Post on 28-Jan-2018
Ecological Restoration in Jamaica Bay
www.appliedeco.com
William Young, PWS, CERP bill.young@appliedeco.com
Presentation Outline
• AES General Company Information
• Projects in Jamaica Bay
• Restoration works!
Healy Ave. Norton Basin, Jamaica Bay
Healy Ave Marsh and Dune
East side Jamaica Bay1999-2001 NYS DEC2.25 acres$350,000
In 1995, with Jamaica Bay damages account, NYSDEC purchased 11 acres of maritime shrubland and grassland habitat with fringing wetlands.
In 1999, the Dawson Corp was hired to remove fill off the wetlands, place clean sand and plant low and high marsh 2.25 acres.
Healy Ave is rare in that there was an intact dune habitat that was bolstered by the planting of dune grass (Ammoplilabreviligulata), Beach plum, Bayberry, Shadbush and Virginia rose, in addition to five native grasses.
Yellow rumped warbler at Healy Avenue
marsh
Yellow-rumped warbler
(Setophaga coromata)
at Healy Ave marsh
Four Sparrow Marsh
Brooklyn, NY. Right off Flatbush Ave next to Belt Parkway.
Restoration:1. Get rid of all debris smothering the marsh2. Excavate and remove fill mostly in
Phragmites3. Plant and seed to low and high marsh4. (change order); get rid of 6,000 batteries
discovered on site.
Four Sparrow MarshNorth side Jamaica Bay2002-2004NYC Parks4.5 acres $800,000
>80,000 plugs, removal of huge pile of batteries, and we removed piles of marine debris which buried the marsh.
Four Sparrow Marsh,
acquired by NYC Parks
in 1997, supports 35
acres of low marsh, high
marsh and maritime
shrubland.
These native plant
communities were
degraded by invasive
species, primarily
Mugwort and Common
reed.
Four sparrows:
Seaside sparrow
(Ammodramus maritimus)
which nests exclusively in low
marsh,
Sharp-tailed sparrow (A.
caudacutus), which prefers
high marsh,
Swamp sparrow (Melospiza
georgiana), which inhabits the
wetland-shrub edge,
Song sparrow (M. melodia)
which is found in the upland.
Even Bill knows
Swamp
sparrows have
a rusty cap,
gray breast,
and white
throat.
Mostly grassland/savanna, with species from all the coastal New York ecosystems. No less than 11 native plant communities were researched and soils and species replicated on capped landfill site.
Fountain and Penn combined: 543 acres
Planting tree islands in Sept 2008
The entire capped landfill has 18” of topsoil, as per RCRA regulations. But 14 tree islands have three feet of topsoil. Grasslands on the 18 inch topsoil, trees and shrubs on the 36 inch topsoil islands.
11/3/2017 16
Great southern white on Sea oxeye
What’s up with the Irrigation? I thought these were native plants
11/3/2017 18
Native plants are not bullet proof, especially in such an artificial environmentas a former landfill.
However, after establishment they are quite self-sustaining.
In all, 19,000 trees and shrubs. Restoration?Significant replacement of invasive species with natives.
Native Woody PlantsCommon Name
Plant GenusButterfly/moth species supported
Oak Quercus 534
Black cherry Prunus 456
Willow Salix 455
Birch Betula 413
Poplar Populus 368
Crabapple Malus 311
Blueberry Vaccinium 288
Maple Acer 285
Elm Ulmus 213
Pine Pinus 203
Hickory Carya 200
Hawthorn Crataegus 159
Spruce Picea 156
Alder Alnus 156
Basswood Tilia 150
Ash Fraxinus 150
Rose Rosa 139
Filbert Corylus 131
Walnut Juglans 130
Beech Fagus 126
Chestnut Castanea 125
N.Y. / Region
New York Today: A ‘Maritime Forest’ Where Sandy’s Waters Rose
New York TodayBy ALEXANDRA S. LEVINE OCT. 27, 2017
Species NY Natural
Heritage
Rank1
NYS Status Breeding Wintering
Northern Harrier S3 Threatened X X
Upland
Sandpiper
S3 Threatened X
Short-eared Owl S2 Endangered X X
Horned Lark Special Concern X X
Sedge Wren S3 Threatened X
Vesper Sparrow Special Concern X
Grasshopper
Sparrow
S4 Special Concern X
Henslow's
Sparrow
S4 Threatened X
Bobolink S5 not listed* X
Eastern
Meadowlark
S5 not listed* X
Savannah
Sparrow
S5 not listed* X
Footnote 1: Natural Heritage Program Status:
Early successional habitats—rare in NY.
