Long Island Federal Projects
The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coordinates with the Service on all proposed
construction projects, such as for flood control, shoreline stabilization,
or navigation. Our role is to ensure that construction is planned with
a view toward conservation of fish and wildlife.
Hard
Clam Restoration Project:
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In the fall
of 2000, the Long Island Field Office conducted finfish surveys
for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed "Hard Clam Restoration
Project" in Great South Bay, Long Island, New York, under the
National Transfer of Funding Agreement. The information gathered
from this survey was used to evaluate potential impacts of the Corps'
proposed project on benthic finfish communities within the project
area. |
Fire
Island Inlet to Shores Westerly Inlet Maintenance and Beach Nourishment
Project:
| The Long Island
Field Office Service has also contracted with the Corps' Operations
Division to undertake surveys and monitoring of populations of threatened
and endangered species within the Corps' Fire Island Inlet Navigation
and Shores Westerly Beach Nourishment Project. The project area
extends approximately 5 miles from Fire Island Inlet to Gilgo Beach,
New York, and provides habitat for Federally- and State-listed species
such as piping plover, least tern, American oystercatcher, and seabeach
amaranth. The Service has partnered with the Citizens Environmental
Research Institute to monitor for threatened and endangered species
activities in the project area and to implement protection measures
in Project Reviews with local landowners. This joint effort by the
Corps and Service has been instrumental in assisting the local public
landowners in managing for threatened and endangered species on
their parklands. |
Fire
Island Inlet to Montauk Point Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection
Project (FIMP): The Service is also engaged in the development of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers' Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Beach Erosion
Control and Hurricane Protection Project, providing technical assistance
on the development of environmental studies. This project spans 83 miles
along the south shore of Long Island and includes habitat for many threatened
and endangered species, waterfowl, shorebirds, and plant species. Sensitive
habitats which fall within the project area include submerged aquatic
vegetation, saltwater wetlands, freshwater wetlandsm and early successional
beach habitats. The Service has recommended a number of studies to the
Corps which should be undertaken to establish a baseline assessment
of species in the project area including surveys for shorebirds and
waterfowl, back-bay finfish, and shellfish.
Orchard
Beach Erosion Control Project, Bronx County, New York: Under the National Transfer of Funding Agreement, the Service was contracted
by the Corps to assess fish and wildlife resource impacts from a proposed
reconstruction of an engineered shoreline. Specifically, reconstruction
includes initial beachfill and periodic nourishment as well as reinforcement
of an existing groin. A draft Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report
(FWCAR) was prepared and the Service is currently negotiating with the
Corps on mitigative measures to be incorporated into the project design
and Final FWCAR.
Westhampton
Interim Storm Damage Reduction Project: The Service completed both Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and Endangered
Species Act (ESA) Project Reviews with the Corps for a proposed 30-year
beach fill/dune construction project involving the placement of sand,
removed from an offshore borrow area, on the shoreline for storm damage
protection. Due to potential project impacts to the Federally threatened
piping plover, a final biological opinion was completed in accordance
with Section 7 of the ESA. Initial construction began in 1996 and concluded
in late 1997. The project is on-going.
Intracoastal
Waterway: The Service
is partnering with the Corps in the design
of a shorebird habitat enhancement project under the Corps Beneficial
Use of Dredged Material Program covering the Federal Intracoastal Channel
in Moriches Bay, Long Island, New York. Planning is underway for several
islands located in Moriches Bay. Preliminary investigations have identified
the following islands as being suitable for habitat enhancement: New
Made Island, West Inlet Island, East Inlet Island (in the Town of Brookhaven).
Dredged material from the Intracoastal waterway will be used to enhance
nesting habitat for shorebirds which require open/semi-open sandy habitats.
Presently, these islands are heavily vegetated with Phragmites and woody
vegetation. Further investigations by the Corps, Service, New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation, and Town of Brookhaven will
be conducted in the development of detailed enhancement plans. Construction
activities are anticipated to be initiated in September of 2002.
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