Saturday, November 10, 2012

Jamaica Bay ecosystem damaged by storm


From the Times Ledger:

Jamaica Bay’s wildlife and its serene surroundings were suddenly compromised when last week’s superstorm hit. Aside from the heartbreaking human toll, the storm blasted the bay with short-term and long-term effects, according to Dan Hendrick, the communications director at the New York League of Conservation Voters, who authored a book about the bay in 2004.

“The biggest issue is that with the storm, a tremendous volume of debris washed into the bay,” said Hendrick, who is involved with the production of “Jamaica Bay Lives!” an upcoming documentary on the bay. “It’s a hazard for the people there and it’s also a detriment to the water quality.”

The city Department of Environmental Protection announced Saturday that significant work has been completed to wastewater treatment facilities damaged by the storm, with 99 percent of the city’s wastewater being treated.

Besides water quality, Jamaica Bay suffered damage elsewhere. Hendrick said the storm ravaged the habitats of the piping plover and the terrapin populations. He also said the storm surge cut a new channel from the bay into what was a freshwater pond and created an array of sinkholes.

“These animals rely on this habitat and the piping plover will be impacted when it comes back from migration next year,” he said. “We will keep an eye out for turtle health, as we expect numbers will drop next year.”


From the Queens Courier:

The environmental expert, now filming a documentary about Jamaica Bay, said Sandy left both short- and long-term damage, ranging from trash in the water ways to obliterated ecosystems. A major, immediate issue — oil spills — stems from Broad Channel’s heating systems operating on oil rather than natural gas.

“[The oil] will disperse with time but it was something that had a very strong, localized impact on Broad Channel,” said Hendrick.

7 comments:

Virginia Joe Spotted!!! said...

One of the weeklies showed Honest Joe Crowley - in Queens, being effective!!!

He was looking at a downed tree.....

well .... two out of three isn't bad.

Anonymous said...

“These animals rely on this habitat and the piping plover will be impacted when it comes back from migration next year,” he said. “We will keep an eye out for turtle health, as we expect numbers will drop next year.”
---
That is so sweet Dan, your concern for turtles and piping plovers.

Now if Jimmy can publicly express concerns for the tykes getting Newtown Creek toxins and East River sewage trekked into their environment we might be able to take a real step forward here.

Some public videos to encourage you to caution the community on potential health issues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO8t7T0FaP0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esp7poikqLY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv3Tgcog3yc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Ej4eOqaSM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T3a-xbfsTQ&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkLMC0OlHDQ&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu2K0E6Sl3A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT5Te9fwNlY&feature=related

I am sure that more will surface over the coming weeks.

Anonymous said...

Actually Sandy likely did the eco-system a good turn.

Rains and storm surges flush out a system. It's a natural process that goes back millions of years.

But that doesn't get headlines or grants.

Anonymous said...

Actually Sandy likely did the eco-system a good turn.

Rains and storm surges flush out a system. It's a natural process that goes back millions of years.

But that doesn't get headlines or grants.

---

How was your dip in the refreshened Newtown Creek go?

Anonymous said...

Your sarcasm is likely accurate.

The storm probably removed more harmful crud from Newtown Creek then the feds/state/city have in the last 50 years.

Anonymous said...

Not bad since drilling has indicated the pollution has reached underground half way to Brooklyn Bridge.

And the drilling in Queens has .... well ... that is not published as far as we can see.

Surprise.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the Newtown Creek...
shit and industrial pollution seek its own level just like water does.

And NYC wants to make the Gowanis Canal nabe
its version of "Venice".

I'm waxing up my water skis right now!