Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay Complex

SIGNIFICANT HABITATS AND HABITAT COMPLEXES
OF THE NEW YORK BIGHT WATERSHED

Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay Complex
COMPLEX #15

I. SITE NAME: Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay Complex

II. SITE LOCATION: The Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay complex occurs on the segment of the barrier beach and backbarrier lagoon on the south shore of Long Island, east of Jamaica Bay and west of Great South Bay, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) east of the center of New York City.

TOWNS: Babylon, Hempstead, New York City, Oyster Bay

COUNTIES: Nassau, Queens, Suffolk

STATE: New York

USGS 7.5 MIN QUADS: West Gilgo Beach, NY (40073-54), Jones Inlet, NY (40073-55), Lawrence, NY (40073-56), Far Rockaway (40073-57), Amityville, NY (40073-64), Freeport, NY (40073-65), Lynbrook, NY (40073-66)

USGS 30x 60 MIN QUAD: Long Island West, NY-NJ-CT (40073-E1)

III. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION: The Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay habitat complex includes the entire aquatic habitat of West, Middle, and East Hempstead Bays and South Oyster Bay, including all salt marsh islands and dredged material islands as well as the undeveloped sections of the Long Beach and Jones Beach barrier islands. The boundary of the habitat complex follows the high tide line from Edgemere on the Rockaway Peninsula in the west along the north shore of the bays into Suffolk County, then south along the Gilgo Cut Boat Channel that separates South Oyster Bay from Great South Bay, and across Jones Beach Island; the southern boundary extends about 400 meters or 1/4 mile offshore of the barrier islands from this point west to East Rockaway Inlet. Developed portions of the barrier islands and developed islands in the bay are excluded from the habitat complex, although the beaches are included. This boundary encloses regionally significant habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl, colonial nesting waterbirds, beach-nesting birds, migratory shorebirds, and fisheries.

IV. OWNERSHIP/PROTECTION/RECOGNITION: The north shore (mainland shoreline) of the Hempstead Bays and South Oyster Bay is primarily in private ownership and has been intensely developed to homes, marinas, and marine-related industries. The north shore of East Rockaway Inlet in New York City is owned and managed by the New York City Department of Parks. Within the bay, the extensive and undeveloped tidal wetlands, including salt marsh and dredged material islands, and sand and mudflats are owned by the towns of Oyster Bay, Hempstead, and Babylon. The bay and its wetlands are managed as a recreational fishery and wildlife conservation area by the respective town's conservation and/or environmental agencies. New York State owns a narrow right-of-way along Wantagh State Parkway and owns and manages Jones Beach State Park as a recreational area. Nassau County and the town of Hempstead own and manage recreational beaches on the eastern end of Long Beach Island. Nassau County also owns and manages the Massapequa Preserve. Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitats recognized by the New York State Department of State include, from west to east: Silver Point Beach, West Hempstead Bay, Middle Hempstead Bay, Nassau Beach, East Hempstead Bay, Cedar Creek County Park, West End (Jones Beach State Park), Storehouse (Jones Beach State Park), South Oyster Bay, Short Beach (Jones Beach State Park), Parking Lot 9 (Jones Beach State Park), and Tobay Sanctuary. The New York State Department of State is in the process of developing a regional coastal management plan for the south shore of Long Island (South Shore Estuary Reserve) that includes this area. The wetlands around Lido Beach were recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as priority wetlands under the federal Emergency Wetlands Resources Act. The eastern end of Long Beach Island and all of Jones Beach Island have been designated and mapped as an undeveloped beach unit as part of the Coastal Barrier Resources System pursuant to the federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act, prohibiting federal financial assistance or flood insurance within the unit. Other sections of these beaches have been designated and mapped as otherwise protected beach units pursuant to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act. The New York State Natural Heritage Program, in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy, recognizes several Priority Sites for Biodiversity within the Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay habitat complex. These sites, listed here along with their biodiversity ranks, are Jones Beach Island Macrosite (B2 - very high biodiversity significance) and East Rockaway Inlet (B3 - high biodiversity significance).

