jamaica bay resiliency
TRANSCRIPT
Resiliency Practice in the Jamaica Bay Watershed
JAMAICA BAY ECOWATCHERS- PERSPECTIVE
Jamaica Bay Ecowatcher’sThe Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers are dedicated to the
preservation, protection, enhancement and restoration of the fragile ecosystem of Jamaica Bay. We have been and will continue to serve as the advocacy organization for the environmental concerns for Jamaica Bay.
We are the leading Environmental Advocacy Group working In Jamaica Bay since 1994
Ecowatchers Formed in 1998
Advocate for Jamaica BayHighlight the impact of Heavy Nitrogen Loading and
the Consequent Marsh LossAwareness of Associated Water Quality IssuesPartner with Enviro GroupsPartner with NRDC
First to Connect high nitrogen loading to algae blooms in bay
Wetland Island LossFirst to recognize and document the wetland loss in
Jamaica Bay1995 thru 2001 worked to self document the loss2001 collaborated with NYS DEC –trend analysis
report2001 Blue ribbon panel heldMoved to obtain funding and identify projects to
restore
Clean Water ActFall 2009 Brought Clean Water Act Lawsuit against NYCAt city’s Request Negotiations BeginFebruary 2010 Nitrogen Agreement Reached--$100 Million to upgrade Waste Treatment Plants --$15 Million earmarked for Wetland Restoration --Great Interest From Mayor Bloomberg in Jamaica BayFunding –has already greatly reduced nitrogen and
created wetland islands
Oyster Restoration
Ecowatchers secured a $100,000 grant from Florida Power and Light company .
Partnered with National Parks Service and Stony Brook University
Determine the possibility of restoring a self sustaining oyster population in Jamaica Bay
Conducted Spat Recruitment surveysPlaced and monitored Oysters in cages in numerous
locationsDiscovered oyster reproduction in Bay
Divers to set sub-tidal cages
Raising Sub tidal oyster cage
Oysters found growing in bay
Transco Williams PipelineSuccessfully negotiated with Transco Williams for off-
set mitigation to be part of current pipelineWilliams will fund $500,000 wetlands project at
Sunset Cove Williams will fund $1,500,000 artificial reef off of the
Rockaway's in designated reef zone
Coastal Cleanups
Seed Harvest
Seed Collection
Rulers bay wetland island
Planting Spartina
community involvement
Completed wetland island
Sunset CoveLed efforts to have 17 acre site moved to NYC ParksAllocated $500,000 from NY Rising to fund oyster
portion of projectOrganized Efforts , political support, to get support
for Dept of Interior Grant---$4.85 millionSecured community support for siteDesign will see wetlands recreation/oyster
revetment/dune/berm—upland forest / walking trails as well as educational boardwalk
Conceptual Plan
Oyster Cages at Sunset Cove
JFK AirPort Extension PlanProposed in 2010Would fill in and pave over hundreds of acres of wetlandsEcowatchers held public meetings hundreds turned outPlan Rejected due to outcry
Defeated Efforts to Bring Contaminated Fill into Jamaica BayWorked with Assemblyman Goldfeder and State
Senator Joseph Addabbo to create Bill to prevent Dumping of Hazardous Dredge Material into Jamaica Bay.
Aug 11 2014-- Bill A.3392 signed into law by Governor Cuomo- Prevent Contaminated Dredge material from being placed into Jamaica Bay
Councilman Ulrich tours bay
Assemblyman Goldfeder Tours Bay
Queens Boro President Melinda Katz
Recreation
Most Significant Finding“. Greater integration is needed where collaboration is
paramount through the whole process from setting the research agenda, to sharing data and results, to making informed decisions, and to monitoring policy and supplementing with new scientific research and new policy when appropriate. …Scientific research and management of natural resources is collaborative when both scientists and the stakeholders responsible for management are involved in the decision process. This means that dialogue is necessary at each step of the process. Scientists should seek input from stakeholders when determining what research agendas in a particular system should be. Likewise, stakeholders should provide feedback to scientists on what information and data is needed to best inform the decision-making process. Together, stakeholders and researchers can set an agenda for research that is focused on specific objectives designed to yield the most useful information for management decisions. “ ----- Chapter 3
What do you see as the most significant opportunities for promoting Resiliency Policy and action from the Report Findings ?w
"Resilience Through Restoration”-- The report discusses , chapter 3, the concept of “Restoration for Resilience” – we have been discussing the goal of Resilience through Restoration addressing the two main concerns 1) Environmental/Ecological –overall concerns for the bay –most predate Sandy:
Loss of Habitat—Wetlands--islands/Shoreline , Benthic habitat in select locations
Water Quality-Nitrogen Loading/ Dissolved Oxygen/ De-icing issues Species loss/restoration---Oysters/Eel Grass/ Ribbed Mussels Reaching the “Tipping Point”
2) Residential/Community concerns* Storm and Natural event concerns
* Storm Tidal Surge--Flooding* Wave Energy/Damage-Homes /infrastructure destroyed*Preparedness/Response-Communication/Transportation/shelter
WAVE DAMAGE
Ecological /storm protection Wetland islands—well known ecological values—
recent recognition of wave attenuation valueRulers and Black wall islands—large reduction seen on
adjacent community shoreline Northwest FetchElders East and West- Well established at this point
and successful in terms of growth now also recognized for protection they afford Joseph Addabbo bridge and the coastal evacuation zone
Northern Portion of Yellow Bar island-recently completed by ACOE additional wave protection
Ecological/ Storm Protection Oyster reefs
Currently under design for Sunset CoveProposed under the NY Rising project for eastern and
western portions of the bayProposed under NY Rising for next phase of Street
Elevation in Broad Channel –ends of blocksUsed to reduce wave height and energy
Dunes BermsRockaway /BreezySpring Creek-Howard BeachBroad channel-Southern and northern
sectionsFloyd Bennett Field
Hard Structure—Resiliency ACOE - “Big Gate” ?---Required Offset
MitigationSmaller Gates—Shell Bank BasinSea wall in RockawayStreet Rising in Broad Channel –Soft street
ends ?Stone Revetment –incorporate oysters?
Street raising construction
Ny Rising Plan for BayChaired NY Rising for the reconstruction plan for
Broad Channel and Jamaica BayShort and long term projects including
Oyster ReefsWetland islandsDuneCommunity Recovery Centers
completed NY Rising plan
SRIJB GoalsPartner with existing projects—Jamaica Bay is not a
vacuum-tremendous work underway and already planed—NY Rising/DEP/ACOE study
Lead on specific project –ie Adjacent Slurry Enrichment Project
Seek Project Oriented studies that will bring an immediate benefit to the bay and its inhabitants
Where possible conduct projects modeled after Ecowatchers/Littoral society marsh island plantings
Engage youth/residents/students
Slurry Enrichment –Big Egg Marsh
What areas of the report can be Enhanced to provide for science to policy transfer for resilience practice
Better understanding of Sediment Budget in Bay –not necessarily a negative at this time
Better understanding of the value of the deeper channels in the bay to marine life and bays ecology
Evaluate ALL baseline information for accuracy –much is repeated over time and thus accepted when not proven