TheTidal Exchange Newsletter of the New York ~ New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program Autumn 2007 CARP Completes Modeling of THIS ISSUE Contaminants! Next Phase of Toxics Work to Begin __________ Dennis Suszkowski, Ph.D. HARBOR ESTUARY NEWS fter years of hard work the dynamic nature of the harbor system involving the efforts of many and the continuing influence that legacy CONTENTS Aagencies, organizations contamination is having on all parts of 1 and individuals, the final reports the ecosystem. This article is the first of of the modeling carried out under two about CARP for the Tidal Exchange, CARP Completes the Contamination Assessment and and reports on the background of the Modeling of Contaminants! Reduction Project (CARP) are now project and provides information about Next Phase of Toxics Work to Begin complete and available to the public. how to obtain several of the modeling The region now has scientifically reports and products. The next article Dennis Suszkowski, Ph.D. credible tools to evaluate the relative will focus on a discussion of important 2 significance of the sources of the most results and next steps in seeking ways problematic contaminants affecting to reduce harbor pollution. Arlington Marsh levels of these contaminants in water, In the early 1990’s a major HEP Acquisition Site AK7 sediment and biota of the entire dredging crisis emerged in New York estuary. The modeling demonstrates (continued on page 4) 6 Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring Begun by PVSC By Ashley Pengitore, Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners. 7 From Landfill to Land Access Settlement between the City of Linden and NJDEP Establishes the former Linden Landfill as a Greenway by Martin McHugh and Kerry Kirk Pflugh, NJDEP 8 Prall’s Island/Asian Longhorned Beetles By Andrew Bernick, The TOPS apparatus shown here was used to collect some of the water samples. This device Ph.D., AKRF, Inc samples large volumes of water and enables scientists to detect chemicals at very low levels. Photo courtesy of Simon Litten, NYSDEC 2 AUTUMN 2007 THE TIDAL EXCHANGE New York – New Jersey Arlington Marsh Harbor Estuary Program HEP Acquisition Site AK7 Director dapted from “An islanded Arlington Marsh’s importance Robert Nyman Nature: Natural Area within the fabric of remaining open US EPA, Region II AConservation and Restoration space in northwestern and western in Western Staten Island, including Staten Island continues to be The Tidal Exchange – Autumn 2007 the Harbor Herons Region” by Peter recognized. In Significant Habitats P. Blanchard III and Paul Kerlinger, and Habitat Complexes of the New Editors published by The Trust for Public Land York Bright Watershed (1998), the U. Jeff Myers, NYS DEC and the NYC Audubon Society. Used S. Fish & Wildlife Service identified Kerry Kirk Pflugh, NJ DEP with permission. Arlington Marsh as “one of the main Robert Nyman, EPA HEP Office Size, ecological importance, foraging areas for birds of the Harbor restoration potential, contiguity Herons complex.” In September The Tidal Exchange is a publication with existing parkland, and a high 1999, the site was recommended of the New York – New Jersey degree of development threat are all as a high priority of acquisition by Harbor Estuary Program (HEP), characteristics that place Arlington the NY/NJ HEP Acquisition and a partnership of federal, state Marsh at the highest level of priority Restoration Sub workgroup. The for conservation. Arlington Marsh and local governments, scientists Regional Advisory Committee for the is the largest remaining, intact salt and citizens working together to New York Open Space Plan (2000) marsh on the Kill van Kull in Staten has listed Arlington Marsh as a protect and restore the natural Island. Despite development at its “government property with potential resources of the estuary. The southern boundary, a DOT facility for transfer to public recreational use.” purpose of the newsletter is to on the landward end of its eastern According to the Sweetbay Magnolia promote an informative dialog on peninsula, and a marina on its eastern Biosphere Reserve Conservancy, the issues related to the Harbor Estuary flank, Arlington Marsh provides most important feature of this site is Program. more habitat, and in greater variety, that it serves as “a green corridor for for flora and fauna than it might wildlife moving from the Goethals The HEP is sponsored by the initially appear. States of New York and New Jersey and the US Environmental Map of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Protection Agency. The HEP Management Committee consists of representatives from Hudson River the US EPA, NJ DEP, NYS DEC, Hackensack River NY and NJ local governments, Long Island Sound US ACE, US DOI, NOAA, Port New Jersey Authority