alexander, who is visiting from California, got a real taste of Long Island Sound quality fishing.
He caught a 45.75-pound striped bass that measured 50-inches in length. They caught three other stripers measuring between 35 and 40 inches. They also caught lots of bluefish and a sandshark. The big bass was weighed in at Pete's Place Bait and Tackle.
The folks at Fish Tales Bait and Tackle reported that Mike English and Fred Carbonetti teamed up to catch eight striped bass while fishing at the East Breakwall off Stamford. Their largest striper measured 33-inches in length. All of the fish were taken using bunker chunks for bait.
Striped bass fishing on the other side of Stamford Harbor has also been pretty good. The largest linesider caught from shore around Stamford was 37-incher caught by Pete Miller. Pete took the big bass using fresh bunker off Southfield Park.
Paul McFarland caught a 36-inch striped bass while fishing from the shore in Stamford. Paul was also using fresh bunker for bait.
Peter Bailey caught and released several striped bass while trolling the waters between Darien and Stamford. His largest fish measured 34-inches. Peter was trolling a tube and worm combo.
An angler known only as Vic caught a 36-inch striped bass off Greenwich. He used fresh bunker for bait.
Also doing well in Greenwich waters was Freddie Bonilla. Using fresh bunker he caught a 38-inch striped bass.
Derrick Perone and Charlie Woodman caught a bunch of nice stripers while trolling Cockenoe Reef off Westport. Their largest linesider tipped the scales at 17-pounds. They were trolling sandworms.
On the bluefish scene, John, Bobby and Denise Bunton trolled up lots of nice bluefish including a 10-pounder. They were trolling a Deep Diver lure through the Greenwich Islands.
Bill Kovac caught some nice porgies off the Stamford Cows using clam strips for bait. His largest porgy measured an impressive 18-inches on length.
Andrew Grunow hit the grand slam of the week. While fishing in Greenwich waters he caught four different species of fish. He caught striped bass, bluefish, porgies and fluke. Andrew used fresh bunker and sandworms for bait.
Scott Gross and crew fished in 500 fathoms of water off the Middle Ground last weekend. Fishing from the boat "Reel Medicine" they chunked all night long with no action.
As soon as the sun rose, fishing improved. That's when they caught four small yellow fin tuna and a 35-pound mahi mahi.
Martin Armstrong is a member of the Fisheries Advisory Council, a lifetime member in Trout Unlimited and a member of the Outdoors Writers Association.
By Martin Armstrong
Special Correspondent
Updated: 07/10/2009 12:43:02 AM EDT
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced on July 7th that a number of important environmental projects in Connecticut have been approved to receive $4 million in federal stimulus funds.
The funds will be used to enhance and preserve ecosystems along the Naugatuck River and the Long Island Sound shoreline.
The Governor said in a prepared statement that a $2.5 million grant from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be used to build a fish bypass around the Tingue Dam on the Naugatuck River in Seymour.
NOAA also has awarded $1.5 million to help restore 108 acres of tidal marsh and open habitat at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme and the West River in New Haven.
"Restoring and preserving these fragile ecosystems are a sound investment for our environment and the surrounding communities. Our rivers and coastline are irreplaceable natural resources," Governor Rell said. "The projects will generate jobs quickly in construction and strengthen local economies."
A passageway around the Tingue Dam would remove an in-stream barrier to diadromodous fish -- fish that move between salt and freshwater.
The project will help restore access to 29 miles of essential habitat for American shad, alewife, blueback herring and American eel. The state Department of Environmental Protection said construction is expected to start within 90 days of the award will be completed within 18 months.
The DEP is also working in partnership with the
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut Fund for the Environment on a culvert replacement project at Rocky Neck State Park. The improvements will make it easier for herring to swim upstream to spawn. In a separate project, three tidal gates will be replaced on the West River in New Haven.
For more information on stimulus projects in Connecticut visit www.ct.gov and click the CT Recovery link.
q
Regular readers of this column know that I often write about safety issues when out fishing.
In the past I have urged readers that if you are going out to an area where you can get stranded by a moving tide you need to keep some safety tips in mind.
Last week, Roberto C. Acevedo, 25, of Norwalk, was fishing with his father, Roberto, 53, from a breakwater in Bridgeport when they found themselves cutoff shore by the incoming tide. As they tried to swim back to the mainland the younger Acevedo got into trouble and drowned.
The moving tide also caused problems for onlookers who rushed to Acevedo's aid. Some of the would be rescuers had to be helped back to safety by park lifeguards.
Remember when you fish, even in areas that you know well, safety must be your top priority.
Pay attention to when the tides are changing. If you get stranded don't take any unnecessary risks. Call 911 for help. When out on the water remember to always wrap your phone tightly in a plastic bag so it will remain dry and usable.
q
A month ago fluke season opened and the annual Super Duper Fluker contest at Sportsman's Den started with a bang.
Lisa Loprinzo came in with her entry when the season was only a couple of days old. Lisa entered a 7.16-pound fluke that she caught while fishing in Greenwich waters from her kayak. Now, one month later, Lisa is still in first place.
The Super Duper Fluker contest ends on August 16th.
q
Depending who you spoke with fishing was either good or it was bad last week. Some bait and tackle shops had little or nothing to report while others said that their customers were catching lots of fish.
On Wednesday, Mike Noyes and John Windus sailed over to the New York side of the Sound where they found terrific fluke fishing. The only downside was that most of the summer flounder were too small to keep and had to be released unharmed. They were using squid and spearing baited in a Spro Bucktail lure.
Nick at Fisherman's World in Norwalk reported that Frank Chieffalo caught a nice fat fluke while fishing with his family in the Middle Passage. Frank, age 8, boated a 6-pound, 4-ounce fluke.
Last Wednesday night Alexander Espinoza and Juan Zular fished from a boat in front of Cummings Beach. Alexander, who is visiting from California, got a real taste of Long Island Sound quality fishing.
He caught a 45.75-pound striped bass that measured 50-inches in length. They caught three other stripers measuring between 35 and 40 inches. They also caught lots of bluefish and a sandshark. The big bass was weighed in at Pete's Place Bait and Tackle.
The folks at Fish Tales Bait and Tackle reported that Mike English and Fred Carbonetti teamed up to catch eight striped bass while fishing at the East Breakwall off Stamford. Their largest striper measured 33-inches in length. All of the fish were taken using bunker chunks for bait.
Striped bass fishing on the other side of Stamford Harbor has also been pretty good. The largest linesider caught from shore around Stamford was 37-incher caught by Pete Miller. Pete took the big bass using fresh bunker off Southfield Park.
Paul McFarland caught a 36-inch striped bass while fishing from the shore in Stamford. Paul was also using fresh bunker for bait.
Peter Bailey caught and released several striped bass while trolling the waters between Darien and Stamford. His largest fish measured 34-inches. Peter was trolling a tube and worm combo.
An angler known only as Vic caught a 36-inch striped bass off Greenwich. He used fresh bunker for bait.
Also doing well in Greenwich waters was Freddie Bonilla. Using fresh bunker he caught a 38-inch striped bass.
Derrick Perone and Charlie Woodman caught a bunch of nice stripers while trolling Cockenoe Reef off Westport. Their largest linesider tipped the scales at 17-pounds. They were trolling sandworms.
On the bluefish scene, John, Bobby and Denise Bunton trolled up lots of nice bluefish including a 10-pounder. They were trolling a Deep Diver lure through the Greenwich Islands.
Bill Kovac caught some nice porgies off the Stamford Cows using clam strips for bait. His largest porgy measured an impressive 18-inches on length.
Andrew Grunow hit the grand slam of the week. While fishing in Greenwich waters he caught four different species of fish. He caught striped bass, bluefish, porgies and fluke. Andrew used fresh bunker and sandworms for bait.
Scott Gross and crew fished in 500 fathoms of water off the Middle Ground last weekend. Fishing from the boat "Reel Medicine" they chunked all night long with no action.
As soon as the sun rose, fishing improved. That's when they caught four small yellow fin tuna and a 35-pound mahi mahi.
Martin Armstrong is a member of the Fisheries Advisory Council, a lifetime member in Trout Unlimited and a member of the Outdoors Writers Association.