Norwalk Harbor: The Jewel of Long Island Sound A Presentation by the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission 2019 State of the Harbor Meeting December 11, 2019 1 The City of Norwalk in Southwest Connecticut Connecticut Norwalk is a coastal community on the north shore of Long Island Sound, part of the coastal area of the State of Connecticut as defined in the Norwalk Connecticut Coastal ● Management Act. Norwalk’s character and quality of life are intrinsically tied to the water and shoreline resources of Long Island Sound and Norwalk Harbor. 2 Norwalk Harbor Located at the mouth of the Norwalk River, Norwalk Harbor extends inland from south of the Norwalk Islands to the head of navigation at Wall Street. Harbor boundaries are established in the City Charter; harbor waters are divided into an Inner and Outer Harbor. A Federal Navigation Project authorized by the U.S. Congress and consisting of designated navigation channels and anchorage basins has served the harbor since the late 19th century. Included are a dredged channel 12 feet deep from the mouth of the river to the Stroffolino Bridge; a ten-foot channel upstream to Wall Street; and a six-foot channel to East Norwalk. 3 Historic Maritime Community Much of Norwalk’s history, from the area’s first settlement in 1640, can be told with respect to the City’s location on Long Island Sound and Norwalk Harbor. The first commercial docks were built upstream on the Norwalk River at the “head of navigation” in the 1700s. By the end of the 18th century, wharves and warehouses were found all along the waterfront. Images courtesy of Norwalk Museum 4 Shoreline Changes In the 21st century, uses and conditions in Norwalk Harbor continue to evolve. Review of shoreline changes and coastal development from the early 20th century to the present day highlights the need for continued protection of natural resources, including tidal wetlands and intertidal flats, and shows changing water-dependent uses. Google Earth images 5 Center of Recreational Boating In 2019, Norwalk Harbor remains a major center of recreational boating on Long Island Sound. Boating facilities include 15 commercial marinas, 13 private clubs, more than 1,800 berthing spaces, and 500 mooring locations. Economic benefits to the local and regional economy are substantial. State-wide, the annual economic impact of CT’s recreational boating industry is estimated at $1.3 billion. Top photo by A. Mobilia 6 Commercial Shellfishing Connecticut’s shellfishing industry began in Norwalk in the early 1800s. Today, Norwalk is a major center of this industry which generates more than $30 million annually in farm-gate sales. The Shellfish Commission and Harbor Management Commission work to protect the harbor’s exceptional shellfish resources for the benefit of future generations. Mural image by Alexander J. Rummler for the WPA, 1937 Photo courtesy of Norm Bloom & Son 7 Waterborne Commerce Waterborne commerce in Norwalk Harbor, in addition to shellfish, includes barge shipments of sand and gravel dependent on the harbor’s federal navigation channels. The U.S. Department of Transportation has designated Norwalk as a site for a new service for waterborne delivery of fresh farm produce across Long Island Sound. This project makes Norwalk Harbor part of the National Marine Highway System. Two bottom photos by A. Mobilia 8 David S. Dunavan Boating Center The Boating Center at Veteran’s Memorial Park includes public boat launching ramps and the Norwalk Visitor’s Dock. More than 3,000 trailered boat launches occur each year. In 2015, the State of Connecticut granted $350,000 for maintenance dredging of the Visitors’ Dock area. In 2019, a state grant of $908,000 was used to rebuild the Dock. Vessel photo by A. Mobilia 9 Public Access Numerous points of public access to the harbor and Long Island Sound are found along the Norwalk shoreline; these include the large waterfront parks Veteran’s Memorial Park and Calf Pasture Park, as well as city boating facilities. In addition, the Norwalk Heritage Park provides a linked system of historic places and activity centers. Beach photo by A. Mobilia; Historical image courtesy of Norwalk Museum 10 Norwalk Islands The harbor is also Norwalk’s most important natural resource; its tidal wetlands, intertidal flats, beaches, fish and wildlife, and other resources, including the Norwalk Islands with part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, provide a variety of irreplaceable ecological functions and values as well as recreational opportunities. Lighthouse photo by A. Mobilia 11 Tourism and Education The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is Southwest Connecticut's principal tourist attraction and the only aquarium devoted to Long Island Sound. The Norwalk Seaport Association sponsors the Norwalk Oyster Festival and runs ferry service to its historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse Park. Photos courtesy of the Maritime Aquarium 12 Public Safety Appointed by the Governor, the State of Connecticut Harbor Master and Deputy Harbor Master for Norwalk have important responsibilities