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O General description: The fresh-water wetlands include swamps, bogs, and 



2 marshes. Wooded swamps are usually dominated by red maple; shrub swamps, 



Z by buttonbush. Cattails, sedges, rushes, and associated emergents characterize 



O the open marshes. Three types of bogs are recognized: coastal white cedar in 



the southern half of the state; spruce and northern white cedar in the northern 

 portion. Extensive river marshes still exist along the Connecticut River, but most 

 of these are under tidal influence. Mature flood-plain forests occur on a number 

 of the islands in the Connecticut River, including Wilcox Island north of 

 Middletown still subject to tidal fluctuations. 



Status of the wetlands: Inland wetlands are being utilized as sites for dumps, 

 some are being reclaimed for housing developments, and some are being 

 flooded for reservoirs. The Bradford Mountain Swamp is being threatened by a 

 Northeast Utilities pumped storage project. 



Sources of data: The authors in consultation with officials of the State Board of 

 Fisheries and Game and other ecologists have contributed data. Three reports 

 are available (The Nature Conservancy 1964; USDI 1954, 1965). 



Recommendations: Beckley Bog in the Walcott Preserve is one of the largest 

 northern spruce bogs in the state, situated at the northern end of a sizeable bog 

 lake. Since The Nature Conservancy owns the bog and the surrounding upland, 

 this represents an ideal wetland for recognition as a landmark. Silas Hall Pond is 

 nearby and has a similar vegetation, but is less outstanding. The entire moun- 

 tain-top complex at Mt. Riga with its mosaic of crest and wetland vegetation 

 types is worthy of preservation. Within the area, Bingham Pond and surrounding 

 bog, including one of the most mature spruce bog forests in the state, represent 

 the finest high-elevation bog. As it is in private ownership, it is more in need of 

 protection and should be given prior review. Of the several undisturbed 

 southern white rrdar swamps the one in the Pachaug River sector within the 

 Pachaug State Forest may represent the finest. It is remote, being accessible 

 only by boat, except in winter, when the area is frozen. A Fine cranberry heath is 

 also present. There are some private inholdings. Designation as a landmark 

 would be desirable. The Cedar Swamp in Chester is wholly owned by the state 

 and is another excellent wetland of this type. Robbins Swamp is the only exten- 

 V sivc northern white cedar swamp in the state and, as such, is recommended as a 

 landmark. The Bradford Mountain Swamp is an unusual, high-altitude swamp 

 now in private hands. It is threatened by a pump-storage development. Thomp- 

 son Meadow and the Durham Meadows are considered by the State Board of 

 Fisheries and Game as excellent wetlands, but no adequate data are available on 

 these areas. 



Literature cited 



The Naturi Conservancy. 1964. Natural areas of Connecticut. Mimeographed 



report prepared by the Conn. Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 

 U.S. Department of THE Interior. 1954. Wetlands of Connecticut. Fish and 



Wildlife Service, Office of River Basin Studies, Region V, Boston, Mass. p. 1- 



17. 

 U.S. Department of the Interior. 1965. Coastal wetlands inventory of 



Connecticut. Supplementary Report. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of 



Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Region V, Boston, Mass. 



