page_title: Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area
section_title: Access
hierarchical_section_title: Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area / Access
caption_attribution_description: English: Sea Kayaking at high tide in Charles E Wheeler WMA
context_page_description: Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area is a 625-acre brackish tidal marsh, nature preserve and hunting area owned by the state of Connecticut located in Devon, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut.
  The Charles E. Wheeler WMA is located on the eastern shore 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 Corp 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.
context_section_description: Access to the Charles E. Wheeler WMA is only possible from the water (e.g. watercraft) though there are several locations for viewing the salt marshes from the shore of Milford Point, the Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center or the Milford Conservation Land Trust property ("Nancy's Meadow") at the intersection of First Avenue and Milford Point Road in Devon's Laurel Beach neighborhood.
  For both viewing the marshes and launching watercraft there are several car trailer and "cartop" launches near the WMA:
  The closest and easiest access to the WMA is an unimproved state boat launch and parking for cars and boat trailers with an unpaved road entrance at the Second Avenue end of Court Street in Milford, Connecticut.  It is operated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
  Also very close is a very limited public access location (with no dedicated parking) at the end of Deerwood Avenue near the junction with Third Avenue in Milford.
  On the Housatonic River one half mile north of the WMA is the Housatonic River State Boat Launch and parking lot under the I-95 bridge at the end of Naugatuck Avenue in Milford. Convenient to Interstate 95.
  Launching watercraft from the Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal center is prohibited.
  Launching from the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge Milford Point Unit is difficult as there is no public road access (only a private road and beach) though landing there temporarily is allowed.
  The speed of vessels in the Charles E. Wheeler WMA is restricted by the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies TITLE 15. Navigation and Aeronautics, 
  specifically the DEEP Boating Safety section:
   §15-121-B15m. Housatonic River regulation
                          ...
   "(c) No person shall operate a motorboat in excess of Slow No Wake within:
                          ...
   (2) the channel east of Nells Island and all channels, creeks or waterways within the Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area, including Nells Island;
  
                          ...
caption: Sea Kayaking at high tide in Charles E Wheeler WMA
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