| Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area | |
|---|---|
 Swans at high tide in Charles E. Wheeler WMA | |
  Location in Connecticut | |
| Location | Devon, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Nearest city | Milford |
| Coordinates | 41°10′52″N 73°06′35″W / 41.181107°N 73.109615°W |
| Area | 625 acres (253 ha) |
| Website | Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area Facebook Page |
Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area is a 625-acre (253 ha) brackish tidal marsh, nature preserve and hunting area owned by the state of Connecticut located in Devon (village), Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut.[1] [2]
The Charles E. Wheeler WMA is located on the eastern shore (Milford side) of the mouth of the Housatonic River. It is protected from Long Island Sound by a barrier beach known as Milford Point.
The main channel of the Housatonic River flows north and south to the west of the Charles E. Wheeler WMA, however a substantial amount of the water flows into and through the estuary itself particularly with the tide.
The US Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Housatonic River channel between the WMA and Stratford in both 1976 and 2012. Without dredging, sediment from upriver would expand the Nells Island salt marsh area into the main channel of the river, obstructing recreational boating and commercial shipping. [3]
- ^ "Connecticut Hunting Area List 2020" (PDF). CT DEEP. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Connecticut DEEP Charles Wheeler WMA Hunting Map 2020" (PDF). CT DEEP. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ John Burgeson (23 October 2012). "Housatonic River dredging to begin in coming weeks". Connecticut Post. Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC. Retrieved 19 June 2020.