Norwalk Islands Canoe and Kayak Guide (2009)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
i 800-473-4868 • www.visitfairfieldcountyCT.com • 800-473-4868 Norwalk, Connecticut Norwalk, 297 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850 • 203-853-7770 203-853-7770 • 06850 CT Norwalk, Avenue, West 297 Fairfield County Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitors & Convention County Fairfield Instructions Instructions Tours • Easy Easy Rentals Rentals • Fun • Exits 27- 52 27- Exits xt 33 - 2 Exits Economy to Luxury to Economy Parkway Merritt COMPLIMENTS OF COMPLIMENTS a National Scenic Byway Byway Scenic National a Merritt Parkway, Merritt Fairfield County Fairfield The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry • www.bpjferry.com • Ferry Jefferson Port & Bridgeport The MetroNorth Commuter Train • www.mta.info www.mta.info • Train Commuter MetroNorth Kayak Trail Kayak Norwalk Islands Islands Norwalk by car, train, bus or ferry. ferry. or bus train, car, by ICUT CONNECT / County Fairfield Fairfield County is easy to reach reach to easy is County Fairfield Safety & Emergency Reminders • Life jackets are required to be worn by children under Go 0.6 miles to the beach. Follow the parking lot around to boat launch area. (Look for signs to Calf • Paddlers must follow the same safe boating practices 13 years old on canoes, kayaks and other manually pro- as any other small boat operator. All paddlers should pelled vessels. However, life jacket usage is strongly Pasture Beach) take a course in safe boating such as those offered by encouraged at all times for both children and adults while Westport, Connecticut: Directions to the Connecticut Department of Environmental on any vessel. ALL paddlers must wear a life jacket from Saugatuck River State Boat Launch October 1st through May 31st. Protection or other organizations. Contact Directions - From the North: I-95 South to http://www.ct.gov/Dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2222&q=32063 • In addition to food and water, it is recommended to Exit 18. Stay right on ramp. Turn left at second 8&depNav_GID=1620 or (860) 434-8638 for further bring warm clothing, a spare paddle, a space blanket, light, Greens Farms Road. Go through two stop information. All paddlers should know the principles hat, flares, first aid kit, an efficient sound producing signs. Turn left at first light. Turn right at next light of navigation and seamanship and be comfortable device, i.e., whistle or air horn. Since visibility becomes Bridge St.(Rte 136). Go under thruway and take in the water. poor due to fog, rain, etc and at night, it is important to first right. Boat ramp is past the sewage treatment • Access to the islands requires crossing boating have a flashlight. A VHF radio and a cell phone (in a plant on the Saugatuck River. channels. It is imperative that paddlers know the bouy waterproof container) is recommended . Monitor Channel 16 in marine emergencies. Recommended clothing Directions - From the South: I-95 North to markers for channels, stay in close groups and cross at Exit 17. Straight at end of ramp. Through two stop right angles. Make yourself visible and never assume a includes - wicking fabric, not cotton, hat, sunglasses (w/croakie), watershoes, suntan lotion and bug repellant lights. Turn left at stop light. Turn right at first light. larger vessel has sighted your vessel or that you have Turn right at next light Bridge St. (Rte 136). Go the right of way. A light is necessary before sunrise and after sunset and is required by the Coast Guard -make sure that you are under thruway and take first right. Boat ramp is • Throughout most of the year the prevailing winds visible to other larger vessels. The link to the Coast past the sewage treatment plant on the blow out of the southwest. The average tidal range in Guard federal requirements for paddle craft in our area Saugatuck River. the Norwalk Islands area is 7.5 feet. Each tidal cycle is: http://a013.uscgaux.info/requirements.htm. Go to www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess for more (from low to high) has duration of approximately 6 information about each boat launch site. Do not tamper with lobster pot buoys or shellfish bed hours. Tidal currents are strongest on the mid-outgoing • Contact the Connecticut Department of stakes: the shellfish industry is a very important compo- and mid-incoming tides and are more intense during Environmental Protection (CTDEP) nent of the local and state economy. foul weather conditions. Strong tidal currents can be at (860) 424-3034 or visit their website at felt between Shea Island and Chimon Island, and the Norwalk, Connecticut: Directions to Calf Pasture http://dep.state.ct.us for more detailed information sheer force of their flow can also cause difficult eddy Beach in East Norwalk, Connecticut and maps concerning Long Island Sound, geologic and wave conditions, even on calm days. formations, coastal access and wildlife habitat. A www.tidesonline.com - Greens Ledge is the Directions - From the North: I-95 South to Exit 16 and turn right at the end of the ramp onto East Avenue. CTDEP guide entitled Sharing the waterways: nearest marker. A Code of Ethics for Wildlife Watching Along the Directions - From the South: I-95 North to Exit 16 • Fog is a common occurrence in Long Island Sound. Connecticut Coast is especially useful. and turn left at the end of the ramp onto East Avenue. It is strongly recommended that paddlers travel with a Contact the Norwalk Recreation and nautical chart and a compass. When fog occurs, it can Follow East Avenue for about 0.4 miles to a railroad tres- tle bridge. Continue straight under the railroad trestle for Parks Department, 125 East Ave., Norwalk or result in sudden and total disorientation. The sound of call 203-854-7806 for information and permitting. bells or foghorns, sightings of buoys and steady wave 0.1 miles, then bear left around a cemetery, then immedi- and wind direction will help to orient you. If fog or ately bear right onto Gregory Boulevard. Go 0.6 miles to Contact the Westport Conservation heavy rain sets in and the shore cannot be seen from the monument, go left around the monument, and then Commission, 1 Myrtle Ave., Westport, CT or call the islands, heading in a northerly direction gets you make the next right onto Calf Pasture Beach Road. 203-341-1170 for information and permitting. to the mainland. • Know the weather forecast and leave a float plan. Paddlers must constantly keep an eye on the weather and know their limitations. The wind is known to pick up early to mid afternoon, and storms are common mid to late afternoon. • There is no fresh water on the public islands and only Shea Island and Sheffield Island have sanitary facilities (seasonal). Carry your own water, food and other nec- essary supplies. Practice “Leave No Trace “principles and carry out all trash and garbage. The Norwalk 3. Chimon Island - This 70-acre island is part of the 7. Cockenoe Island - (pronounced “kah-KEE-nee”) has Islands SBMNWR. The north and west coasts are gravely; the almost all the bird rookeries in the island chain. Herons, Launch your own kayak or rent locally. south and east coast are strewn with boulders. Access is egrets and black cormorants can be seen on Cockenoe. Instructions and tours available. Find outfitters restricted from April 1st to August 15th during bird-nesting Camping permits limited to 4 parties per night can be at www.visitfairfieldcountyCT.com. season. No overnight camping or use of the island’s inte- obtained from the Westport Conservation Commission. Environmental/Wildlife Consideration rior is allowed. For more information, visit the SBMNWR Harbor seals have been spotted with greater frequency website at http://northeast.fws.gov/. on the southwest corner of Sheffield Island on the rocks 4. Shea Island - The entire shoreline of this 45-acre at low tide in the winter months. Recent studies suggest island is strewn with rocks and boulders. Many bird Saugatuck that kayak and canoe approaches disturb the seals who species are found on the island. Two solar powered River and may sense predatory danger from the low-draft silent restrooms are available seasonally along with 16 State Boat vessels. Please maintain a safe distance (50 yards) camping sites. Camping permits can be obtained from Launch from the harbor seals. The Marine Mammal Protection the Norwalk Recreation and Parks Department. Act protects these mammals from harassment and sets limits as to how close observers can approach. 5. Sheffield Island - This 53-acre island is located Visit Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium or its website 1.5 miles off the coast of Norwalk and is part of the www.maritimeaquarium.org for information about SBMNWR. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service controls marine life. the island except for the 3.5-acre parcel occupied by the Sheffield Island Lighthouse and grounds owned by the The Norwalk Islands Norwalk Seaport Association. This is the largest island, There are approximately 23 islands located off the and the entire shoreline is strewn with rocks and boul- coast of Norwalk, Connecticut. Many of these islands ders. Sheffield Island supports a variety of bird species are privately owned, some with residents living on them and has considerable nesting potential for osprey, herons seasonally and others year-round. The islands of Chimon and other migratory birds. To protect these birds, and Sheffield are part of the Stewart B. McKinney Sheffield Island is seasonally closed to public access National Wildlife Refuge (SBMNWR) and access is each year. The refuge also provides important resting, restricted. The City of Norwalk owns Shea Island and feeding, and nesting habitat for many species of wading Grassy Island, both of which are open to the public. birds, shorebirds, songbirds and terns, including the Cockenoe Island is owned by the town of Westport.