City Island Harbor
City Island Harbor is the protected body of water between City Island and Hart Island, open to Long Island Sound at its northern and southern extremities. Other minor islands in and around City Island Harbor include the Chimney Sweeps, The Blauzes, and Rat Island. Green Flats Reef is exposed at low tide.
The harbor is used for Sailing and sailboat training schools and Kayaker's and wind surfers and Jetskis and waterskiers.
In 2004 a Harbor Seal was seen and photographed on the Minneford Docks. Such wildlife is now returning to the harbor.
The harbor is home for many species of birds like Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Brant Geese, Mallard Ducks, Bufflehead Ducks, Goldeneye Ducks, Great Blue Herons, Great White Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Black Crowned Night Herons, Gulls, Skuas, ect ect..
On the evening of January 24th, 2002, four local boys, 15 and 16 years old, were lost when their 8 foot dinghy sank in City Island Harbor. The boys placed a short emergency phone call to 911 but the dispatcher never told rescuers because not enough information was given before the call was cut off. Given the frigid water temperature (estimated to be in the 20's F), is very unlikely they would have survived long enough for help to arrive. All four bodies were found in the harbor in the early spring.