Glimpse successful breeding. That’s what happened when Elders Point East, a restored marsh island in Jamaica Bay, showed dozens of juvenile horseshoe crabs swimming within its tidal creek. Elders Point is a story of restoration and resilience.
Elders Point was once a single 132-acre island. It suffered years of degradation. The land split into separate islands. These islands are now connected by muddy land. Elders Point is part of the 26-square mile Jamaica Bay Park and Wildlife Refuge. This refuge was the country’s first national urban park. It is one of the Gateway National Recreation Areas.
Jamaica Bay’s marsh islands deteriorated over the last century. They disappeared at a rate of 44 acres per year. It was estimated that the marsh islands could disappear by 2012. Today, Elders Point East measures 49 acres. Elders Point West has 34 newly restored acres.
Maintaining the health of the Jamaica Bay ecosystem is critical. It is critical to the well-being of wildlife and the 20 million people living in this urban region. The marsh islands are home to fish and shellfish. These are an important food source for birds. They help improve water quality by removing nitrogen and phosphates. The marsh islands provide stability and water storage during storms and floods. The plants capture and cycle particles out of the water acting as filters. Restoring Elders Point protects the more interior islands. It slows their erosion.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teamed up with other agencies to restore Elders Point. They began work in 2006. 250000 cubic yards of dredged sand were pumped onto Elders Point East. The team shaped it to simulate the proper elevations of a marsh island. Native plant species were hand-planted. These included saltmarsh cordgrass, salt hay, and spike grass. The seeds were collected within Jamaica Bay. The sand came from the Army Corps’ beneficial reuse program. This program uses dredged sand from New York Harbor to rebuild habitats.
Elders Point West was restored similarly. The team learned that sand settles differently based on the mud or sand composition of the ground. Sand placed atop mud settles more. Sand atop sand settles less. Knowing this, the team better distributed 240000 cubic yards of dredged sand for optimal planting elevations. The slopes of the sand needed to be more gradual to prevent erosion. Relocation of existing plants is as effective as purchasing nursery-grown plants.
Marsh island restoration within Jamaica Bay advances the goals of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan. The primary goal is to develop a mosaic of habitats. These habitats provide maximum ecological and societal benefits to the region. In 2017, Elders Point East showed significant ecological progress. Plant life and the marsh ecosystem were developing well. This mirrored a naturally thriving salt marsh.
The restoration of Elders Point represents a commitment to preserving our natural environment. It shows how collaborative efforts can revitalize degraded ecosystems.