Weiner: Marshland Coming Back

Congressmember Anthony Weiner points to a map showing that 50 acres of threatened marshland in Jamaica Bay have been restored and nearly 100 acres are slated for restoration in years to come. In a major Earth Day win, Congressmember Anthony Weiner (D- Queens/Brooklyn) announced on April 21 that 50 acres of threatened marshland in Jamaica Bay have been restored- with nearly 100 acres slated for restoration in the coming years.

Rising nitrogen levels in the bay, experts have concluded, have caused the marshes to erode, and at a quickening pace. Between 1924 and 1994, more than 1,800 acres of salt marsh disappeared, at an average rate of approximately 26 acres a year. Between 1995 and 1999, the rate of loss increased, with 220 acres of salt marsh disappearing at an average rate of 44 acres per year.

To combat the rapid salt marsh erosion, Weiner helped fund a $16 million Army Corps of Engineers project in 2006 to rebuild Elders Point East. As part of that project, engineers rebuilt 48 acres of marshland, including adding more than 240,000 cubic yards of beach and transplanting more than 750,000 native marsh plants including Saltwater Cordgrass, Salt Meadow Grass, Salt Grass, and Rush, into the depleted area. That effort is now a major success story, with recovery efforts finally outpacing marsh erosion for the first time by 15 acres. Jamaica Bay's 26,645 acres of marshes serve as buffers, mitigating waves, wind, and floods and reducing damages to the surrounding residents. The salt marshes are home to 91 species of fish, 325 species of birds, and 214 species of special concern, including threatened and endangered species.

Key Upcoming Projects to Restore Jamaica Bay Marshland

• 2010: Rebuilding Elders Point West, located in the north central part of Jamaica Bay ($10.6 million)

Building on the successes of the restoration projects at Elders Point East, the next step is working on Elders Point West, building up 34 acres of marsh with 200,000 cubic yards of sand. Engineers will replant native Saltwater Cordgrass onto the restored land.

• 2010: Restoring Yellow Bar Hassock, located at the center of Jamaica Bay, west of Broad Channel (No final cost estimate)

Due to erosion of the beach foundation, salt marsh habitat at Yellow Bar Hassock has been converting to mucky peat and mudflat at an estimated six acres per year. The rising saltwater was drowning the marsh habitat and NPS officials have projected Yellow Bar will be completely lost by 2020.

Also, using Elders Point East as a model, the Yellow Bar Hassock design proposes building up to 60 acres of marsh with 250,000 cubic yards of sand. Within this new elevated marsh foundation, engineers will replant existing salt marsh plant hummocks to spur growth.

Weiner's Four-Part Plan to Save Jamaica Bay Marshlands

1. Reduce nitrogen in Jamaica Bay by 60 percent in 10 years, with a 20 percent reduction in the next three years.

Environmental experts have concluded that rising nitrogen levels in Jamaica Bay are the primary cause of marshland deterioration. The rising nitrogen levels have been caused by wastewater plants that have dumped more than 250 gallons of

nitrogen-rich wastewater into Jamaica Bay every day. This kills delicate marsh roots and retards re-growth.

2. Provide $9 million to fully fund four outstanding Jamaica Bay restoration projects.

Building on successes of Elders Point East, Weiner is working to provide engineers with resources to build up 60 acres of marsh with 250,000 cubic yards of sand on Yellow Bar Hassock, study restoration options for other sites around the Bay and build up 34 acres of marsh with 200,000 cubic yards of sand on Elders Point West.

3. Retrofit four sewage plants surrounding Jamaica Bay that dump nitrogen into the marshes.

Use federal stimulus money to retrofit the four sewage plants surrounding Jamaica Bay that dump nitrogen onto the marshes. New York state received $431.5 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund in the bill.

4. Double the replanting of Saltwater Cordgrass and Salt Marsh Plant Hammocks.

The plan doubles the number of Saltwater Cordgrass and Salt Marsh Plant Hammocks to be replanted in the upcoming Elders Point West and Yellow Bar Hammock projects.

"These marshlands are the very foundation of this ecosystem," Weiner said. "They are havens for insects, attract clams and support fish and birds. For years, concerned residents and environmentalists have warned us that they are disappearing. We can say now that the marshlands are coming back."