I have been invited to a meeting of relevant DEEP staff at the East River boat launch ramp to discuss the access issues that have cropped up. If anyone has any other location they would like me to know about where parking or access has been an issue (State owned, not town), please get back to me today. One other location has been brought to my attention, Great Island in Old Lyme, where the signs prohibit all parking except boat trailers, yet they have a wildlife viewing stand nest to the boat launch ramp. Kathy Van Der Aue Southport, Connecticut Visit my Blog at http://naturaliststable.wordpress.com

Hi Kathy, Thanks for representing us -- very much appreciated! This is off your primary topic, but if you have the chance I'd love for you to express two things to the DEEP folks: 1) the changes at Hammo seem very detrimental toward birders and nature lovers; new paving and recreational facilities are being added for the non-nature-oriented public at the expense of our natural areas. I wish they'd consider these in their plans. 2) I'd like to ask that there be areas at Hammo that are dog-free, with the suggestion of Willard Island and the area north/east of the nature center. I was there two weeks ago and there was not a 50' space that was not occupied by a dog -- it looked like dog day at the park. Birding was completely ruined with absolutely nowhere to go. (Note: the dog owners were very courteous and cleaning up after their leashed pets -- this is not a complaint about the owners). thanks much Sarah Faulkner Collinsville ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy Van Der Aue via CTBirds" <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> To: "List CT Birds" <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>, coa-board@googlegroups.com, "Mark Szantyr" <birdinggeek@gmail.com>, "mary mushinsky" <marymushinsky@att.net>, "Paul Fusco" <paul.fusco@sbcglobal.net>, "keith mueller" <kmueller@ntplx.net> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 2:24:26 PM Subject: [CT Birds] East River Boat Launch Ramp I have been invited to a meeting of relevant DEEP staff at the East River boat launch ramp to discuss the access issues that have cropped up. If anyone has any other location they would like me to know about where parking or access has been an issue (State owned, not town), please get back to me today. One other location has been brought to my attention, Great Island in Old Lyme, where the signs prohibit all parking except boat trailers, yet they have a wildlife viewing stand nest to the boat launch ramp. Kathy Van Der Aue Southport, Connecticut Visit my Blog at http://naturaliststable.wordpress.com _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org

Hi Kathy, I would just like to reiterate that this is a public access area with federal land purchase requirements of access. Boaters are given the right of way by birders. There should be no negotiated give-away of public access rights. Paul Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 10, 2016, at 2:24 PM, Kathy Van Der Aue <kathyvda@gmail.com> wrote: > > I have been invited to a meeting of relevant DEEP staff at the East River boat launch ramp to discuss the access issues that have cropped up. > > If anyone has any other location they would like me to know about where parking or access has been an issue (State owned, not town), please get back to me today. One other location has been brought to my attention, Great Island in Old Lyme, where the signs prohibit all parking except boat trailers, yet they have a wildlife viewing stand nest to the boat launch ramp. > > > Kathy Van Der Aue > Southport, Connecticut > Visit my Blog at http://naturaliststable.wordpress.com

I'm not sure I will have an opportunity to bring this up at this meeting but I appreciate your bringing it to my attention and I will bring it up if I get a chance. I have other meetings with the Hammonasset people because of all the work I did on the bird related exhibits at the new nature center. I'm pretty sure the opportunity will arise. This meeting tomorrow is with the boating division, so maybe not the right people for this issue. Thank you. Kathy Van Der Aue Southport, Connecticut Visit my Blog at http://naturaliststable.wordpress.com On Wed, Feb 10, 2016 at 5:46 PM, <sffaulkner@comcast.net> wrote: > Hi Kathy, > > Thanks for representing us -- very much appreciated! > > This is off your primary topic, but if you have the chance I'd love for > you to express two things to the DEEP folks: > > 1) the changes at Hammo seem very detrimental toward birders and nature > lovers; new paving and recreational facilities are being added for the > non-nature-oriented public at the expense of our natural areas. I wish > they'd consider these in their plans. > > 2) I'd like to ask that there be areas at Hammo that are dog-free, with > the suggestion of Willard Island and the area north/east of the nature > center. I was there two weeks ago and there was not a 50' space that was > not occupied by a dog -- it looked like dog day at the park. Birding was > completely ruined with absolutely nowhere to go. (Note: the dog owners > were very courteous and cleaning up after their leashed pets -- this is not > a complaint about the owners). > > thanks much > > Sarah Faulkner > Collinsville > > ------------------------------ > *From: *"Kathy Van Der Aue via CTBirds" <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> > *To: *"List CT Birds" <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>, > coa-board@googlegroups.com, "Mark Szantyr" <birdinggeek@gmail.com>, "mary > mushinsky" <marymushinsky@att.net>, "Paul Fusco" <paul.fusco@sbcglobal.net>, > "keith mueller" <kmueller@ntplx.net> > *Sent: *Wednesday, February 10, 2016 2:24:26 PM > *Subject: *[CT Birds] East River Boat Launch Ramp > > I have been invited to a meeting of relevant DEEP staff at the East River > boat launch ramp to discuss the access issues that have cropped up. > > If anyone has any other location they would like me to know about where > parking or access has been an issue (State owned, not town), please get > back to me today. One other location has been brought to my attention, > Great Island in Old Lyme, where the signs prohibit all parking except boat > trailers, yet they have a wildlife viewing stand nest to the boat launch > ramp. > > > Kathy Van Der Aue > Southport, Connecticut > Visit my Blog at http://naturaliststable.wordpress.com > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > >