NEW YORK--A team comprised of nearly a dozen experts from the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Division of Water, Bureau of Marine Resources, and Legal Counsel has been created to address the rapid loss of Jamaica Bay.
The team is tasked with developing long-term water quality and ecological strategies for Jamaica Bay, Queens County.
Studies have shown significant losses of vegetated tidal wetlands, principally Spartina alterniflora (Intertidal Marsh), in the marsh islands of Jamaica Bay. The examination of historic maps shows that between 1857 and 1924, the intertidal marsh islands area varied in size, with average changes of up to 10 acres per year. During periods of significant storms, there were losses of marsh islands, but in the years where there were not major storms, the marsh islands were able to rebuild.
The objective of the DEC response team is to look at the potential causes of vegetation loss and outline goals, recommendations and actions to address this threat and protect the remaining tidal marsh from further loss, while improving the marine environment. Long-term marsh restoration will be a central focus of the response team.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
www.dec.ny.gov
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