Community Corner

A Letter To The Editor

Volunteers will cut and remove the invasive species in Poquetanuck Cove. A licensed arborist will treat the stumps with herbicide.

 

A Letter to the Editor from the Ledyard Garden Club and Conservation Commission.

Dear Resident –

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The Ledyard Conservation Commission and the Ledyard Garden Club have partnered in seeking a grant from the Connecticut Rivers Alliance in order to improve the town-owned boat launch here on Poquetanuck Cove.

No doubt you know how fortunate you are to live here on beautiful Poquetanuck Cove.    Here we have the largest brackish tidal cove between Norwich and the Fisher Island Sound.  It is a designated bird sanctuary, and delights hikers and boaters year-round. Beautiful, special, and fragile.  The Cove has been heavily threatened by invasive plant species, like Phragmites, Oriental Bittersweet Vine, and Multiflora Rose.

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These invasives choke out the native plants that are supposed to be here, thus making the area less hospitable to native birds, fish and animals.    The loss of the native plant species also adds to soil erosion and poor water quality in the cove itself. 

We plan to remove invasive plant species from the boat access point, replant the area with native plants and raise public awareness about our project and the importance of buffer areas to protect water quality.

The project site has become overrun with Russian Olive, Black Locust, Oriental Bittersweet Vine and Multi-flora Rose.  Volunteers from the Ledyard Garden Club, the town Conservation Commission and the local community will cut and remove the invasive species, and a licensed arborist will treat the stumps with herbicide.  The area will be monitored for regrowth of opportunistic natives and then replanted with suitable native plant species.

The LCC and the LGC want you, as residents of the Poquetanuck Cove area, to be aware of this project.  There will be activity in and around the boat launch, such as work parties and monitoring.  Occasionally there will be heavy equipment working here. 

We invite you to join us in this endeavor to improve and further protect our beautiful cove. 

Thank you!


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