The Audubon Society was commissioned to study the wildlife and habitats of the 1,000-plus-acre preserve last year. The results, released in late 2012, showed that the area contains a wide range of bird and amphibian life, including many species on state protection lists.
After the study, the land trust changed a handful of policies for visitors to the preserve’s trails to better protect natural habitats. The new rules included keeping dogs on leashes except for a specific stretch of trail, banning bikes and horses from certain loops and closing a section of trail that ran through a tributary stream.
“It’s our responsibility to manage and preserve Trout Brook Valley for future generations, and we now have a plan to do this based upon the scientific findings in this report,” David Brant, executive director of Aspetuck Land Trust, said in a press release at the time. “Our next step is to better educate the public about this unique and important natural resource.”
Zemba is director of conservation services for the Connecticut Audubon Society. He is responsible for overseeing the organization’s research and advocacy programs, which study wildlife throughout Connecticut. At Wednesday’s meeting, Zemba will discuss his work, specifically with respect to the Trout Brook Valley study.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. June 12 at the Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Ave., Fairfield. Zemba’s talk will be preceded by a short organizational meeting for members, but the public is welcome to attend the lecture.
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