of NY & NJ, Interstate r Environmental Commission, NJ Passaic Rive Harbor Dischargers Group, NYS East River New York DOS, Science & Technical Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory NewNewarkark Bay Upper Arlington New York Committee. Mash Bay The Tidal Exchange is produced and printed Rahway River KillKill Van Van Kull Kull Jamaica Bay by New York Sea Grant (NYSG) under a Linden Prall’s cooperative agreement with the US EPA Greenway Arthur Kill Island (#CE982247-02). The viewpoints expressed Raritan River Lower New York here do not necessarily represent those of Bay RariRaritantan BaBayy NYSG, US EPA or the HEP Management SandySandy Hook Committee, nor does mention of trade Bay names, commercial products or causes New York Bight constitute endorsement or recommendation NavesinkNavesink River for use. ShrewsburShrewsburyy RiverRiver Printed on 100% Post-consumer Recycled Paper Processed Chlorine-free THE TIDAL EXCHANGE AUTUMN 2007 3 from predators and disturbance, Staten Island’s mainland marshes (including Arlington Marsh) cannot provide this level of protection. Therefore, herons, egrets, and ibis feed but do not nest in Arlington Marsh’s shallows and mud flats. The Red-winged Blackbird and the diminutive Marsh Wren do make their nests at safe elevations in the Arlington Marsh vegetation and, according to Dr. Katherine Parsons based on ongoing ornithological observations in the New York Harbor initiated in 1992 under the Wetlands Watchers Program (the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences), “Thousands of waterbirds of 48 species utilize this site. Species observed at the site include state-designated- Endangered and Threatened species Least Tern, Common Tern, Northern Harrier, and Osprey. In addition, state- designated special concern species Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis, Yellow-crowned Arlington Marsh is located on the northwest shore of Staten Island, above and to the right of Night Heron, Tricolored Heron, Howland Hook Container terminal in this picture. Mariners Marsh is already protected and Laughing Gull, Black Skimmer, Ruddy is visible below and across the street from Arlington Marsh. Google Earthimage supplied by Regional Plan Association. Duck, and Boat-tailed Grackle have been observed at Arlington Marsh. Bridge Pond to Mariners Marsh and constructed only recently (in the time The site is especially critical to nearby the north coast of Staten Island.” The frame of marsh establishment of Staten populations of breeding herons, egrets, Mariners Marsh Conservancy, a local Island), defining the southern boundary and ibises” (Dr. Katherine Parsons, non-profit environmental organization of Arlington Marsh. A hydrological letter dated March 1, 2000). that manages Mariners Marsh for link between Arlington Marsh and The value of Arlington Marsh and NYCDPR, recognizes that Arlington Mariners Marsh is provided by tidally of other coastal marshes to marine life Marsh, in addition to its significant influenced Newton’s Creek (formerly cannot be overestimated. The waters natural habitat, serves as “the last Bowman’s Brook), which originates here are contiguous with Newark natural area on the North Shore through in Mariners Marsh and, having passed Bay and share elements of marine which the public can gain access to under Richmond Terrace, enters the fauna with the bay. Furthermore, waterfront” (letter to Mayor Rudolph southeast corner of Arlington Marsh faunas of the bay and of the Arthur W. Giuliani, January 17, 1999). From on its way to the Arthur Kill. Since Kill are linked through food chains a bird’s-eye view and from an overview the Harbor Herons Report (1990), and nutrient exchange. For numerous of the entire region covered by An which treated the two sites as one marine invertebrate and vertebrate Islanded Nature, Arlington Marsh may, unity, Mariners Marsh has achieved animals, the offshore waters, shallows, in fact, be seen as the northern anchor full recognition and protection through mud flats, intertidal marshes, and of a system of interdependent natural its designation in 1997 as a New York tidal creeks offer a wealth of habitat and regenerating landscapes. City Park. Arlington Marsh, however, for feeding, reproduction, and escape Arlington Marsh contains a continues to languish, its habitat from predators. Fiddler crabs, blue variety of habitat types including qualities praised but its status as a crabs, ribbed mussels, killifish, and high marsh, salt marsh, intertidal natural area very much at risk. silversides all inhabit the Arlington marsh, Phragmites marsh, mudflats, Herons, egrets, and ibis, arriving marsh which provides them with and uplands along Richmond Terrace. from Shooters Island, Prall’s Island, a naturally protected ecosystem, The site’s shoreline consists of two Isle of Meadows,