Restoration of Jamaica Bay fringing habitats: Post-Sandy status and new approaches for a resilient future

Handel, Steven; Meixler, Marci; Aronson, Myla; Kaunzinger, Christina; Epiphan, Jean; Gurevitch, Jessica

“…uplands around the perimeter of the Bay are an important buffer between the between the Bay and surrounding developed areas and also an integral part of the Jamaica Bay ecosystem.” (USFWS, 1997) Jamaica Bay has changed enormously over the past 300 years under human influence. Over 12,000 of the original 16,000 acres of wetlands have been lost and fill has expanded the uplands into the Bay. The landscape fringing the Bay has changed from a natural coastal gradient of expansive marshes bordered by salt shrub and maritime forest into a dense metropolitan area. The biotic community of New York City has also changed with hundreds of new species arriving from abroad, and many of the natives lost (Robinson, Handel, Yurlina, 1994; Handel, et al. 2014). The change is continuing, with massive climate and sea level changes projected (NYCPCC, 2013; Handel, 2013). A reasonable question now may be, is resilience possible as the Bay water rises and knocks its wet fist against the doors of Brooklyn and Queens? The future character and ecological health of Jamaica Bay may require management more active and of a different quality than in the past. The vegetation and the wildlife of Jamaica Bay are completely linked. In this study we assess the impact of Hurricane Sandy, as a precedent for future storms, and identify vulnerable habitat areas. We also investigate the capacity for inland migration of these habitats, and test restoration steps to increase resiliency to storms and sea level rise. The results can inform resiliency efforts in many other coastal areas. The vegetation fringing Jamaica Bay follows an elevational gradient from marsh to salt shrub to maritime forest and very occasional coastal grasslands. All are of great value to wildlife. We may lose the lower elevation landscapes with sea level rise, if accretion of soil does not match the speed of water rise. Are restoration science interventions needed to secure the fringing vegetation? These are critical habitats, harboring many species of concern (USFWS, 1997). Also, Jamaica Bay stands as a model for coastal urban wilds of enormous value, ecological services, as well as high recreational use, for our citizens (TPL and NYC Audubon, 1987, 1993). Resiliency at the Bay serves our society in many ways as well as supplying plant biodiversity resources for the Bay’s famous wildlife. As the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, tornados, and tropical storms are expected to rise in coming years, driven by global climate change and local sea level rise (IPCC, 2007), there is an increased need to better understand the potential damage and restoration opportunities in coastal areas of Jamaica Bay. Work here on these issues also can be model solutions for regional coastal areas managed by NPS and other government agencies. Here we studied many related types of questions regarding landscape-scale spatial data, local observational data, current and future scenarios, and experimental data that together advance of understanding of habitats to improve the resiliency of the Jamaica Bay coastal fringe to changing climate. These findings will lead to a better understanding of management needs to secure and enhance coastal natural resources in the face of global climate change

Restoration of Jamaica Bay fringing habitats: Post-Sandy status and new approaches for a resilient future

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