Selden Island and Selden Creek

Selden Island (wooded area at lower left seen looking to the north) and much of the Selden Island and Selden Creek area are held in conservation in fee or through easements by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, The Nature Conservancy and the Lyme Land Conservation Trust. To the far north as the river turns to the west (left), the Chapman Pond preserve area can be seen as well as Lord and Rich Islands off East Haddam. Across the river in the middle left of the photo is the marina and boat club area of Chester.

Among other conclusions, two recent studies of private recreational docks within the Gateway Conservation Zone revealed that, as a percentage of ownership, almost 50% of the land located directly on the Connecticut River riverfront is owned in conservation by entities including the CTDEP, The Nature Conservancy and various local land trusts and town conservation commissions. That fact alone limits how much future development of any kind can occur in the lower Connecticut River Valley.