The survey is being conducted for the LIA by LandTech, an environmental consulting firm based in Westport, CT. Below, LandTech Senior Environmental Analyst Anthony Zemba describes the latest discoveries, plans and recommendations.

 

Earlier articles:  

• Multi-Year Project Begins (June 2025)

• Rare Search On The Bluffs (Sep 2025)

• Bluffs Restoration Advances (Nov 2025)

 

PLANNING

Last summer, LANDTECH contacted the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) to gather information about protected and sensitive species that may occur on or near the site.

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Using the USFWS IPaC (Information for Planning and Conservation) tool, the agency identified four federally recognized species whose ranges overlap the project area:

• Tricolored Bat

• Roseate Tern

• Red Knot (rufa subspecies)

• Monarch Butterfly

 

Current and future management activities should avoid harming the bat and bird species if they are present on or near the site. Because Monarch butterflies migrate through coastal habitats each year, future planning should also include measures that support and protect Monarch habitat.

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CTDEEP also reported that four state-listed species — three plants and one moth — are known to occur now or have occurred historically on or near the site.

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One rare plant species is still present on the property, and the LIA has already been managing the site in ways that protect it. The other two rare plant species were searched for last growing season by both Dr. Lauren Brown and me, but neither species was found during those surveys. Conservation measures for the rare moth species will be included in the final Conservation, Restoration, and Management Plan.

 

FIELD WORK

Plant surveys completed last year identified more than 80 plant species within the project area.

• Nine of these species are listed in the Connecticut State Wildlife Action Plan as Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

• Fourteen species are considered non-native and invasive.

 

The site contains two main soil types:

1. Sandy loam soils on the bluffs

2. Sandy soils below the bluffs

 

These soils differ in texture, drainage, moisture, and the types of plant communities they support. Plants growing in the sandy areas must be able to tolerate drought and salt exposure.

 

CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS

LANDTECH is currently preparing the final Conservation, Restoration, and Management Plan. The plan will describe:

• Site resources and habitats

• Important ecological features

• Existing threats and concerns

• Recommended management, restoration, and habitat enhancement actions

 

We will also provide:

• An Invasive Species Control Plan to address invasive plants that threaten the site’s ecology

• Recommendations for a mowing schedule that supports habitat health and protects sensitive species

• Conservation recommendations for all identified species of concern

 

OUTREACH

We have discussed several outreach and education strategies.

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An important goal is to help members and neighbors understand why some vegetation should be removed (such as invasive species) while other plants and habitats should be protected because of their ecological importance.

 

Possible outreach ideas include:

• Blog posts highlighting important native or protected plant species

• Educational materials identifying invasive “bad actor” species and explaining their impact on restoration and conservation efforts

 

WRITTEN PLAN AND CONCEPT DRAWING

We are returning to the site this spring and early summer to continue surveying for additional plant species that emerge later in the growing season. This allows us to complete a full year of botanical surveys before finalizing the Conservation, Restoration, and Management Plan and the accompanying restoration concept drawing.

 

Both documents are expected to be completed by mid- to late summer.