FoodApproximately 74% of the annual diet consists of animal matter and includes mainly beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and occasionally flies, wasps, and spiders (Beal 1926, cited by Gross 1958). Crickets and grasshoppers comprise 26% of the annual diet, and beetles make up 25% of the annual diet. The remainder of the diet consists of vegetable matter, mainly grain and weed seeds. Seeds of smartweed (Polygonum spp.), ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), corn, wheat, rye, and oats are eaten in the winter months when insects are scarce (Gross 1958). Fruits, such as wild cherries (Prunus spp.), strawberries (Fragaria spp.), and blackberries (Rubus spp.),may also constitute a small percentage of the diet.
During adverse winter weather, eastern meadow-larks have been observed to feed on road kills (Hubbard and Hubbard 1969).
Eastern meadowlark
FOOD WEBS
FAT
PROTEIN
?
No doubt plants are the king. Only they can convert sunlight to biomass,Creating food out of abiotic resources. But insects are the next level, transferring that energy to higher levels.
In terms of both number of species and number of individuals, insects are a dominant form of life on Earth. There are somewhere between 800,000 and 1,000,000 insect species known–that’s more than all other animals combined! What’s more, scientists estimate that with those insect species yet to be discovered, there are between 80 and 100 million species of insects sharing the planet with us.
Pollination by a bumblebeeConsidered an Ecosystem service
Common NamePlant Genus
Butterfly/moth species supported
Goldenrod Solidago 115
Asters Aster 112
Sunflower Helianthus 73
Joe pye, Boneset Eupatorium 42
Morning glory Ipomoea 39
Sedges Carex 36
Honeysuckle Lonicera 36
Lupine Lupinus 33
Violets Viola 29
Geraniums Geranium 23
Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia 17
Iris Iris 17
Evening primrose Oenothera 16
Milkweed Asclepias 12
Verbena Verbena 11
Beardtongue Penstemon 8
Phlox Phlox 8
Bee balm Monarda 7
Veronica Veronica 6
Little bluestem Schizachyrium 6
Cardinal flower Lobelia 4
Asters & Fleabanes . Asters are clump forming perennial, bloom late August – October . Fleabanes are annual and biennial, bloom in early June – September . Fleabanes with small white flowers, Aster flowers range white to purple; both with central yellow disks . Both plants tolerate wide range of soil, moisture, and sunlight conditions . High value to pollinators, improve insect diversity and diversify grassland habitat . Benefit ruffed grouse, wild turkey, songbirds, small mammals, eastern cottontail and white-tailed deer
Data in the literature
• indicate that the best habitats are in grasslands with few forbs and that meadowlarks avoid areas where forbs are predominant. It is assumed that optimal conditions will exist when greater than 80% of the herbaceous cover is grass, that suitability will decrease as the relative percent of grass decreases. and that the habitat will not be suitable when less than 20% of the herbaceous cover is grass.
Meadowlark territories in Wisconsin varied in size from 1.2 to 6.1 ha (3 to 15 acres) and were commonly 2.8 to 3.2 ha (7 to 8 acres) (Lanyon 1956). The average size of 15 territories in New York was 2.8 ha (7 acres) (Gross 1958) ..
Pollination
Long horned bee pollinating New York ironweed (Vernonianoveboracensis)
Photo by Naturalist Blaine Rothauseron August 2, 2016
BUILDING STRONG®
Rulers Bar: 92,000 CY, 10 acres
(3 Oct 12)
Jamaica Bay-NY/NJ Harbor Multi-Project Initiative
Ambrose Channel Deepening:
Total 3.6 M CY
Capping NBCDF: 230,000 CY
(June 12)
Black Wall: 150,000 CY, 20 acres
(21 Sept 12)
Yellow Bar: 375,000 CY, 44 acres
(Aug 12)
Plumb Beach: 129,188 CY
(9 Nov 12)
Marsh Island Restoration in Jamaica Bay
BUILDING STRONG®
Yellow Bar Hassock► Beneficial Use of dredged material (CAP 204)
► Approximately 40 acres at cost of $19,643,547
► Sand placement, grading and planting (Similar to Elders)
► Sand Contract Awarded to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock
► Marsh Builder Contract Awarded to Village Dock, Inc.
• Planting Sub-Contractor was Burke Environmental
Marsh Island Restoration in Jamaica Bay
BUILDING STRONG®
Skid-steer moving 3’ x 3’ x
2’ hummocks with a mini-
excavator digging holes,
and planting the
hummocks.
