extend to the shore. Between these headlands wave-built bars have been 
formed and the shoreward areas generally have filled and become marshy. 
West of Milford Harbor to Housatonic Hiver, the terrain is again relative- 
ly low and flat. Charles Island, lying off this area, supplies material 
to the shore. The shores of this island are now covered with boulders 
remaining from erosion. A low water tombolo connects the island to the 
mainland, and the shore end of the tombolo includes a large marsh area. 
The headlands of unconsolidated glacial till formerly supplied ample 
material to the intervening beaches. Due to the development of the area, 
the headlands now are generally protected by seawalls and the supply of 
material is thus reduced or eliminated. Consequently the beaches have 
slowly deteriorated. Long lsland affords considerable protection and wave 
action in the sound is generally not severe. Ordinary storm waves cause 
littoral drift and offshore loss of beach material. Absence of swells 
probably precludes the possibibity of return of material from offshore by 
wave action. The prevailing winds over Long Island Sound are from the 
westerly quadrant. The direction of littoral movement is dependent upon the 
orientation of the shore. 
The tides in the area are semi-diurnal. The mean ranges are 6.2 feet 
at the entrance to New Haven Harbor and 6.6 feet at Milford Harbor. The 
highest tide of record occurred during the 193% hurricane and was about 13 
feet above mean low water. Tides in excess of 3 feet above mean high 
water occur infrequently. 
The Division Engineer concluded that the most suitable plans of pro- 
tection and improvement are as follows: 
a. Bradley Point (West side), West Haven - Widening beach to 
1U00-foot width by direct placement of sand and construction of one imper- 
meable groin; 
be. Prospect Beach, West Haven - Widening to a 100-foot width by 
direct placement of sand, 6, 000 feet of shore from a point about 350 feet 
south of South Street northerly to Ivy Street with an added 50-foot widen- 
ing at the south end of the fill and construction of 8 impermeable groins 
each 330 feet long; 
c. Oyster River Point to Oyster River - Widening the beach to 
100-to 150-foot width with groins as deferred construction, if needed. 
d. Woodmont Shore, Milford - Widening to a 100-foot width by 
direct placement of sand, 500 feet of shore in the first pocket beach west 
of Merwin Point; widening to a 100- to 150-foot width, 3,500 feet of shore 
from Chapel Street northerly to a point about 400 feet north of Anderson 
Avenue and construction of 5 impermeable groins 300 to 00 feet long; 
e. Burwell Beach, Milford - Widening the beach to 100-foot width 
by direct placement of sand and construction of one impermeable groin. 
22 
