Rulers Bar/Blackwall island update 10 29 15 Elizabeth Manclarke-ALS

1,400 acres of tidal wetlands loss in Jamaica Bay since 1924 Marsh deterioration continues at a rate of over 44 acres per

year Nitrogen impact on water quality of the bay

HistoryHistory

Re-create two wetland islands: Rulers Bar and Black Wall

Restore 30+ Acres of Critical Habitat

Reduce cost per acre vs independent contractor

Provide coastal protection for vulnerable communities

Engage Volunteers and Youth groups as stewards

Jamaica Bay Ecowatcher’s and American Littoral Society

NYS DEC ACOE NYC DEP National Park Service NYC DPR Community Volunteers

Began with Sand

Placement by ACOE Fall 2012 Seed Collection

by volunteers Spring/Summer 2013

volunteers and youth group planted on Rulers bar-12 Acres

Black Wall Island seeded –16 Acres

Community Planting Days

Experiment Effort to reduce

cost Entire 16 acres

seeded Transport of

Equipment a Challenge

Initially assessed in April 2014

Second assessment with the Environmental Firm in Late May 2014

No growth noted over the 16 acres

Similar results were reported for Adjacent Yellow Bar Island

Agreement Reached for Environmental Firm to Procure 40,000 plugs to plant in 2014 and 2015

2013 – 88,000 plugs on Rulers Bar

2014 – 54,000 plugs on Ruler’s Bar and Black Wall

2015 – 25,500 Plugs on Black Wall

167,500

Fence MaintenanceFence Maintenance

• Over 3000 volunteers participated

Corporate/Non-Profit Partners NYC Audubon Google HarborLAB Mitsui Sony Georgia TAP Aveda Bloomberg Estee Lauder Green Teens Hour Children Citizen’s Committee for NY NY Cares FDNY Youth NYC Parks Resiliency Corps

Corporate/Non-Profit Partners

Restoration Corps Youth Group

Black Wall Osprey PlatformBlack Wall Osprey Platform Platform placed Summer 2014 First nested pair of Osprey Spring 2015 with 2

young

Seeding does not seem to be a viable option

Distance between plugs during planting can be increased

Cost of Fencing installation and maintenance unnecessary vs benefit

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Tremendous cost savings can lead to more restoration efforts in the bay

Habitat and ecology of the sites quickly restored

Restored 30+ Acres of Salt Marsh Community-led Marsh Restoration is a sustainable and

economically-viable model for restoring wetlands Planting of Plugs reduced from $2.25 per plug to $1.00 per plug Provided a “green infrastructure” answer to the problem of

community vulnerability, and engaged community members as stewards

Restored critical wildlife habitat Demonstrated the strength of partnerships between

Governmental Agencies, Communities, Stake holders and Local Non-Profit groups

Provided much need youth employment

OSPREY HUNTING OVER THE NEW ISLANDS