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.
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 of change that the impetus to protect the
Gorge emerged. Please explore our website to find out about how we confront these issues today.
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 of change that the impetus to protect the
Gorge emerged. Please explore our website to find out about how we confront these issues today.
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
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
to its beauty. In the fall of 1953 a keen-eyed member of the founding
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,
neighbors aware of the uniqueness of the Gorge, learned of threats
to its beauty. In the fall of 1953 a keen-eyed member of the founding
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,
| Safford's Cascade, MRGP |
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 the area from the NY-
CT border south to Cos Cob and the Long Island Sound.
Chief Katonah laid claim to lands in the northern watershed
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.
Confederacy chief Myanos, who was killed near the Gorge in
1683. Chief Myanos’s tribe controlled the area from the NY-
CT border south to Cos Cob and the Long Island Sound.
Chief Katonah laid claim to lands in the northern watershed
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 |
famed botany professor at Connecticut College (also an early Nature Conservancy President.) The
professionals agreed, "It is an outdoor schoolroom, a sanctuary, a museum and a place of abiding
beauty.”
professionals agreed, "It is an outdoor schoolroom, a sanctuary, a museum and a place of abiding
beauty.”
insurance policies), the Mianus River Conservation
Pooling their resources (including three personal life 1.
The remainder of the $30,000 purchase price was
insurance policies), the Mianus River Conservation
raised from the community and the then fledgling
Pooling their resources (including three personal life
organization --The Nature Conservancy -- which
loaned the money to the Gorge, and in the process,
loaned the money to the Gorge, and in the process,
established the very successful revolving Fund.
Pooling their resources (including three personal life 1.
The remainder of the $30,000 purchase price was
insurance policies), the Mianus River Conservation
raised from the community and the then fledgling
Pooling their resources (including three personal life
organization --The Nature Conservancy -- which
loaned the money to the Gorge, and in the process,
loaned the money to the Gorge, and in the process,
established the very successful revolving Fund.
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 high deer densities. So much so that many of our understory flowers have been locally wiped out and there are no small 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. |