V. GENERAL AREA DESCRIPTION: The Long Island barrier beach/backbarrier lagoon system extends for 145 kilometers (90 miles) along the south shore from Coney Island in New York City east to Southampton at the eastern end of Shinnecock Bay. The Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay complex as defined here includes 29 kilometers (18 miles) of this system from Jamaica Bay east to Great South Bay. This part of the Long Island backbarrier system is characterized by its extensive system of sheltered shallow bays and salt marsh islands connected by a network of channels and tidal creeks. There is a higher percentage of salt marsh islands in this complex than in the Great South Bay system to the east but, unlike Great South Bay, the mainland salt marshes and creeks in this section have been virtually eliminated by bulkheading and filling. There are no sizable tributaries entering the bays, and most of the mainland tidal creeks have been bulkheaded. The mainland watershed has been densely developed to residential and commercial uses. The Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay complex has a drainage area of 578 square kilometers (223 square miles) including groundwater drainage areas; the Hempstead Bays have a surface area of 4,212 hectares (10,400 acres), and South Oyster Bay has a surface area of 3,119 hectares (7,700 acres). Water depths in the bays vary from less than 2 meters (6 feet) in the natural creeks and small bays, to 9 meters (30 feet) in portions of some of the dredged navigation channels and in the larger open water areas. The tidal fluctuations in the bays average 1 to 1.2 meters (3.6 to 4.2 feet). Salinity in the bays ranges from 25 to 30 parts per thousand, depending on location and time of year; temperature ranges from -2.0 to 29.4°C (28 to 85°F). The bays are shallow and the water column is well-mixed, with relatively high dissolved oxygen levels.

The bay complex occurs in the Outer Coastal Plain physiographic province. The bay and barrier beach sediments are composed predominantly of water-sorted sands and gravels derived from glacial outwash and marine sources, with extensive peat deposits in East Hempstead Bay. The shallow water estuary supports a variety of benthic macroalgae (seaweeds) and some submerged vascular plants (seagrasses). Eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds are an important component of the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) community in South Oyster Bay, along with small amounts of widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima); sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is abundant in all areas, rockweed (Fucus sp.) is also common, and Entermorpha sp. is the common intertidal green alga in most locations. Salt marsh and dredged material islands dominate much of the bay acreage, with extensive offshore mud and sandflats exposed at low tide. Vegetation on tidal marshes is dominated by cordgrasses (Spartina alterniflora and S. patens); maritime plants such as marsh elder (Iva frutescens) dominate areas above normal tidal influence. Dense shrubby stands of groundsel-bush (Baccharis halimifolia), bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), and black cherry (Prunus serotina) are interspersed with open sandy areas on dredged material islands. The remainder of the bay is open water. Extensive intertidal mud and sandflats flank both salt marsh and dredged material islands.

Much of the Long Beach barrier island is residentially and commercially developed, except for a small area at the western end (Silver Point) adjacent to East Rockaway Inlet. Jones Beach barrier island has roads and recreational facilities to support the state park, but much of it remains in a semi-natural state. On the natural barrier beaches, the primary or foredune is dominated by American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligata) and various salt-tolerant annuals such as saltwort (Salsola kali), sea rocket (Cakile edentula), and seaside spurge (Euphorbia polygonifolia); the sheltered back sides of the dunes are vegetated with poison ivy, bayberry, and black cherry. Habitat within the essentially undeveloped John F. Kennedy Sanctuary includes a 16-hectare (40-acre) brackish pond, large expanses of tidal salt marsh, high dunes, and a coastal woodland dominated by black cherry.

East Rockaway Inlet and Jones Inlet are tidal inlets that separate the barrier islands and allow exchange between the back bays and the ocean. The Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay complex is a productive estuary that is especially notable for its regionally significant concentrations of waterbird nesting colonies, as well as important populations of other coastal fish and wildlife.

VI. ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE/UNIQUENESS OF SITE: There are 116 species of special emphasis in the Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay complex, incorporating 42 species of fish and 49 species of birds, and including the following federally and state-listed species. (Living resources and their habitats are dynamic; therefore, the ecological significance and species information presented here may not be complete or up-to-date. State and federal environmental agencies [see Appendix III for office contacts] should be consulted for additional information.)

Federally listed endangered
Atlantic ridley (=Kemp's) sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi)

Federally listed threatened
loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
piping plover (Charadrius melodus)
seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)

Federal species of concern⁽¹⁾northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys t. terrapin)

¹Species of special concern listed here include former Category 2 candidates.

State-listed endangered
least tern (Sterna antillarum)
Carolina clubmoss (Lycopodiella caroliniana)
Barratt's sedge (Carex barrattii)
false china-root (Smilax pseudochina)
St. Andrew's cross (Hypericum hypericoides ssp. multicaule)

State-listed threatened
northern harrier (Circus cyaneus)
osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
common tern (Sterna hirundo)
button sedge (Carex bullata)
golden dock (Rumex maritimus var. fueginus)

State-listed special concern animals
short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)

State-listed rare plants
whip nutrush (Scleria triglomerata)
pinweed (Lechea racemulosa)

The Hempstead Bays and South Oyster Bay, along with adjacent areas of eastern Great South Bay, contain one of the more important sites in the New York Bight study area and the most important areas on Long Island for nesting by waders (heron, egrets, and ibises), with over 900 pairs nesting in 1995. Nine species of waders nesting in this area are, in decreasing order of abundance: snowy egret (Egretta thula), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), great egret (Casmerodius albus), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), green-backed heron (Butorides striatus), tri-colored heron (Egretta tricolor), yellow-crowned night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea), and cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis). These birds use a network of islands in the bays, with significant turnover between islands from year to year. In recent years, large colonies have occurred on Jones Beach Lot 9 (Sanford Island), Pine Marsh, Loop Causeway (Meadow Island) in Middle Bay and in West Bay, with smaller heronries on several other islands in the bays and Ingrahm Hassock. The Hempstead Bays heronries contain most of the known Long Island nesting sites for yellow-crowned night-herons.

A number of islands (15 in 1995) in the bay support common terns (Sterna hirundo). A total of over 2,000 pairs of terns nested in 1995. Small numbers of gull-billed terns (Sterna nilotica) and Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri) have nested on Cuba Island and a few other islands in the bays in recent years, some of the northernmost known colonies for these species. Herring and great black-backed gulls (Larus argentatus and L. marinus) nest on numerous salt marsh and dredged material islands, and laughing gulls (Larus atriculla) have occasionally nested on North Cinder Island in recent years. American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) nests at several locations, including one of the largest nesting colonies on Long Island on the Line Islands. Other marsh-nesting birds using the bays include clapper rail (Rallus longirostris), seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus), and sharp-tailed sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus). Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nest on platforms in several marshes.

South Oyster Bay and the Hempstead Bays are an important component of the Atlantic Flyway for migrating and wintering waterfowl, with an average of nearly 25,000 waterfowl counted on mid-winter aerial surveys. Thousands of brant (Branta bernicla) and American black duck (Anas rubripes) congregate to feed and rest in the shallow waters around salt marsh islands and tidal flats. Grassy areas attract Canada geese (Branta canadensis), while scaup (Aythya spp.) and red-breasted mergansers (Mergus serrator) concentrate in the deeper waters of the numerous channels. Other waterfowl found in lesser numbers include mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), American wigeon (Anas americana), canvasback (Aythya valisneria), bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), and ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis). Nesting waterfowl include Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, and gadwall (Anas strepera).

The invertebrate-rich feeding grounds afforded by extensive tidal flats, especially in East Bay and the Line Islands in South Oyster Bay, are important staging areas for migratory shorebirds, including sanderling (Calidris alba), dowitchers (Limnodromus spp.), red knot (Calidris canutus), ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa), plovers, American oystercatchers, and sandpipers, with lesser numbers of these species gathering to feed in Middle and West Bays.

The tidal marshes and flats of the John F. Kennedy Bird Sanctuary are also a significant feeding and resting area for migratory shorebirds and wintering waterfowl. Northern diamondback terrapins inhabit the marshes and adjacent waters, coming ashore to nest in the sanctuary's sandy dunes. Several pairs of northern harriers nest within the sanctuary's confines. The dense maritime shrublands and woodlands afford nesting, feeding, and resting habitat for many species of migratory landbirds including warblers, vireos, and thrushes. The large, brackish pond consistently supports one of the highest concentrations of wintering American black duck on Long Island, with lesser numbers of blue-winged and green-winged teal (Anas discors and A. crecca), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), mallard, and American wigeon. In summer, the pond provides foraging habitat for least tern and a variety of herons and egrets.

All of the open bay waters of this complex are important habitat for a high diversity of marine and estuarine-dependent species of finfish that are found here during at least one stage in their life histories. Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), and winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) spawn in the sandy shallows, while American sandlance (Ammodytes americanus), killifish (Fundulus spp.) pipefish (Synganthidae spp.), sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae spp.) and Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia) spawn in edge habitat provided by the mosaic of salt marsh islands. Young bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and tautog (Tautoga onitis) are dependent upon the bays as nurseries. Adult bluefish and striped bass congregate in the deeper waters of Jones Inlet, as does the American sandlance, which is the major food item of the federally listed endangered roseate tern (Sterna dougallii). Finfish harvested from Hempstead and South Oyster Bays include winter and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) or fluke, weakfish, tautog, grey snapper (Lutjanus griseus), and kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis). Shellfish in the bay include soft clam (Mya arenaria), northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria), bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), and ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa), but most of this complex is not certified for shellfishing. There is considerable opportunity for harvesting the young clams for relay into certified waters or commercial aquaculture areas. Horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) are residents of the area; the latter is represented by all life stages. The candidate diamondback terrapin nests among the salt marsh and dredged material islands in the complex.

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are fairly common in the area, primarily in the winter; there are known haulout sites in West Hempstead Bay. Common cetaceans occurring in the nearshore waters off the Jones Beach and Long Beach islands during the summer include minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). In the summer juvenile Atlantic ridley and loggerhead sea turtles occur in the region, including the adjacent waters of Great South Bay, feeding mainly on crabs; adult loggerheads also occur in the nearshore waters of the New York Bight.

The barrier beaches in this complex support nesting by piping plover, least tern, common tern, black skimmer, and American oystercatcher. Especially important are the beaches on both sides of Jones Inlet as well as the beaches at Silver Point adjacent to East Rockaway Inlet. Although there is heavy seasonal recreational use of these beaches, the nesting areas are posted and fenced during the nesting season. The beaches supported nearly 50 pairs of piping plover in 1995 and over 500 pairs of least terns. A few pairs of least tern have also recently nested on a sparsely vegetated dredged material site in Cedar Creek County Park on the northern side of South Oyster Bay; this area supported significant numbers of terns during the early and mid-1980s and, with proper management, might support significant nesting again. Jones Beach has also supported a small number of black skimmers (Rhynchops niger), common terns, and American oystercatchers. Ephemeral pools and interdunal swales behind the dunes on Jones Beach from Jones Inlet to the east provide optimal foraging areas for piping plover. Plover chicks can forage relatively undisturbed from human activities behind the primary dune in ephemeral pools containing high prey abundance.

The beaches of Jones Beach Island also provide habitat for populations of several regionally rare plant species, including a number of occurrences of the federally listed threatened seabeach amaranth, red pigweed (Chenopodium rubrum), and seabeach knotweed (Polygonum glaucum); the interdunal swales support saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus maritimus), salt-meadow grass (Diplachne maritima), Carolina clubmoss, and golden dock. The beaches on the north shore of East Rockaway Inlet on the Rockaway Peninsula also support occurrences of seabeach amaranth. The hyssopleaf thoroughwort (Eupatorium hyssopifolium var. laciniatum) occurs in a scrubby thicket adjacent to a salt marsh on one of the salt marsh islands in South Oyster Bay.

Massapequa Preserve, a linear preserve along Massapequa Creek between the Southern State Parkway and South Oyster Bay, is one of the few large blocks of open space along the south shore of Nassau County. Wet pine barrens in the Preserve support several rare plant species, including the only New York State occurrences of false china root, the largest state occurrence of button sedge, exemplary occurrences of Barratt's sedge and pinweed, and small populations of whip nutrush and St. Andrew's cross.

VII. THREATS AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS: Although the tidal wetlands and dredged material islands of this complex are in public ownership and, therefore, not likely to be developed, the area is subject nonetheless to significant human recreational pressure and disturbance that result from its abundant fishery resources coupled with its being virtually surrounded by residential development. Recreational use of bird-nesting islands during the breeding season is detrimental to disturbance-sensitive species such as terns and wading birds. Elimination or alteration of salt marsh or intertidal areas would have a major impact on breeding colonial waterbirds, migratory shorebirds, and wintering waterfowl, as well as on estuarine-dependent marine species.

