Logistical Updates

Here are some logistical updates for our 2024 AAfCW season as we prepare to hit the beaches soon. While our field season has officially started, and you should have scheduled your monitoring already, we are waiting to get outside until...

1) We have our 2024 CT DEEP monitoring badges which have now been distributed to the Coastal Center at Milford Point and the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center. You can visit either location to pick them up. If you do not need a lanyard, please do not take one - just the badge. If you need both, no problem, take both! 

The badge will grant you free entry for the purpose of monitoring at locations that include fees for out of town visitors, including Westport, Stratford, and more. Please present the badge and explain your purpose to the attendant. Let us know if you have any issues with this, but please bear in mind it is to be used for monitoring only.

2) We have filled out, signed, and submitted the waiver form to CT DEEP. You can drop these off when you pick up your badge!

The above can also be completed at new monitor field training on April 13th at Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven. The rain date is Sunday, April 14th. The field training will be from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Please RSVP if you will be attending. You can join us if you're a returning monitor, too. You can also stop by just to pick up a badge/lanyard or drop off your waiver, keeping in mind to visit at 10:00am OR 12:00pm because the group will be on the beach between those times.

For anyone visiting West Haven, the road work has not yet been completed. Following the guidance of the City of West Haven, we will do the following for parking for now:

Access Third Ave Ext. from Blohm St, and park at the barricades by Beach St. The contractor is no longer accessing the work area from this location, and it would allow us to park right across the street from the parking area and access point to the beach. West Haven Police have been notified. 

Please do not forget to submit your license plate and vehicle information to us if you plan to monitor in West Haven and are not a resident or else you will be ticketed when the parking lot does open. This information will be submitted to the City for your vehicle to be electronically whitelisted.

3) We have acceptable weather! Remember, we do not want to visit the beach when it's precipitating, cooler than 50 degrees, or hotter than 90 degrees. Next week should start off great for monitoring before more April showers. It is a good time to start once you have submitted your waiver form, picked up your badge, scheduled your monitoring, and prepared for the beach.

Once the season gets rolling we will regularly update you all with your data from the field. Thanks so much, all!

Best,
Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator