VAN LIFE-TRAIL HIKE IN BLUFF POINT STATE PARK CT!
Bluff Point State Park is a Connecticut state park located in the town of Groton. The park occupies an undeveloped peninsula on Long Island Sound between the Poquonnock River and Mumford Cove. The park contains a barrier beach, steep cliffs, forested sections, and tidal wetlands. Recreational opportunities include boating, saltwater fishing, shellfishing, and hiking as well as mountain biking. Bluff Point State Park is a popular location for picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, saltwater fishing and shell fishing, bird watching and cross-country skiing. Leary notes the importance of visitors using the established trails due to the number of endangered and threatened species. Fish at Bluff Point include striped bass, sea trout, bluefish and summer flounder.
Environmental Science Bluff Point, Groton CT
Located at the end of Depot Road, this approximately 800 acre State reserve lies between the Poquonnock River and Mumford Cove. One of the largest natural areas in the State, it contains not only a variety of wildlife, but also a barrier beach, steep cliffs, forested lands and tidal wetlands. You can paddle up beyond the railroad bridge to the north (about 1/3 mile) and down to Bushy Point Beach (about 1 1/4 miles). Hiking and running trails offer vistas of Long Island Sound, Mumford Cove and the Poquonnock River. Public parking available. State-owned. To help you reach Bluff Point State Park and Reserve, some routes leading to this site are posted with the brown and white Long Island Sound Access sign. (UConn.edu)
What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is all of the interactions between plants, animals, soil, water and air in a specific environment.
A river or an estuary is an example of an ecosystem.
Here you see a:
Riverine Ecosystem
Estuarine ecosystem
An estuary is an enclosed body of water which has an open, or intermittently open, connection to marine waters. Water levels vary periodically as the tides rise and fall.
1. Stratification of water
2. Nutrients
Circulation and tidal flow
Sheltered areas
(Albany)
References:
UConn.edu.
Albany Waterways Resource Book.
Groton, Connecticut - Past, Present, Future
From its earliest beginnings, Groton, Connecticut held a unique charm, one that attracted its founder, John Winthrop, Jr. to settle here in 1645. Incorporated in 1705, the Town of Groton began its rich history. Journey through time and see why this southern New England town still holds the same unique charm it did 300 years ago. #grotonct #newengland #connecticut #history
Outdoor Enthusiast: Bluff Point State Park
We took a slight right at the hidden road sign and began to make our way down a bumpy dirt road sidelined by industrial buildings and homes. Passing under a graffiti covered bridge we continued down the road with certain doubt about where we were heading. Were we lost again? The road opened up to a picnic area along the water of the Poquonnock River; we had reached our destination, Bluff Point State Park. Park Ranger Jon Lincoln greeted us as we made our way through the picnic tables to the entrance of the park. Luckily, the weather cooperated with our visit, and the slightly overcast day made for a perfect walk along Bluff Point's main trail. Bluff Point State Park sits in the southeastern corner of the state, extending into Long Island Sound. Surroundedby the Puquonnock River on the west and Mumford Cove on the east, the park encompasses over eight-hundred acres of trails, marshes, coastlines, and beaches where visitors may partake in a variety of activities. While only twenty-eight of the eight-hundred acres are open to the public for use, this is certainly not limiting Jon took us along the main trail which loops for about three miles, where we witnessed all sorts of activities such as mountain biking, running, hiking, fishing and swimming. Project Oceanology was even there conducting an youth orientated educational class on marine wildlife. Jon explained how many local school groups come to the park to conduct research in the marshes and water. Popular activities also include kayaking, boating, and even horseback riding. The rest of the eight-hundred acres are a designated coastal reserve and natural preserve, which are protected by legislation against development. The park has a rich history dating back to the 1600s where Native Americans occupied the area, taking advantage of the ample sea life located in the surrounding rivers. After the Pequot War the park was occupied by a single farmhouse, which foundation is still visible today. Many of the crops from the original farm, such as blackberry bushes and apple trees have thrived in the fertile ground throughout the years, and are available to be picked and enjoyed throughout the trail. In the 1930s, Bluff Point was home to a small summer community, which was ultimately destroyed by a hurricane in 1938. After explaining the history of the summer community, Jon led us along a short, narrow path of the main trail to a popular point of interest called Sunset Rock. I was expecting a scenic area where one could come and in fact see the sunset, but was surprised to find Sunset Rock to be just that, a rock. The rock was large and in a densely covered forest, where no sunset could possible be seen. Jon explained, however, that this area was where the summer community came for religious services, and at one time, a sunset could indeed be seen. This history of the area, was surprising, as I had only known the area to be a fun and challenging running trail, not anything more. Over the course of the tour we traveled from dense forest to a beach, to a marsh and then to a cove. Bluff Point occupies a diverse range of geographies that could satisfy any outdoor aficionado's needs. - Maura Hallisey
Credits
Interviewer: Maura Hallisey
Videographers: Jacob Cohen, Stephanie Merkel, Paul Pfeffer
Photographer: Kelsey Solywoda
Editor: Maura Hallisey, Kristen Korzenowski
Animators: Sam Hockaday, Alex Bonder
Crew: Hannah Dym
Manager of Online Content: Paul Pfeffer
Director of Online Services: Derrick Ellis
Web Designer: Lauren Nauheimer
GoPro Hero 5 is no good with gimbal!!-- NEW trail at Crescent Crescent Lake Southington, CT
This is the first ever trail Angel rode when he bought his squish last year. I continue to experiment with the gimbal and my new Hero 4 Black. The 5 Black will be shelved for the time being. It also might be time to ditch the Session. The audio sounds muffled. Enjoy the video or go to specific points in the video:
Angel Session Baby Gap Jump - 3:06
Session 2 - 4:01
The BRIDGE session - 4:55
New Trail - 5:57
[Wikipedia] Norwalk River Railroad Bridge
The Norwalk River Railroad Bridge is a swing bridge built in 1896 for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. It currently carries Amtrak and Metro-North Railroad trains over the Norwalk River.
In 1896, the New Haven Railroad built the bridge and widened its route to four tracks, as it simultaneously built its South Norwalk Railroad Bridge over the intersection of Washington Street with North Main and South Main streets. The 562-foot (171 m) span, with a rotating swing span 202 feet (62 m) long was provided by the Berlin Iron Bridge Co. This type of swing bridge is one of just two on the Northeast Corridor. The swing span has a rim-bearing system of 96 rollers, allowing tall vessels to pass by. The span is one of only 13 of the company's bridges (and one of only two railroad bridges) that survive in the state as of August 2001. In 1907 the rail line was electrified with overhead catenary wires, which form a prominent feature of the bridge today. It is or was also known as Norwalk River Bridge. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
It is one of eight moveable bridges on the Amtrak route through Connecticut surveyed in one multiple property study in 1986. The eight bridges from west to east are: Mianus River Railroad Bridge at Cos Cob, built in 1904; the Norwalk River Railroad Bridge at Norwalk, 1896; Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge at Westport, 1905; Pequonnock River Railroad Bridge at Bridgeport, 1902; Housatonic River Railroad Bridge, at Devon, 1905; Connecticut River Railroad Bridge, Old Saybrook-Old Lyme, 1907; Niantic River Bridge, East Lyme-Waterford, 1907; and Thames River Bridge (Amtrak), Groton, built in 1919.
As a single movable span with aging mechanical mechanisms, the Norwalk River Bridge represents a frequent point of failure for Amtrak and Metro-North Service and has been targeted for replacement with dual movable spans.
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Haley Farm single Track
Heading out to Bluff Point via Haley Farm. Camera is mounted on the bars.