Presentation by NPS Superintendent Jen Neresian on the project to repair the West Pond and the restoration work underway at the North and South Gardens

1. West Pond Update:
• Breach and Trail Repair
• North and South Gardens
Gateway National Recreation Area, Jamaica Bay Unit, West Pond
National Park Service

2. Overview
West Pond is one of the most popular sites within
Gateway National Recreation Area and is a local,
national, and international destination.
• West Pond is 44 acres, 3 - 6 feet deep.
• 1.5 mile loop trail, Visitor Center.
• West Pond provides opportunities for birding, walking, and
environmental education.
• Average yearly visitation over 575,000 pre-Sandy.
• Over 5,400 school groups from 2010-2015.
2
GATE 201449

3. Pre-Sandy Conditions
• Despite a long history of intense development, Jamaica Bay is rich
in fish and wildlife communities, with large and diverse populations
of resident and migratory species.
• Jamaica Bay is recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as
valuable habitat for migrating birds along the Atlantic. Some of these
species have special regulatory protections under the Endangered
Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and state-level protections.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that nearly 20% of North
America’s bird species migrate through or breed in the Jamaica Bay
area.
• The West Pond freshwater wetland habitat of pre-Sandy conditions,
unique and rare within Jamaica Bay, was a significant factor in the
diversity of species.
GATE 201449
3

4. Hurricane Sandy
• West Pond was breached and inundated with sea water from
Jamaica Bay, which has continued to increase salinity, create
tidally influenced conditions, and change the habitat composition
from brackish to more saline conditions.
• The existing breach continues to widen and is vulnerable to future
damage from storm activity and erosion.
GATE 201449
4

5. Primary
breach
Secondary
breach
5

6. Primary Breach
Secondary Breach
GATE 201449
6
Storm Damage

7. Post-Hurricane Sandy
• Currently, due to the loss of the freshwater wetlands, the West
Pond does not provide habitat that supports the diversity of
species that existed pre-Sandy.
• Loss of the loop-trail affected the visitor use and experience.
• Although the West Pond area continues to provide excellent
habitat for shorebirds, waterbirds with freshwater associations
have declined.
• National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology data
from 2011-2014 show a decline in species since the breach to West
Pond.
• Visitation numbers for the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge have
dropped significantly since Hurricane Sandy.
• A 37% reduction in visitation occurred between 2011 and 2014.
7
GATE 201449

8. Project Work
Current Project Work:
• Berm/breach repair
• Trail repair at berm/breach
• Replace water control structure
• Implement water replenishment source
• Design for Shoreline Restoration
Future Work (Covered in EA but not funded
by Sandy):
• Shoreline Restoration Implementation
• Living shoreline
• Marsh restoration
• Terrapin Point
• Habitat enhancement
• Invasive species control
• Trail system
• Visitor Amenities
• Viewing blinds / platforms
• Trails / boardwalk systems
GATE 201449
8

9. West Pond project
GATE 201449
9
Current Project Work
Water Control Structure
Current Project Work
Secondary Breach Repair
Current Project work –
Primary Breach Repair/
Trail Repair
Future Work
Terrapin Point
Habitat Improvement
Current Project Work –
Design Shoreline
Restoration
Future Work – Implementation
Current Project Work –
Water Source
Future work
Trail Amenities

10. 10
Current Project: Breach/Trail Repair
GATE 201449

11. GATE 201449
11
Current Project: Breach/Trail Repair

12. Visitor Access During Construction

13. Construction Access from Cross
Bay Boulevard

14. Construction Staging and Safety

15. 15
GATE 201449
Current Progress and Next Steps
• Contract has been awarded. $1.7m for repair of
breach and water control structure. Mobilized
October 11th.
• Currently scheduled for 250 days, with completion
date of June, 2017 (bird-dependent).
• Working with NYC on fresh water source
• Contract just awarded for design of living
shoreline.

16. 16
GATE 201449
Current Progress and Next Steps

17. 17
GATE 201449
N&S Gardens Restoration
• $800,000 partnership project between The Nature
Conservancy, the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks
Conservancy, and the National Park Service
• Purpose is to eradicate invasive plants and
promote a more diverse, sustainable and resilient
ecosystem
• During 2016-2017, approximately 20,000 native
plants will be planted

18. 18
GATE 201449
N&S Gardens Restoration
• October planting in South Garden
• Follow-up invasive treatments in spring and late
summer 2017
• Restoration planting in North Garden 2017

19. 19
GATE 201449
N&S Gardens Restoration
• October 25-30th, 2016 volunteer planting:
• 278 volunteers
• High schools, corporate volunteers, general
public and local residents, TNC staff
• 7,851 trees planted

20. 20
GATE 201449
N&S Gardens Restoration

21. Questions?
21
GATE 201449