Estuary 9: Guilford/Madison Watershed Summary WATERSHED DESCRIPTION AND MAPS The Guilford/Madison Estuary (Estuary 9) covers Impaired Segment Facts an area of approximately 11,027 acres in Impaired Segments, Classifications, and southwestern Connecticut. These impaired Areas (square miles): segments are located in the central portion of Long Island Sound (LIS). The impaired segments Segment 1: LIS CB Inner - East and Neck in this summary are located in the municipalities Rivers, Guilford (CT-C1_006); SA; 0.15 of Guilford and Madison, CT. Segment 2: LIS CB Inner – West River, The Guilford/Madison Estuary includes ten Guilford (CT-C1_007); SA; 0.05 segments impaired for direct shellfish harvesting Segment 3: LIS CB Shore – Hammonasset due to elevated bacteria levels. These segments Beach, Madison (CT-C2_005); SA; 0.58 were assessed by Connecticut Department of Segment 4: LIS CB Shore - Madison Beaches Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) (East), Madison (CT-C2_006); SA; 0.40 and included in the CT 2012 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies. Some segments in the Segment 5: LIS CB Shore - Madison Beaches estuary are currently unassessed as of the writing (West), Madison (CT-C2_007); SA; 0.48 of this document. This does not mean there are no Segment 6: LIS CB Shore - Guilford Harbor, potential issues on these segments, but indicates a Guilford (CT-C2_008); SA: 0.48 lack of current data to evaluate the segments as Segment 7: LIS CB Shore - Indian Cove, part of the assessment process. An excerpt of the Integrated Water Quality Report is included in Guilford (CT-C2_009); SA: 0.43 Table 1 (CT DEEP, 2012). Segment 8: LIS CB Shore - Joshua Cove & Island Bay, Guilford (CT-C2_010); SA: 0.74 Impaired Segments Segment 9: LIS CB Midshore - Hammonasset Segments 1 and 2 in LIS are inner estuary Beach area, Madison (CT-C3_004); SA: 5.55 segments that extend from the freshwater limit to Segment 10: LIS CB Midshore - Outer Guilford the saltwater limit. Segment 1: LIS CB Inner - Harbor, Guilford (CT-C3_006); SA: 8.36 East and Neck Rivers(CT-C1_006); is part of the inner estuary from the mouth of East River at Municipalities: Guilford and Madison outlet into Guilford Harbor, US to saltwater limit at Planter Pond outlet (includes Neck River from Designated Use Impairments: Shellfish mouth to above River Edge Farms Road, MS4 Applicable? Yes Guilford). Segment 2: LIS CB Inner – West River, Guilford (CT-C1_007) is part of the inner Applicable Season: Recreation Season (May 1 estuary from the mouth of West River at outlet to September 30);Year Round for Shellfish Uses into Guilford Harbor, US to saltwater limit at Route 1 crossing, Guilford. Segments 3-8 in LIS extend from the shorelines of Guilford and Madison to approximately 1,000 feet offshore. Segment 3: LIS CB Shore – Hammonasset Beach (CT-C2_005) is located in Madison, from Webster Point to West Rock area FINAL Estuary 9: Guilford/Madison Summary September 2013 (includes Hammonasset State Park Beach). Segment 4: LIS CB Shore - Madison Beaches (East) (CT- C2_006) is located in Madison from West Warf to Webster Point area (includes West Warf and East Warf Beaches, Tuxis Island, and tidal Fence Creek). Segment 5: LIS CB Shore - Madison Beaches (West) (CT-C2_007) is located in Madison from Hogshead Point to West Warf area (includes Surf Club Beach, Chipman Point). Segment 6: LIS CB Shore - Guilford Harbor (CT-C2_008) is located in Guilford from Mulberry Point to Hogshead Point area (includes Jacobs Beach, Guilford Point). Segment 7: LIS CB Shore - Indian Cove (CT-C2_009) is located in Guilford from Sachem Head to Mulberry Point area (includes Vineyard Point). Segment 8: LIS CB Shore - Joshua Cove & Island Bay (CT-C2_010) is located in Guilford from Clark Point to Sachem Head area (includes Horse and Foskett Islands). Segments 9 and 10 in LIS begin approximately 1,000 feet offshore from the shoreline segments out to the 50-foot contour line. Segment 9: LIS CB Midshore - Hammonasset Beach area (CT-C3_004) is located in Madison and Segment 10: LIS CB Midshore - Outer Guilford Harbor (CT-C3_006); is located in Guilford. These impaired segments (Segments 1 – 10) of the Guilford/Madison Estuary have a water quality classification of SA. Designated uses include shellfish harvesting for direct human consumption, recreation, habitat for marine fish and other aquatic life and wildlife, industrial water supply, and navigation. These segments of the estuary are impaired due to elevated bacteria concentrations, affecting the designated use of direct shellfishing. Table 1: Impaired segments in the Guilford/Madison Estuary from the Connecticut 2012 Integrated Water Quality Report Waterbody Waterbody Location ID Name Recreation Square Miles Square Direct Shellfish Direct Fish Consumption Marine Aquatic Life Aquatic Marine Commercial Shellfish Commercial Central portion of LIS, Inner Estuary, from mouth of East LIS CB Inner River at outlet into Guilford - East and Harbor, US to saltwater limit CT-C1_006 0.15 U U FULL NOT /// Neck Rivers, at Planter Pond outlet Guilford (includes Neck River from mouth to above River Edge Farms Road, Guilford. Central