Times Newsweekly: Wetlands To Be Protected By Parks Dept. - Staten Island Marsh Among Last Remaining Tidal Complexes by Ralph Mancini...

Times Newsweekly: Community Headlines

Wetlands To Be Protected By Parks Dept.
Staten Island Marsh Among Last Remaining Tidal Complexes

by Ralph Mancini
A seven-member Wetlands Transfer Taskforce recently unveiled a list of 82 recommended tidal and freshwater wetland properties to be transferred to and protected by the Department of Parks and Recreation along with 111 others that will be given “special review” designation.

Council Member James Gennaro, chair of City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection, joined Council Member Joseph Addabbo and other environmentalists in Broad Channel to thank Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Administration and DPR for the acceptance of one city-owned property from the list into its jurisdiction.

The wetland in question is a the salty, 70-acre Arlington Marsh located on the northwest corner of Staten Island.

Serving as both a wildlife sanctuary and community amenity, Arlington Marsh is one of the last major tidal wetland complexes still in existence in New York City.

Located in Staten Island’s northwest corner, Arlington Marsh (as seen in top photo) has been the subject of debate between environmental activists and port officials in recent years who’ve had opposing ideas on what to do with the wetland area. Some have proposed turning into parkland while others have suggested that it be used for expanded port operations. The map on the bottom shows the geographic location of the marsh

“Hundreds of acres of freshwater wetlands have been filled with or replaced by drains, gutters and pipes. We cannot recover these vanished ecosystems, but we can work to protect and restore those that remain.”

Of the 82 recommended properties, 68 of them (85 percent) lie in Queens, while 35 of 111 “special review” properties are also in Queens.

Gennaro further called for a more comprehensive policy for the development of publicly and privately-owned wetlands in New York City.

State and federal wetlands protections, it was noted, do not cover all vulnerable wetlands. The Council member informed that he has written legislation for his proposed policy.

Added Co-Chair of the Wetlands Taskforce Robert Pirani: “ The actions proposed by the Task Force will protect hundreds of critically important wetlands in New York City, ensuring that they continue to protect habitat, water quality and private property.”

“We trust that the mayor and the Council will continue to work together to implement our recommendations.”

Pirani also serves as the director of Environmental Programs at Regional Plan Association.

In addition to Pirani, the conference was attended by Director of American Littoral Society’s New York Chapter Don Riepe, New York City Audubon Executive Director Glenn Phillips, Jamaica Bay Task Force Co-Chair Dan Mundy Sr. and Eugenia Flatow of the New York City Soil and Conservation District.