The Effects of Flooding on a Small Marsh in Central Connecticut

The Connecticut State Board of Fisheries and Game, as part of its wetlands program, purchased Charter Marsh in 1949. The area, comprised of 240 acres, was established as a refuge for waterfowl production and as a feeding and resting area during migrations. The study was conmenced on Fehruary 1, 1952 and completed in June, 1953. The present report presents the data dbtained on the mammal populiation during the study period. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of James Bishop and Milton Arnold of the Game Management Division of the Connecticut State Board of Fisheries and Game. The first records of Charter Marsh concern its value as a commercial cranberry bog. Cranberries were raised as early as 1861 and as late as the early 1900's. The bog was divided into an upper section to impound water and a lower section in which cranberries were grown. The dikes were constructed to provide adequate water that could be controlled by sluices to protect the cranberries from frost and insect depredation. The marsh, during recent years, was neglected. However, the local residents utilized it for blueberrying, cranberries, trapping, hunting and fishinfg. The refuge is located in Tolland County, Connecticut, one and one-half miles west of the village of Tolland. It lies in a narrow valley bisected by the Skungamaug River. Oak and white pine are the dominant trees that surround the marsh. The stand was second growth, varying from 20 to 80 years of age, with an average of 40. The watershed is computed as 4.1 square miles and consists principally of woodland. The lower comparttnent had reverted to the initial stages of the red maple swamp type, while the upper contained the entire ecolgical sere from the open marsh to the oak-hard maple forest type. Eight islands, varying in size fromn 0.21 to 1.24 acres, are located in the upper section. Each was forested with the mixed hardwood type in the 20 to 40 age class. Construction of an earthen dike by the State Board of Fisheries and Game, using the original southern dike 'as the base, was completed during October, 1951. The dike is 821 feet long with a top width of 10 feet. The impounded area comprised 121 acres.