to maintain safe and efficient operation of the harbor. The marine units of the Norwalk Police and Fire departments operate their vessels year-round. Emergency response is coordinated as necessary with the U.S. Coast Guard. Three photos to right by Officer B. Lovallo 13 Dredging Norwalk Harbor’s channels and anchorage basins require periodic maintenance dredging to maintain safe navigation and the viability of water-dependent uses. Recognizing the importance of the harbor to the economy of southwest Connecticut, the U.S. Congress allocated over $12 million for maintenance dredging of the harbor’s federal channels and anchorages and dredging was conducted by the Corps of Engineers in the period 2005-2014. Photos by A. Mobilia 14 Harbor Management Program The Norwalk Harbor Management Commission (NHMC) is responsible for preparing, maintaining, and implementing the city’s Harbor Management Plan to guide the most desirable use of the city’s coastal and navigable waters for recreational, commercial, and other purposes and to protect and enhance coastal resources. Authorities of the NHMC are set forth in the CT General Statutes and Norwalk Code of Ordinances. 15 Connecticut Harbor Management Act of 1984 Sec. 22a-113k through Sec. 22a-113t of the General Statutes Authorizes any municipality with navigable waters to establish a harbor management commission and prepare a harbor management plan for the most desirable use of the municipality's waters for recreational, commercial, and other purposes and for the preservation and use of coastal resources. Harbor Management Commission Ordinance Chapter 69 Article III of the Norwalk Code Adopted by the Common Council 4-24-1984 Establishes the nine-member NHMC; directs the commission to prepare the city’s Harbor Management Plan; and authorizes the commission to exercise the powers, duties, and responsibilities authorized by the CT Harbor Management Act. 16 Harbor Management Goals and Policies The Harbor Management Plan’s goals and policies establish Norwalk’s Vision for safe and beneficial use and conservation of Norwalk Harbor. The goals and policies guide case by case decisions by the NHMC and provide the basis for harbor improvement projects. Harbor management goals include: • Public health, safety, and welfare • Water-dependent uses and facilities • Environmental conservation • Economic benefits • Preservation of maritime heritage and quality of life • Public access to Norwalk Harbor • Public support and participation 17 Responsibilities for Plan Implementation Plan implementation is pursued through an on-going process involving the coordinated actions of all city, state, and federal agencies with programs and authorities that affect the Norwalk Harbor Management Area, including: 1) Mayor 2) Common Council 3) Harbor Management Commission 4) Other city agencies 5) State of CT Harbor Master for Norwalk 6) State and federal agencies 7) Private groups and individuals 18 Harbor Management Initiatives 2019: ● Application Review ● Mooring Administration ● Water Quality Programs ● Shellfish Management ● Harbor Safety ● Plans and Recommendations ● Public Access 19 Plan of Conservation and Development Update In 2019, the Planning Commission updated the Norwalk Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), the city’s master plan for land-use, with significant input from the Harbor Management Commission. The Harbor Management Commission prepared the document Google Earth image “City of Norwalk Coastal Vision” The Harbor Management Plan which was incorporated into the and POCD are complementary POCD along with the Commission’s documents that serve as the other recommendations emphasizing city’s principal guides for land the Harbor Management Plan and and water use on, in, or Norwalk’s coastal area. contiguous to the Harbor. 20 Yankee Doodle Bridge and I-95 Stormwater Management The Harbor Management Commission, in coordination with the CT DOT, has continued to study highway pollutants and feasible Best Management Practices (BMPs) for managing stormwater running off I-95 and the I-95 bridge deck into the Norwalk River and Harbor. An estimated 146,000 vehicles pass over the bridge each day; stormwater enters the river and harbor through more than 90 bridge deck drains. Dredged sediment under the bridge was too contaminated to place in Long Island Sound. 21 I-95 Projects are Models for Transportation Infrastructure In 2018 and 2019, CT DOT re-evaluated and redesigned its bridge and I-95 rehabilitation plans to incorporate stormwater management measures to improve water quality in Norwalk Harbor and Long Island Sound. Runoff from 85% of the bridge surface will be directed through under-bridge pipes to stormwater retention ponds to be created and maintained under the east and west bridge approaches. Subsurface retention chambers will capture I-95 runoff. 22 Priorities in 2020 1. Reduce adverse impacts of WALK Bridge Project on Norwalk Harbor 2. Avoid adverse impacts of Eversource Project on Dunavan Boating Center 3. Continue water quality initiatives, including re-establishment of the seven-town Norwalk River Watershed Initiative 4.