Conservation Commission

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Hope Lake
Land Trust Meadow
Rec Path
Housatonic River
Jones Farm

WELCOME

The Shelton Conservation Commission endeavors to balance Shelton's rapid growth with quality open space, recreational opportunities, preservation of scenic and historic resources, and a healthy environment.

What's New

A Community Garden Committee is compiling a list of residents interested in leasing plots.  Everyone on the list will be notified first when plots become available. Click here to download a registration form. The most likely location for this garden will be at the Klapik Farm open space off of Long Hill Road, just south of Long Hill School.  The Community Garden Committee meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 9:00 am, City Hall, Room 104.  Agendas and minutes are posted online here.

The Huntington Center end of the Shelton Lakes Recreation Path was upgraded to multiuse standards in the fall of 2009. This section is 1/2 mile long, leading from Lane Street to the Land Trust meadow.  At this time the first 1.25 mile and last 0.5 mile of the Rec Path are now complete.  Shelton was selected to receive a grant to extend the trail from the meadow to Wesley Drive assuming the program is fully funded.

Shelton Trails & Conservation is now on Facebook.  By becoming a "fan" you can sign up for events, upload photos, and post comments and questions.

The Conservation Commission welcomes new members Jim Goodman and Sheri Dutkanicz.

The Trails Committee now has a blog where they post upcoming events, photos of recent work parties, and other assorted trails information.

See the slideshow "Shelton Lakes Greenway From Bridge to Bridge."  Only a few years ago this greenway did not exist, but today ten miles of trails, three reservoirs, and a native species garden entice residents to enjoy the 500 acre park.

Eklund Native Species Garden was planted with native perennials in May 2009 thanks to a grant from the Iroquois Company. The Garden is located at 10 Oak Valley Road, just south of Hope Lake (aka Nell's Rock Reservoir) and is open dawn to dusk free of charge. Volunteers installed a deer fence and cleared the overgrown Eklund site, which was previously an upscale log cabin with terraced garden beds, a pool, goldfish pond, and several ancillary buildings.  Only the gardens beds remain.  See the Eklund Garden website and blog for more information.

Mile-A-Minute Vine, or "Kudzu of the North," was found in Monroe and Newtown in 2008. It was found in 5 Newtown locations in 2009. We are asking residents to watch out for the vine, which can grow up to six inches per day, and report any sightings.  Leaves are triangular with straight edges, and the stem has tiny barbs.  Any vines must be removed as soon as possible to prevent spreading. Please see www.madgardeners.com for information about this invasive species and how to report it.

Phase 1 of the Shelton Lakes Recreation Path was completed in the fall of 2008.  The completed section begins on Shelton Avenue at Pine Lake, east of Meadow Street, passes through the school campus, and ends at the intersection of Shelton Ave. and Nell's Rock Road.  When the path is completed it will connect downtown Shelton to Huntington Center.  Phase 3, the Huntington Center end of the path, is under construction as of November 2009.

The 2009 Open Space Plan was adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission as a supplement to their 2006 Plan of Conservation and  Development.  The Plan identifies greenways that are areas of special interest for open space acquisition, and discusses  potential uses of open space properties.  This is a planning document only and does not constitute any form of regulation.

Water Chestnuts have been reported in Means Brook Reservoir. Residents should be on the lookout for this extremely invasive species in all Shelton ponds and show moving waters.  Water Chestnuts can cover the entire surface of a water body, preventing fishing and boating.  Water Chestnut seeds are edible, although they are not the same plant as used in Chinese cooking.

The Scenic Resources Inventory is nearly completed.  The inventory is the first step in our Community Resources Inventory (CRI), which will include inventories of historic, agricultural, and ecological resources.