Brown tide (Aureococcus anophagefferens) is an algal bloom that since 1985 has appeared intermittently in high concentrations in the bays of Long Island's south shore and in several areas adjacent to the New York Bight study area. Brown tides have devastating effects on the natural resources of the affected system because of their ability to persist at high concentrations over large areas for long periods of time. The bloom turns water deep brown and water transparency drops to 0.6 meter (2 feet) or less, while cell counts are above 200,000 to 250,000 cells per milliliter. Bivalve populations can be virtually eliminated and the causative agent may be related to the toxic, mechanical, or poor nutritional aspect of the brown tide organism. The reduced light penetration also impacts valuable finfish nursery areas, especially eelgrass beds. Although advances have been made in characterizing and identifying brown tide organisms and growth needs, the causes of bloom events are unknown.

Sewage discharges, oil spills, chemical contamination from waste disposal, or unregulated disposal of dredged material can degrade water quality, affecting all flora and fauna and disrupting the biological productivity of the bays. All of Hempstead Bay and most of South Oyster Bay is closed to shellfishing because of nonpoint source runoff from roads and other impermeable surfaces, and because mainland sewage treatment plants discharge into bay waters.

Current water quality levels are maintained by Jones Inlet and East Rockaway Inlet, which exchange and circulate bay waters. Any activity that would disrupt or alter this pattern would be potentially catastrophic for the continued viability of the bay ecosystem. The potential for such an occurrence is of considerable concern, given the density of the surrounding human population and the intense pressure to expand access to recreational resources. Pressure on the ocean beaches for recreational use and associated beach management is extreme. Beach management threats include beach grooming, patrols by off-road vehicles, and garbage collection; in addition, placement of garbage cans on beaches attracts predators. Though fencing is erected around nesting areas, beach goers are not always respectful of fencing, especially when popular beach access points are closed or rerouted. Some activities such as beach parties, volleyball games, and kite-flying occur outside the fencing, and disrupt incubating birds within fenced areas. Human activity within the intertidal zone disrupts plover chicks that forage along the water's edge outside of fenced areas. Organized events, such as fireworks displays and annual festivals, draw large crowds to the beach. Beach stabilization, beach nourishment, dune alterations, and groin or jetty repairs and maintenance are all threats, as are destruction and alteration of ephemeral pools within Jones Beach for the purposes of mosquito control.

VIII. CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS: The Hempstead Bays - South Oyster Bay Complex supports a diversity of fish and wildlife species, several of which are on both federal and state lists of conservation concern. Continued and increased management and protection of this regionally important natural resource is warranted. The entire bays ecosystem would benefit from designation as a National Estuarine Research Reserve or as a Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, or from inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Hempstead Bay, Line Islands, and the John F. Kennedy Bird Sanctuary should also be considered for inclusion in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, an international program seeking to protect critical flyway habitat for migratory shorebirds through legislation, land acquisition, and innovative land management agreements. Attempts should be made to eliminate all human-related disturbances to bird-nesting colonies during the critical nesting season (April to August) by all available means, including posting, boat warden patrols, and public education. Permanent protection for critical nesting and foraging areas at Silver Point and Jones Beach State Park should be provided, possibly through a bird sanctuary designation. Beach management within those areas must not negatively impact breeding and foraging activities or habitat. Predator removal/control may be necessary. Further, there is a need for active habitat management to enhance conditions favorable to breeding bird colonies and to discourage the proliferation of gulls and other human-associated species, especially on revegetated dredged material islands. The impacts to flora and fauna of discharges from sewage treatment plants into the bays should be further investigated, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the maintenance of high quality habitat. Those tasks and objectives of the piping plover and seabeach amaranth recovery plans that are applicable to this area should be undertaken, including restoration or enhancement of degraded sites where appropriate. Fencing and protection of beach-nesting birds should be expanded to include protection for seabeach amaranth and seabeach knotweed, where appropriate.

IX. REFERENCES:

Bokuniewicz, H., A. McElroy, C. Schlenk, J. Tanski. 1993. Estuarine resources of the Fire Island National Seashore and vicinity. New York Sea Grant Institute.

Briggs, P.T. 1962. The sport fisheries of Great South Bay and vicinity. New York Fish and Game Journal 9(1):1-36.

