Maromas: Middletown’s “Last Great Place”

Maromas is a large area in southern Middletown—approximately 2,000 acres— tucked into a big eastward bend of the Connecticut River and bordered by Saybrook Road and Barthlomew Road on the west. The northern section includes land owned by Connecticut Valley Hospital and the southern section ends roughly at the border with the town of Haddam. Once the site of a small farming community and a pegmatite quarry for extracting feldspar, some think that the name Maromas is a corruption of an old English word "Marmoric" meaning White Rock. 

Preservation of this almost uninterrupted area of forested land has been the goal of Middletown land conservation organizations and citizens, as well as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, for decades. Some parcels have also been the focus of the Middletown Commission on Conservation and Agriculture. The Maromas area is part of a greenway, a corridor of mostly undeveloped land that offers multiple benefits for recreation and environmental protection, all along the Connecticut River. Within Maromas itself there are multiple trails through forested areas, dramatic rocky outcroppings, a freshwater tidal marsh, and many scenic views of the Connecticut River.

 

A view of the freshwater tidal marsh at the Hubbard Brook Preserve, one of many beautiful protected areas in Maromas. Photo by Jane Brawerman

 

Maromas contains diverse habitat and is rich in biological diversity The area is host to multiple plants and animals, and provides protection to some rare, endangered and threatened species, such as the Eastern Box turtle, alewife, sturgeon, and smooth mountain sandwort. It also provides important habitat for nesting birds, especially those that need large wooded areas in which to nest, such as the Hooded Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, and Eastern Whip-poor-will. Maromas also provides habitat for a diversity of organisms that depend on vernal pools, from invertebrates to amphibians like Wood frogs and Spotted salamanders. 

 

The large stands of mature trees protect against climate change by absorbing significant amounts of atmospheric carbon. The undeveloped land also slows and filters water flowing to the Connecticut River, protecting water quality. Both the City of Middletown and Connecticut Valley Hospital use aquifers located in Maromas as sources of clean drinking water.

In addition to the critical environmental roles it plays, Maromas also provides many recreational opportunities for the citizens of Middletown and others throughout the state. Passive recreational opportunities abound there, such as walking, hiking, snowshoeing, and bird watching. Magnificent stands of Mountain Laurel, the state flower, are especially beautiful when they bloom in June.

Though development is difficult to accomplish in Maromas due to the very steep slopes, rocky outcroppings, multiple streams, wetlands and other water bodies, it is zoned for industrial and commercial development. It should be noted that Haddam and Chester, as well as Cromwell and Glastonbury have restrictions on industrial and commercial development along the Connecticut River to protect it from pollution.  It is hoped that the City of Middletown might make similar changes to its planning and zoning codes.

For many years the Middletown Commission on Agriculture and Conservation has encouraged citizens to enjoy this unique part of Middletown. Do take this opportunity to explore the area —on a hiking trail and also by car. The Commission’s Middletown Trail Guide, which can be found on the City of Middletown webpage features many hikes and walks on blazed trails in Maromas. Some of these Maromas area trails are listed below:    

1. Blue Trails, maintained by CT Forest and Park Association, including Seven Falls, Bear Hill and the Reservoir Loop Trail, all part of the Mattabesset Trail, as well as a section of the New England National Scenic Trail 

2. Spiderweed Preserve, maintained by the Middlesex Land Trust

3. The Katchen Coley Mountain Laurel Preserve, maintained by the City of Middletown

4. Hubbard Brook Preserve, maintained by CT Forest and Park Association, which hosts the Scovill Loop Trails, another component of the Blue Trail system 

In order to protect Maromas, citizens are urged to help preservation and conservation efforts with donations and volunteer work in the years ahead. Most of the organizations that work in this area are nonprofit organizations, for which donations are always needed.

1. Support local groups working to conserve Maromas and maintain trails, including The Middlesex Land Trust and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

2. Help the Middletown Commission on Conservation and Agriculture with work parties to maintain trails and remove invasive species.

3. Work to persuade current holders of large parcels of privately-owned undeveloped Maromas land, including Eversource and its private arm, Rocky River Realty, to transfer or sell lands that they control to Middletown for permanent conservation. The land closest to the river is most critically in need of protection from development.
   
   

Make sure your voice is heard to promote the Preservation of "Middletown’s Last Great Place!"

Ellen Lukens
Middletown Commission on Conservation and Agriculture