National Parks Service plan to address the west pond breach in Jamaica Bay

1. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
WEST POND
ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT
October, 2015

2. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
HISTORY OF WEST POND
• In 1951, Robert Moses, former New York City Parks Department
Commissioner, with aid from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
surveyed Jamaica Bay to further plans for a bird sanctuary and park
with breeding ponds in the bay.
• In 1954, the New York City Parks Department partnered with the New
York State Conservation Department to establish the Jamaica Bay Bird
Sanctuary.
• East and West Ponds, built in 1954, were designed and constructed to
provide attractive feeding habitat with freshwater plants for birds.
• The Jamaica Bay Bird Sanctuary became part of the National Park
System in 1972 and was renamed the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
• Special mandates in Gateway’s enabling legislation include
conservation and management of wildlife and natural resources in the

3. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
VISITATION AT JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE
REFUGE
• West Pond is one of the most popular sites within
Gateway National Recreation Area and is a local,
national, and international destination.
• Post Hurricane Sandy visitation to the refuge has
decreased approximately 37% between 2011 and 2014.
• Prior to Hurricane Sandy, the average annual visitation
was 575,000 with an average annual visitation from
school groups of 5,400 (between 2010 to 2015).

4. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
FRESHWATER
WETLANDS
• In the past century, over 90% of the freshwater wetlands in NYC have
been lost.
• Freshwater wetlands provide important ecological, economic, and social
benefits.
• Wetlands are among the most biologically productive ecosystems in the
world; improve water quality by aiding in the retention of stormwater; and
provide a buffer from storm surges.
• Wetlands attract wildlife for viewing and otherwise enhance the
enjoyment of parks and public spaces. These open spaces are
particularly highly valued in the dense urban area of NYC.
• Wetlands are destinations for educational programming and hands-on
learning.

5. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS
PROJECT?
To provide for environmentally sensitive and resilient
conditions along the West Pond Trail loop trail that support
a diversity of Jamaica Bay habitats, wildlife, and enhanced
visitor experiences.

6. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
TOPICS ADDRESSED IN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT INCLUDE:
 Soils and Sediments
 Water Resources
 Wetlands and Floodplains
 Vegetation
 Wildlife and Special Status
Species
 Visitor Use and Experience and
Scenic Resources
 Socioeconomics

7. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
ALTERNATIVES ASSESSED
 Four alternatives were analyzed:
 Alternative A: No Action - Continue Current
Management
 Alternative B: The NPS Preferred Alternative -
Repair the Breach and Improve Habitat
Conditions
 Alternative C: Create Different Types of Habitat
 Alternative D: Bridge the Breach

8. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
ALTERNATIVE A: NO ACTION / CONTINUE
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
 No repair of the loop trail, the
berm, or the primary or
secondary breached areas
 Natural processes would be
left to proceed uninhibited
 Areas would be monitored for
safety
 Wetland conditions and
species composition would
continue to shift in response
to the introduction of saltwater
from Jamaica Bay

9. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
ALTERNATIVE B: THE NPS PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE –
REPAIR THE BREACH AND IMPROVE HABITAT
CONDITIONS Phase 1:
 Repair primary and secondary
breaches
 Restoration of West Pond and the loop
trail
 Replacement of the water control
structure.
 Addition of a freshwater supply /return
to freshwater conditions
Future Phases:
 Upland habitat restoration at Terrapin
Point
 Shoreline and saltmarsh restoration to
increase resiliency against future storm
damage

10. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
ALTERNATIVE C: CREATE DIFFERENT TYPES
OF HABITAT
 Construction of a new berm
further inland establishing a
smaller, more inland, West Pond
and converting Terrapin Point into
an island.
 Creation of a mosaic of wetland
and upland habitats to support a
diversity of species.
 Installation of a groundwater
freshwater source.
 Replacement of the water control
structure in the new West Pond.
 Establishment of a new trail
system around West Pond and
extending to Terrapin Point.

11. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
ALTERNATIVE D: BRIDGE THE BREACH
 Bridge the primary breach to
restore the loop trail around
West Pond
 Bridging options would include
a steel truss bridge or a box
culvert
 Under either option, the
breach would remain open
 Stabilization of the banks of the
primary and secondary breaches
 Wetland conditions and species
composition would continue to
shift in response to saltwater
from Jamaica Bay

12. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
 Alternative A: Net construction costs were not developed
because the alternative does not include any planned
additional construction.
 Alternative B:
 Phase 1: $1.7 – 2.5 M
 Future Phases: $5.1 – $6.2 M
 Total (All Phases) = $6.8 – 8.7 M
 Alternative C:
 Total $36.0 – $44.0 M
 Alternative D:
 Steel Truss Bridge Option Total = $5.4 – $6.7 M
 Culvert Option Total = $5.3 – $6.6 M
CLASS C COST ESTIMATES

13. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
THE PLANNING PROCESS TIMELINE

14. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
 Decision document:
December 2015
 Construction contract award:
2016
 Construction completion:
2017
NEXT STEPS AND ANTICIPATED TIMELINE

15. National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
West Pond Environmental Assessment
Your Participation is Important!
 Please share your comments by
November 6, 2015.
 Comment by any of the following means:
 You may view the document and comment
on-line at: http:parkplanning.nps.gov/gate
 Fill out the comment card, drop it off or mail it in.
 Write to us:
Office of the Superintendent
Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort
Wadsworth
Attention: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge West Pond
EA
210 New York Avenue
Staten Island, New York 10305