Briggs, P.T. and J.S. O'Connor. 1971. Comparison of shore-zone fishes over naturally vegetated and sand-filled bottoms in Great South Bay. New York Fish and Game Journal 18(2):17-41.

Buckley, P.A. and F.G. Buckley. 1980. Population and colony-site trends of Long Island waterbirds for five years in the mid-1970s. Transactions of the Linnaean Society of New York 9:23-56.

England, M. E. 1989. The breeding biology and status of the northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) on Long Island, New York. Master's thesis, Long Island University, C.W. Post Center, Greenvale, NY.

Jones, C.R. and J.R. Schubel. 1978. Distribution of surficial sediments and eelgrass in New York's South Shore Bays: an assessment from the literature. Special report 13, reference 78-1, Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.

Jones, C.R. and J.R. Schubel. 1980. Distributions of surficial sediment and eelgrass in Great South Bay, New York (from Smith Point, west to Wantagh State Parkway). Special report 39, reference 80-6, Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.

MacLean, D.C., T.S. Litwin, A.M. Ducey-Ortiz, and R.A. Lent. 1991. Nesting biology, habitat use, and inter-colony movements of the least tern (Sterna antillarum) on Long Island, N.Y. Conducted by the Seatuck Research Program in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Morreale, S.J. 1992. The status and population ecology of the diamondback terrapin in New York. Prepared by the Okeanos Ocean Research Foundation for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and The Nature Conservancy, South Fork/Shelter Island Chapter.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Strategic Assessment Branch. 1985. National estuarine inventory: data atlas, vol. 1: physical and hydrologic characteristics. Washington, D.C.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 1996. 1995 Long Island colonial waterbird and piping plover survey. Division of Fish and Wildlife, Region 1, Stony Brook, NY.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 1994. 1992-1993 Long Island colonial waterbird and piping plover survey. A research report of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Stony Brook, NY.

New York State Department of State. 1987. Significant coastal fish and wildlife habitats program. Habitat narratives for Silver Point Beach, West Hempstead Bay, Middle Hempstead Bay, Nassau Beach, East Hempstead Bay, Cedar Creek County Park, West End (Jones Beach State Park), Storehouse (Jones Beach State Park), South Oyster Bay, Short Beach (Jones Beach State Park), Parking Lot 9 (Jones Beach State Park), and Tobay Sanctuary. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources and Waterfront Revitalization, Albany, NY.

Sadove, S. and P. Cardinale. 1993. Species composition and distribution of marine mammal and sea turtles in the New York Bight. Final report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England -New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program, Charlestown, RI.

Safina, C. 1990. Foraging habitat partitioning in roseate and common terns. Auk 107:351-358.

Schubel, J.R., T.M. Bell, and H.H. Carter (eds.). 1991. The Great South Bay. Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.

Smith, C. L. 1985. The inland fishes of New York State. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY.

Stone, S.L., T.A. Lowery, J.D. Field, C.D. Williams, D.M. Nelson, S.H. Jury, M.E. Monaco, and L. Andreasen. 1994. Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in mid-Atlantic estuaries. ELMR Rep. No. 12. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NOS Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, Silver Spring, MD. 280 p.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) Atlantic coast population revised recovery plan, technical/agency draft. Region 5, Hadley, MA.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Technical/agency draft recovery plan for seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque). Southwest Region, Atlanta, GA.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1989. North American waterfowl management plan: South Shore Mainland marshes focus area plan (Long Island), Atlantic Coast joint venture. Region 5, Newton Corner, MA.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Fish and Wildlife resource studies for the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point, New York, beach erosion control and hurricane protection project reformulation study estuarine resource component. Cortland Field Office, Cortland, NY.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Fish and Wildlife resource studies for the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point, New York, beach erosion control and hurricane protection project reformulation study terrestrial resource component. Long Island Field Office, Upton, NY.

Young, B.H., K. A. McKown, V. J. Vecchio, and K. Hattala. 1992. A study of striped bass in the marine district of New York VI. Completion report AFC-16, jobs 1-4. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Marine Resources, Stony Brook, NY. Mimeographed.

Young, B.H., K. A. McKown, V. J. Vecchio, and J. D. Sicluna. 1989. A study of striped bass in the marine district of New York VI. Completion report AFC-14-1. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Marine Resources, Stony Brook, NY. Mimeographed.

List of Species of Special Emphasis

Maps

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