Geological History of the Gorge
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Geologists believe that tens of thousands
of years ago, the Mianus River flowed from
Banksville northward toward Bedford.
South of the present day Gorge was
another watershed flowing Wisconsin
glacier blocked the Mianus from flowing
Northward and, as the glacier melted, it
formed a large lake at the site of the
present Bedford Village.
When the dam for this lake broke, this
tremendous flow of water started the
formation of the Gorge, which continues to
this day. The Mianus River continues to flow
northward from Banksville, but now, as a
result of this glacial activity, turns
southward in Bedford and flows to Long
Island Sound in Cos Cob.
of years ago, the Mianus River flowed from
Banksville northward toward Bedford.
South of the present day Gorge was
another watershed flowing Wisconsin
glacier blocked the Mianus from flowing
Northward and, as the glacier melted, it
formed a large lake at the site of the
present Bedford Village.
When the dam for this lake broke, this
tremendous flow of water started the
formation of the Gorge, which continues to
this day. The Mianus River continues to flow
northward from Banksville, but now, as a
result of this glacial activity, turns
southward in Bedford and flows to Long
Island Sound in Cos Cob.
The First Inhabitants
Over the last past few decades, the Gorge has
faced new changes, primarily from encroaching
suburban development. Unlike the past few
centuries where forest became field and
visa-versa, today, both forest and field become
parking lots and human habitation. Change in
land use has altered the hydrology of our
watershed, while our cosmopolitan society has
introduced a host of exotic plant and animal
species to the Gorge's forests. It is in this period
faced new changes, primarily from encroaching
suburban development. Unlike the past few
centuries where forest became field and
visa-versa, today, both forest and field become
parking lots and human habitation. Change in
land use has altered the hydrology of our
watershed, while our cosmopolitan society has
introduced a host of exotic plant and animal
species to the Gorge's forests. It is in this period
The Changing Landscape
In the 1700 and 1800’s, much of the land around
the Gorge was cleared for pastures, marked at the
edges by walls made from the stones removed from
the rocky soil. The steep slopes in the Gorge were
not good for pasture land and this old-growth
forest was saved. The majority of the old-growth in
the Gorge was hemlock, which was not good for
lumber. The early settlers used only the bark of
hemlocks, from which they extracted tannin used to
tan animal pelts.
After the Civil War, many of the local farmers
abandoned their land for good farmland in the west.
Pastures were allowed to revert back to forest. The
second growth
forest that grew here was generally even-aged and
the Gorge was cleared for pastures, marked at the
edges by walls made from the stones removed from
the rocky soil. The steep slopes in the Gorge were
not good for pasture land and this old-growth
forest was saved. The majority of the old-growth in
the Gorge was hemlock, which was not good for
lumber. The early settlers used only the bark of
hemlocks, from which they extracted tannin used to
tan animal pelts.
After the Civil War, many of the local farmers
abandoned their land for good farmland in the west.
Pastures were allowed to revert back to forest. The
second growth
forest that grew here was generally even-aged and
Creating the Preserve
The movement to protect the Gorge began in 1953 when a
group of neighbors aware of the uniqueness of the Gorge,
learned of threats group learned that the Greenwich Water
Company (now Aquarion) was seeking permission to erect a dam
on the Mianus that would have flooded the Gorge. Our founders
rallied their troops and prevented this catastrophe. Through
negotiations, the height of the dam was reduced thereby saving
the heart of the Gorge. Only months later, plans were
announced to develop 60 acres of old-growth forest deep in the
heart of the Gorge - land just saved from the proposed dam. To
protect this land and its ancient hemlocks, the committee
needed to match the developer’s offer by January 1, 1954.
Realizing they needed confirmation that the Gorge was worthy
of protection, the founders enlisted the help of several scientists
and walked the Gorge in December of 1953. Two members of
the Professional Evaluation Committee for the Gorge were
Richard Pough of the Museum of Natural History (who later
became first President of The Nature Conservancy) and Dr. Richard
Goodwin, famed botany professor at Connecticut College (also an early
group of neighbors aware of the uniqueness of the Gorge,
learned of threats group learned that the Greenwich Water
Company (now Aquarion) was seeking permission to erect a dam
on the Mianus that would have flooded the Gorge. Our founders
rallied their troops and prevented this catastrophe. Through
negotiations, the height of the dam was reduced thereby saving
the heart of the Gorge. Only months later, plans were
announced to develop 60 acres of old-growth forest deep in the
heart of the Gorge - land just saved from the proposed dam. To
protect this land and its ancient hemlocks, the committee
needed to match the developer’s offer by January 1, 1954.
Realizing they needed confirmation that the Gorge was worthy
of protection, the founders enlisted the help of several scientists
and walked the Gorge in December of 1953. Two members of
the Professional Evaluation Committee for the Gorge were
Richard Pough of the Museum of Natural History (who later
became first President of The Nature Conservancy) and Dr. Richard
Goodwin, famed botany professor at Connecticut College (also an early
| Safford's Cascade, MRGP |
the area from the NY-CT border south to Cos Cob
and the Long Island Sound. around what is now
Bedford village.
White settlers came to the Valley of the Mianus in
the early 1600’s carrying diseases that decimated
Native American populations. In less than a decade,
Sachem Myanos and the Mahican tribe were forced
off their land by colonial farmers.
and the Long Island Sound. around what is now
Bedford village.
White settlers came to the Valley of the Mianus in
the early 1600’s carrying diseases that decimated
Native American populations. In less than a decade,
Sachem Myanos and the Mahican tribe were forced
off their land by colonial farmers.
McElroy Wetland, MRGP
| Farm house circa 1775, Mianus River Road |
therefore less diverse than the old-growth forest of the steep gorge. This second-growth younger
forest you see in the Gorge today (mostly on the blue trail) is between 50 and 100 years old.
forest you see in the Gorge today (mostly on the blue trail) is between 50 and 100 years old.
Gloria Anable, MRGP
Gorge Founder and Scientist
Gorge Founder and Scientist
Nature Conservancy President.) The professionals agreed, "It is an outdoor schoolroom, a sanctuary,
a museum and a place of abiding beauty.”
a museum and a place of abiding beauty.”
Mianus River, © Carl Heilman II
The Future
Look closely at the picture of the young forest on the left. The Gorge, like many other suburban preserves, has very few saplings to replace our older trees as they begin to die. While troubling, this is not surprising in a ecosystem where humans have removed all large predators (cougars and wolves) and no longer hunt for subsistence themselves. |
of change that the impetus to protect the Gorge emerged. Please explore our website to find out
about how we confront these issues today.
about how we confront these issues today.
The Mianus River gets its name from the Wappinger Confederacy chief
Myanos, who was killed near the Gorge in 1683. Chief Myanos’s tribe controlled
Myanos, who was killed near the Gorge in 1683. Chief Myanos’s tribe controlled