North Hempstead Bar Beach Lagoon Project

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North Hempstead Bar Beach Lagoon Project

Environmental Assessment Applied Environmental Services (Shore Realty) Superfund Site Restoration Project Update:

To fulfill the mission of restoring natural resources that have been injured by oil spills or hazardous substance releases, the natural resource Trustees conduct a damage assessment to determine the extent of injury to natural resources caused by the hazardous substance release or oil spill. This information is used to determine the amount of restoration that is needed. The Trustees then either reach an agreement with the responsible parties through a negotiated settlement or file suit against the responsible parties for the damage claim. Damage claims are for the cost of restoration, loss of use of the land or natural resources by the general public, and money spent to assess damages. Once the claim is resolved, the Trustees take action to restore the injured resources. Finally, the Trustees monitor the completed restoration projects to ensure success.

The Bar Beach Lagoon Restoration Project (the Project) is being implemented jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Beginnings of restoration at Hempstead

Photo of land next to harbor The Trustees referenced above, NOAA, DOI and the NYSDEC, determined that natural resources in the Hempstead Harbor/Motts Cove environment were injured by the release of hazardous substances from the Applied Environmental Services Superfund Site (“the Site”), which is located in Glenwood Landing, New York. In August 1992, the State of New York, the United States, and the Performing Parties Group (“the PPG”) - which includes cooperating past and current owners, operators, and generators - entered into a Consent Judgment settling claims under CERCLA relating to the existence, release, or threat of release of hazardous substances at or from the Site. On August 5, 1992 the Consent Judgment was entered by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. Under the terms of the Consent Judgment, the PPG is required to perform remedial activities, pay natural resource damages and perform or fund restoration activities, to settle their liability under CERCLA.

The Project is being integrated into an ongoing Hempstead Harbor Shoreline Trail Project initiated by the Town of North Hempstead, and will be protected in perpetuity. There is a public benefit and use of the Project due to the construction of a trail and the physical location of the lagoon within the town-owned Bar Beach Park, a 5+-acre tidal cove situated within the Town of North Hempstead. The restoration project is located across the bay from the Shore Realty Superfund Site located on the western shore of Hempstead Harbor and immediately east of West Shore Road in Port Washington, New York. Wide angle view of fencing, intertidal area

Close up of intertidal mud flats with fencing
The Project area consists of a mosaic of intertidal mudflat, sand flat, patchy low saltmarsh dominated by smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), and shellfish beds dominated by ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) and American oyster (Crassostrea virginica). In general, localized habitat loss and disturbances have adversely affected the tidal cove community reducing the full-functioning capacity of the ecological system and the services provided to invertebrates, fish and wildlife. The presence of fill, shoreline erosion, decreased density of Spartina, near shore 10 to 50+ feet wide fringes of common reed (Phragmites australis), and freshwater inputs contribute to the degraded conditions.

Restoration tasks for the Project include saltmarsh restoration by analyzing and removing fill (comprised of pea gravel and sand), regrading, and Spartina alterniflora planting; coastal shoreline restoration by removing concrete rubble along the shoreline, regrading and contouring, installing erosion controls and plantings of coastal plant species; Phragmites removal and/or control; and erosion control by retrofitting a 42"-diameter culvert with an outfall riprap apron or through diversion of the storm water input.

The North Hempstead Bar Beach Lagoon Project will improve fish, bird, and shellfish habitat, enhance the detrital export functioning of the tidal community, and provide an opportunity for the public to enjoy this ecosystem due to its proximity to the North Hempstead Trail. Expected improvements include increased vegetative cover derived directly from plantings (approximately 0.6 acre) and indirectly from site enhancement.
Caution tape near harbor

Backhoe beginning construction
Site enhancement could augment the density and coverage of the existing saltmarsh (approximately 2 acres). Amelioration of substrate conditions (i.e., reduced erosion, reduced freshwater input) should increase the spatial coverage and/or density of Spartina over current conditions by fostering natural colonization. Habitat quality will improve due to increases in vegetative cover and structural complexity, thereby benefitting macroinvertebrates, fish and birds. Details of the project design can be found in the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment.

The Bar Beach Lagoon Restoration Project (the Project) is being implemented jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
	The Trustees referenced above, NOAA, DOI and the NYSDEC, determined that natural resources in the Hempstead Harbor/Motts Cove environment were injured by the release of hazardous substances from the Applied Environmental Services Superfund Site (“the Site”), which is located in Glenwood Landing, New York. In August 1992, the State of New York, the United States, and the Performing Parties Group (“the PPG”) - which includes cooperating past and current owners, operators, and generators - entered into a Consent Judgment settling claims under CERCLA relating to the existence, release, or threat of release of hazardous substances at or from the Site. On August 5, 1992 the Consent Judgment was entered by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. Under the terms of the Consent Judgment, the PPG is required to perform remedial activities, pay natural resource damages and perform or fund restoration activities, to settle their liability under CERCLA.
The Project is being integrated into an ongoing Hempstead Harbor Shoreline Trail Project initiated by the Town of North Hempstead, and will be protected in perpetuity. There is a public benefit and use of the Project due to the construction of a trail and the physical location of the lagoon within the town-owned Bar Beach Park, a 5+-acre tidal cove situated within the Town of North Hempstead. The restoration project is located across the bay from the Shore Realty Superfund Site located on the western shore of Hempstead Harbor and immediately east of West Shore Road in Port Washington, New York.
	The Project area consists of a mosaic of intertidal mudflat, sand flat, patchy low saltmarsh dominated by smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), and shellfish beds dominated by ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) and American oyster (Crassostrea virginica). In general, localized habitat loss and disturbances have adversely affected the tidal cove community reducing the full-functioning capacity of the ecological system and the services provided to invertebrates, fish and wildlife. The presence of fill, shoreline erosion, decreased density of Spartina, near shore 10 to 50+ feet wide fringes of common reed (Phragmites australis), and freshwater inputs contribute to the degraded conditions.
Restoration tasks for the Project include saltmarsh restoration by analyzing and removing fill (comprised of pea gravel and sand), regrading, and Spartina alterniflora planting; coastal shoreline restoration by removing concrete rubble along the shoreline, regrading and contouring, installing erosion controls and plantings of coastal plant species; Phragmites removal and/or control; and erosion control by retrofitting a 42"-diameter culvert with an outfall riprap apron or through diversion of the storm water input. The North Hempstead Bar Beach Lagoon Project will improve fish, bird, and shellfish habitat, enhance the detrital export functioning of the tidal community, and provide an opportunity for the public to enjoy this ecosystem due to its proximity to the North Hempstead Trail. Expected improvements include increased vegetative cover derived directly from plantings (approximately 0.6 acre) and indirectly from site enhancement.
	Site enhancement could augment the density and coverage of the existing saltmarsh (approximately 2 acres). Amelioration of substrate conditions (i.e., reduced erosion, reduced freshwater input) should increase the spatial coverage and/or density of Spartina over current conditions by fostering natural colonization. Habitat quality will improve due to increases in vegetative cover and structural complexity, thereby benefitting macroinvertebrates, fish and birds. Details of the project design can be found in the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment.