Protecting New York's Environment

Saving the Vanishing Marsh Lands of Jamaica Bay

Recently, an alarming new study showed that all the marsh in Jamaica Bay could disappear by 2012 – 12 years sooner than projected by an earlier study in 2001. The study also showed that from 1951 to 2003, the amount of bay marsh decreased by two-thirds.

Jamaica Bay has more than 25,000 acres of open water, marsh, beaches and forest. The bay is home to over 665 species of birds and fish and serves as an important migratory stop for nearly 20% of the continents birds during their yearly migration. Endangered and threatened species like peregrine falcons, piping plovers, and the Atlantic Ridley sea turtle have also been found in the bay. The marsh serves as a nursery to this wildlife and its disappearance threatens an ecosystem collapse. The marsh also serves as an important natural barrier for homes on the peninsula from storm surges.

This past October, I outlined a four point plan today to stem the tide against the vanishing marsh land in Jamaica Bay. To read it click here

In July of 2006, I unveiled an innovative $13 million Elders Point Island wetlands restoration project to save the marsh islands ecosystem in Jamaica Bay. The project pumped 270,000 cubic yards of sand and planted 900,000 plants to restore 24 acres at Elders Point East. To read more about it click here

And in 2001, I organized a Blue Ribbon panel of world class scientists who developed a series of goals designed to save the wetlands, including new restoration, long term analysis of the Bay’s sediment layer, field mapping, and public education and technical workshops. I also secured a $598,000 grant from the Natural Resources Protection Program to fund the panel’s initiatives. To read more about it click here