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Commission discusses maintenance dredging, goldfish removal and stewardship at Bristow Sanctuary
Summary
Staff told the Conservation Commission that Bristow Sanctuary’s pond requires maintenance dredging, which will need a wetland permit amendment; timing is expected in low‑flow months and funding would come from the parks maintenance budget.
The New Canaan Conservation Commission received an update March 13 on maintenance needs at Bristow Sanctuary, including plans to seek a wetland permit amendment allowing periodic dredging of the sanctuary pond.
Tiger (Department of Public Works staff) said the site’s existing permit covered construction but not recurring maintenance. “The existing permit was for construction only, not for maintenance. So I’ve gotta put together a wetland permit application similar to what we have,” Tiger said, adding the work is typically performed in low‑flow months and can be scheduled once the permit is amended.
Commissioners and staff discussed pond sediment removal, disposal options, and the town budget line for maintenance. Tiger said past dredging work has been done with contractors who removed muck to offsite locations; for larger projects the town has used a line item in the parks budget that supports contracted maintenance work. Committee members said most routine maintenance tasks are carried out by Parks or contracted crews and estimated Bristow’s upkeep is substantially smaller than recent Mill Pond work, which had cost roughly $10,000.
Other issues discussed included invasive goldfish in the pond and stewardship arrangements. Tiger said the commission and Land Trust are working to trap or remove the goldfish because they have become invasive and are harming native amphibians: “We’re gonna we’re trying to get those goldfish out. We’re gonna figure that out.” The sanctuary’s stewardship agreement names the Land Trust as the contact for routine stewardship and the parks department performs or contracts maintenance tasks when needed. Commissioners also noted the caretaking partnership with the Land Trust for signage, feeders and plantings.
Timing and cost: staff said the work is typically done during low flow in summer months (July–August) and that the town will notify the commission when the wetland permit application is scheduled for review. Exact cost estimates for the Bristow maintenance dredge were not provided at the meeting; staff said smaller maintenance dredges have in the past been a fraction of larger pond projects and may be a day or so of contractor time.
Next steps: Tiger will prepare the wetland permit application for commission or administrative review, coordinate disposal or reuse of dredged material, and inform commissioners when the project is scheduled.
