Three people walk along a shoreline that is covered with brown grass. They are collecting debris that floats on the water. Several large buildings can be seen in the background.

Marine Debris Removal in Jamaica Bay Salt Marshes

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will remove medium to large debris items at two critical sites in Jamaica Bay, Queens, New York: Seagirt Avenue Wetlands and Idlewild Park Preserve.

Type of Project: Removal

Region: Mid-Atlantic

Project Dates: September 2019 - August 2022

Who is involved?
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, with the support of a NOAA Marine Debris Program Removal Grant, will remove debris from Jamaica Bay, Queens, New York.

What is the project and why is it important?
The two focus sites in Jamaica Bay are Seagirt Avenue Wetlands and Idlewild Park Preserve. The project consists of three components: 1) Remove large debris that includes at least six derelict vessels, 2) Coordinate volunteers to remove smaller marine debris items, and 3) Conduct pre- and post-removal monitoring to assess improvements to the ecosystem health. The overall goal of this project is to improve salt marsh habitat which supports NOAA trust resources, including the threatened Atlantic Sturgeon and the endangered Shortnose Sturgeon. The project is also important because it will include the safe and effective removal of marine debris, to prevent damage to the wetland, and engage volunteers in marine debris removal activities. This project will also be included in a long-term ecosystem restoration strategy that encourages ongoing investment in the sites. 

For more information about this project, visit the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.

 

For citation purposes, unless otherwise noted, this article was authored by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

Last updated Mon, 04/19/2021 - 02:53 pm EDT