Ash Creek (Connecticut)

Ash Creek is a tidal creek and intertidal wetland in Fairfield County, Connecticut that serves as a border between the city of Bridgeport and the town of Fairfield. It is the last salt water estuary in the area, extending from Long Island Sound and up the Rooster River.^[1]

History

The area was known on colonial maps as the Uncoway or Fairfield River. Ash Creek has served as Fairfield's main harbor since the founding of the town in 1639.^[2] The Ritz Ballroom was also located in the neighborhood.

The name Ash Creek was given to the body of water after Fairfield Center was burned to the ground by the British during the Revolutionary War. Due to wind direction that day a majority of the ashes were deposited in "Ash Creek."

Memorial plaque

The Arthur Gruhn Memorial Cable Crossing plaque was erected on Connecticut Route 130 at the Bridgeport-Fairfield town line on March 24, 2009. It is in recognition of ConnDOT Chief Engineer Gruhn's work by Connecticut Light & Power and the United Illuminating Company for his work allowing for the Middletown-Norwalk transmission line upgrade.^[3] Engineer Gruhn's work provided for a practical electric system upgrade while environmentally preserving Ash Creek.^[4]

Public use and preservation area

The town of Fairfield began accumulating land in 1931^[5] for Ash Creek Open Space, which includes a public access (handicap accessible) boat launch at the mouth of the river. Fishing, crabbing, picnicking, walking trails, and other activities are permitted.^[6] The preservation area is approximately 40 acres (160,000 m²) in size.^[7]

Other uses

Ash Creek had a namesake restaurant in Black Rock, called the Ash Creek Saloon.

References

↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
↑ http://nuwnotes1.nu.com/apps/Transmission/TransBus.nsf/0/3FFDA3216B26676F852575830059CA25?OpenDocument
↑ http://www.ct.gov/csc/lib/csc/2004-5-25_dot_prefiled_testimony.pdf
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-06-23. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2010-06-15.

Gallery

Ash Creek north of Route 130.
Arthur Gruhn Memorial Cable Crossing plaque

External links

Rivers of Connecticut
Connecticut River Watershed	Blackledge River Coginchaug River Connecticut River Duck River Eightmile River Falls River Farmington River Hockanum River Hubbard River Jeremy River Lieutenant River Mattabesset River Nepaug River Pameacha Creek Park River Pequabuck River Salmon River Scantic River
Housatonic River Watershed	East Aspetuck River Housatonic River Konkapot River Naugatuck River Pomperaug River Rocky River Schenob Brook Shepaug River Still River Ten Mile River
Hudson River Watershed	Titicus River
Long Island Sound	Ash Creek Aspetuck River Black Hall River Byram River Farm River Hammonasset River Mad River Mianus River Mill River Mill River (Fairfield) Mystic River Niantic River Noroton River Norwalk River Oyster River Pequonnock River Quinnipiac River Rippowam River Rooster River Saugatuck River Silvermine River West River
Pawcatuck River Watershed	Ashaway River Green Fall River Pawcatuck River Shunock River Wood River
Thames River Watershed	Basset Brook Beaver Brook Bigelow Brook Fenton River Fishers Brook Five Mile River French River Hop River Little River Merrick Brook Moosup River Mount Hope River Natchaug River Oxoboxo River Pachaug River Quinebaug River Shetucket River Thames River Willimantic River Yantic River

Waterbodies of Connecticut
Canals, Coves, Estuaries, Harbors, and Rivers	Ash Creek Connecticut River Enfield Falls Canal Farm River Farmington Canal Hammonasset River Housatonic River Kidd Harbor Little Narragansett Bay Long Island Sound Mystic River New Haven Harbor Niantic River Oxoboxo River Oyster River Pawcatuck River Quinnipiac River Smith Cove Thames River Wequetequock Cove Wethersfield Cove Ziegler's Cove more
Lakes and Ponds	Ashford Lake Bantam Lake Burr Pond Converse Lake Crystal Lake Deer Lake Great Hollow Lake Highland Lake Lake Chaffee Lake Hayward Lake Pocotopaug Lake Quassapaug Lake Saltonstall Lake Waramaug Lake Whitney Mashapaug Lake Millers Pond Pinewood Lake Round Pond Squantz Pond Tuxis Pond Twin Lakes Wetherell Pond
Reservoirs	Aspetuck Reservoir Candlewood Lake Hop Brook Lake Kohanza Reservoir Lake Beseck Lake Gaillard Lake Lillinonah Lake Zoar Mansfield Hollow Lake Quaddick Reservoir Saugatuck Reservoir Shenipsit Lake Success Lake West Hartford Reservoir West Thompson Lake

Coordinates: 41°08′33″N 73°13′56″W / 41.14250°N 73.23222°W / 41.14250; -73.23222

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