Marsh Island Restoration in Jamaica Bay
Burke changed up equipment to get more
production out of hummock planting. The
operators got REALLY GOOD at this. Mini
excavator superior to skid steer.
Evidence that the Lordship Living Shoreline
expansion is working
Dec 2016 Sept 2017
Living Shoreline (Reef Balls) at Stratford Point,
Fairfield, CT
Using Hybrid Attenuation Approach, Living Shorelines can
be placed along almost any coastline. This is protect the
shoreline from erosion and loss.
With permission from Living Shoreline
Solutions, Inc. Dade City, FL
February 2009 All you have to do is ASC
Usually size of animal correlates
to home range and area needed.
Rulers Bar: 92,000 CY, 10 acres
(3 Oct 12)
Jamaica Bay-NY/NJ Harbor Multi-Project Initiative
Ambrose Channel Deepening:
Total 3.6 M CY Dredged material
finds beneficial use restoring
islands.
Capping NBCDF: 230,000 CY
(June 12)
Black Wall: 150,000 CY, 20 acres
(21 Sept 12)
Yellow Bar: 375,000 CY, 44 acres
(Aug 12)
Plumb Beach: 129,188 CY
(9 Nov 12)
Marsh Island Restoration in Jamaica Bay
SWS 2017 60
Bill Young, with volunteers at
supplemental planting at
Stratford Point Living
Shoreline, May 2015. Data is
being collected showing
significant accretion of sand and
sediment on the beach side of
the reef.
Jamaica Bay has Pilot Projects
50,000 OYSTERS BEING INSTALLED IN JAMAICA BAY TO HELP IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND PROTECT WETLANDS
Significant marine engineering goes into Reef Ball design.
Urban Wild Space Wildlife Land Management
Albany Pine Bush Preserve, Albany, NY• surrounded by industrial
and high-density residential development
• Globally rare ecosystem (inland pine barrens)
• Federally-Endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis)
• Multiple other rare species
Oxford Wetland Mitigation Bank
74 acre former sod farmDesigned and permitted: Environmental Connection/Young EnvironmentalConstruction: 2016-7 The Dawson Corporation
“Better stewardship of the land could have a bigger role in fighting climate change than previously thought,” the international team of scientists said of findings published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The estimates for nature’s potential, led by planting forests, were up to 30% higher than those envisaged by a UN panel of climate scientists in a 2014 report, it said.
The Guardian Oct 17,2017
Mitigation Expertise
Seneca Meadows Wetland Preserve Video
NYSDEC independent study showed AES mitigation sites have HIGHEST success rate in the state
Biogeochemical Functions Water Quality
Wetlands trap, retain and
process pollutants in flooded
soil - “kidneys of the
landscape”
Retention of pathogens and
nutrients(nitrates, phosphates)
pesticides, and metals.
Protect drinking water
suppliesWetlands are
natures’s kidneys
Environmental Connection, LLC
www.envconnection.net
Biogeochemical Functions Atmospheric Equilibrium
Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Method
Developed by Army Corps of Engineers
• Uses reference wetlands (e.g., natural in region of
interest)
• Evaluates set of wetland functions through field
assessment
• Functional capacity index (FCI) – 0-1, 1 equals
function at same level as reference wetland. FCI X
acres of habitat assessed = FCUs
Evaluation of Planned Wetlands (EPW)
Developed by Environmental Concern
• Similar to HGM but sleeker and easier to
use. Uses reference wetlands (e.g., natural in
region of interest) Evaluates limited set of
wetland functions through field assessment.
• Functional capacity index (FCI) – 0-1, 1
equals function at same level as reference
wetland. FCI X acres of habitat assessed =
FCUs
Evaluation of Planned Wetlands (EPW)
Here are the parameters for conducting the EPW:
• Shoreline Bank Erosion Control: Capacity to
provide erosion control and to dissipate erosive
forces at the shoreline bank
• Sediment Stabilization: Capacity to stabilize and
retain previously deposited sediments
• Water Quality: Capacity to retain and process
dissolved or particulate materials to the benefit of
downstream surface water quality
Evaluation of Planned Wetlands (EPW)
Wildlife: Degree to which a wetland functions
as habitat for wildlife as described by habitat
complexity.
Fish: The food/cover, reproductive, and water
quality requirements for fish.
Uniqueness/Heritage: Presence of
characteristics that distinguish a wetland as
unique, rare or valuable.
BUILDING STRONG®
Molt of HS Crab Found on
Yellow Bar Hassock, July 2012. 3,905 nests. Perhaps 200 eggs per nest. Accounting for
losses, say, 160,000 new crabs. Not too shabby!