portion of LIS, Inner LIS CB Inner Estuary, from mouth of West CT-C1_007 - West River, River at outlet into Guilford 0.05 U U FULL NOT /// Guilford Harbor, US to saltwater limit at Route 1 crossing, Guilford. Guilford/Madison Estuary TMDL Page 2 of 121 FINAL Estuary 9: Guilford/Madison Summary September 2013 Waterbody Waterbody Location ID Name Recreation Square Miles Square Direct Shellfish Direct Fish Consumption Marine Aquatic Life Aquatic Marine Commercial Shellfish Commercial Central portion of LIS from LIS CB Webster Point to West Rock Shore- area (includes Hammonasset CT-C2_005 Hammonasset 0.58 U FULL FULL NOT /// State Park Beach), out Beach, approximately 1000 ft Madison offshore, Madison. Central portion of LIS from LIS CB Shore West Warf to Webster Point - Madison area (includes West Warf and CT-C2_006 Beaches East Warf Beaches, Tuxis 0.40 U FULL FULL NOT /// (East), Island, and tidal Fence Creek Madison ), out approximately 1000 ft offshore, Madison. Central portion of LIS from LIS CB Shore Hogshead Point to West Warf - Madison area (includes Surf Club CT-C2_007 Beaches 0.48 U FULL FULL NOT /// Beach, Chipman Point), out (West), approximately 1000 ft Madison offshore, Madison. Central portion of LIS from LIS CB Shore Mulberry Point to Hogshead - Guilford Point area (includes Jacobs CT-C2_008 0.48 U FULL FULL NOT /// Harbor, Beach, Guilford Point), out Guilford approximately 1000 ft offshore, Guilford. Central portion of LIS from LIS CB Shore Sachem Head to Mulberry - Indian CT-C2_009 Point area (includes Vineyard 0.43 U U FULL NOT /// Cove, Point), out approximately Guilford 1000 ft offshore, Guilford. Central portion of LIS from LIS CB Shore Clark Point to Sachem Head - Joshua Cove area (includes Horse and CT-C2_010 0.74 U U FULL NOT /// & Island Bay, Foskett Islands), out Guilford approximately 1000 ft offshore, Guilford. Guilford/Madison Estuary TMDL Page 3 of 121 FINAL Estuary 9: Guilford/Madison Summary September 2013 Waterbody Waterbody Location ID Name Recreation Square Miles Square Direct Shellfish Direct Fish Consumption Marine Aquatic Life Aquatic Marine Commercial Shellfish Commercial Central portion of LIS from LIS CB approximately 1000 ft Midshore - offshore (Madison Beaches, CT-C3_004 Hammonasset inlcuding area nearshore 5.55 FULL U FULL NOT /// Beach area, Hammonasset Beach State Madison Park), out to 50 ft contour, Madison. LIS CB Midshore - Central portion of LIS from Outer approximately 1000 ft CT-C3_006 8.36 FULL U FULL NOT /// Guilford offshore (Guilford Harbor), Harbor, out to 50 ft contour, Guilford. Guilford Shaded cells indicate impaired segment addressed in this TMDL FULL = Designated Use Fully Supported NOT = Designated Use Not Supported U = Unassessed /// = Not Applicable to Segment Guilford/Madison Estuary TMDL Page 4 of 121 FINAL Estuary 9: Guilford/Madison Summary September 2013 Figure 1: GIS map featuring general information for impaired segments in the Guilford/Madison Estuary Shellfish Bed Classifications, Closures, and Lease Locations The Connecticut Department of Agriculture/Bureau of Aquaculture (CT DA/BA) is responsible for regulating shellfish harvesting (http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?a=1369&Q=259170). A shellfish growing area is defined by CT DA/BA as any area that supports or could support the growth and/or propagation of molluscan shellstock. Shellfish are defined by CT DA/BA as oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops, either shucked or in the shell, fresh or frozen, whole or in part. All shellfish growing areas are classified by CT DA/BA in accordance with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) National Shellfish Sanitation Program Model Ordinance (NSSP-MO) and CT General Statutes Chapter 491, §26-192e. These classifications, summarized below, are established to minimize health risks and may restrict the take and use of shellfish from some areas. They are based on fecal coliform bacteria standards as provided in the NSSP-MO (Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference, 2007). Any shellfish area, regardless of classification, may be temporarily closed to all activities when a potential public health emergency exists as a result of a storm event, flooding, sewage, chemical, or petroleum discharges, or a hazardous algal bloom. Guilford/Madison Estuary TMDL Page 5 of 121 FINAL Estuary 9: Guilford/Madison Summary September 2013 Shellfish harvesting has been divided into two designated uses as specified in the Connecticut WQS: shellfish harvesting suitable for direct human consumption (Class SA waters), and shellfish harvesting suitable for commercial operations requiring depuration or relay (Class SB waters). The impaired segments in the Guilford/Madison Estuary include only Class SA waters. Shellfish Bed Classifications and Closures in the Guilford/Madison Estuary Shellfish classification areas in the Guilford/Madison Estuary are shown in Figure 2. The following classifications for shellfish growing areas are defined by CT DA/BA: APPROVED AREA: Is a classification used to identify a growing area that is safe for the direct marketing or consumption of shellfish.