Marsh Island Restoration in Jamaica Bay
Salt marshes are unique and highly productive ecosystemsthat provide a range of valuable services (MEA 2005; Barbieret al. 2011). The importance of these intertidal grasslands tofish and wildlife populations is well documented; in particular,they serve as nursery and feeding areas for many economicallyand ecologically important fishery species (Dionne et al.1999; Deegan et al. 2000; Minello et al. 2003) and as criticalbreeding, migration, or wintering habitat for variety of birdspecies (Greenberg et al. 2006; Shriver and Greenberg 2012).Marsh vegetation also filters sediments, nutrients, and otherpollutants from upland drainage and helps buffer shorelinesfrom erosion by waves and currents, and marsh sedimentshave a high capacity for long-term carbon sequestration(Mcleod et al. 2011).
Samanek(invasives.org)
Number of herbivore species supported
Non-native plant species Homeland Novel
Years since
introduction
Phragmites austrlis 170 5 >300
Eucalptus stelloleta 48 1 100
Opuntia ficus-indica 16 0 250
Clematis vitalba 40 1 100
Melaleuca quinquenervia 406 8 120
D. Tallamy
Will evolution be the solution?
Regal Fritillary Butterfly(Speyaria idalia)
• Endemic to tallgrass and mixed grass prairies
– Larvae feed on only violets in spring
– Adults feed on prairie plants, preferring nectar of milkweeds (and thistles)
– Female adults lay eggs on violets
Carlina carline 0 0
Carthamus distaff thistle 0 1
Carum caroway 0 1
Catapodium 0 0
Caucalis burr parsley 0 0
Centaurium centaury 0 0
Centipeda centipeda 0 0
Ceratocephala
curveseed
butterwort 0 0
Chaenorhinum dwarf snapdragon 0 0
Chaiturus lion's tail 0 0
Chamaemelum dogfennel 0 0
Chelidonium celandine 0 0
Chondrilla chondrilla 0 0
Chorispora crossflower 0 1
Chrozophora chrozophora 0 0
Cicer chick pea 1 0Cichorium endive, chickory 0 9Citrullus watermelon 1 11
Cnicus cnicus 0 0
Coincya star-mustard 0 0
Coix Job's tears 0 0
Colchicum colchicum 0 0Colocasia coco yam 0 2
Conium poison hemlock 0 2Conringia hare's ear mustard 0 2
Consolida knight's spur 0 1
Convolvulus bindweed, morning
glory 2 7
Corchorus
jute, tridens
corchorus 1 0
Coriandrum coriander 0 0
Coronopus swinecress 0 0
Corrigiola corrigiola 0 0
Cortaderia pampas grass 0 0
Corynephorus clubawn grass 0 0
Crepis hawksbeard 0 2
Genus Common alien lep native lepDactylis
orchard grass 1 20
Dactyloctenium Egyptian grass,
crowfoot grass 0 1Dahlia dahlia 2 13
Daphne daphne 0 0
Dasypyrum mosquitograss 0 0Dianthus pinks, carnations 2 8
Dictamnus gas plant 0 2
Digera 0 0
Digitalis foxglove 0 3
Dinebra viper grass 0 0Diplotaxis wallrocket 0 1Dipsacus teasel 0 1Disporum fairy bells, mandarin 1 0
Dittrichia dittrichia 0 0
Duchesnea duchesnea 0 0
Ecballium squirting cucumber 0 0
Echinops globethistle 0 0
Egeria egeria 0 0
Eichhornia water hyacinth 0 0Eleusine indian goosegrass 0 0
Eleutherococcus ginseng 0 0
Elsholtzia elsholtzia 0 0
Emex threecornerjack 0 0
Epipactis helleborine 0 0
Eremopyrum False wheatgrass 0 0Erica heath, heather 2 2Erodium heron's bill, erodium,
stork's bill 0 3Eruca* arugula, saladrocket,
rocketsalad 0 1
Erucastrum dogmustard 0 0
Euphrasia eyebright 0 0
Facelis trampweed 0 0
Fagopyrum buckwheat 0 8
Falcaria falcaria 0 0
Fatoua fatoua 0 0
Filago cottonrose 0 0
Foeniculum sweet fennel, fennell 0 1
Fumaria fumitory 0 0
Galanthus snowdrop 0 0
Galega professor-weed 0 0
Guess what? The most “useful” exotic plants to insects are the ones closely related. The insects at least can recognize/utilize them. Asters, Willow, Solidagos, Juncus, Quercus, Fagus, Asclepias, Bidens