Stewardship Areas in New York
The Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative is highlighting the following areas for the ecological and/or recreational values that they support. Though they focus on publicly-owned areas (identified below as anchor sites), these complexes provide opportunities for other partners – such as land trusts, nonprofit organizations and individuals – to opt in to this voluntary program.
1. Alley Pond – Queens, NY
Anchor Sites: Alley Pond Park and Fort Totten
Ecological significance
- Over 635 acres of forested hills, ponds, meadows, salt marshes, tidal flats and freshwater wetlands, habitats that are unusual in the northern Queens County and East River area
- One of the few remaining natural resource areas in northern Queens
Important winter waterfowl areaRecreational significance
Environmental Center serves over 20,000 visitors annual and offers programs in ecology and life sciences for students of all ages
- Very important spring striped bass recreational fishery
- Boating and fishing opportunities
2. Crab Meadow – Huntington, NY
Anchor Sites: Crab Meadow Wetlands and Beach and Eatons Neck Point
Ecological significance
- One of the few large areas (approximately 300 acres) of undeveloped salt marsh ecosystems remaining on the north shore of Long Island
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Includes undeveloped barrier beach and wetland ecosystems that are rare on Long Island
- Important nesting area for piping plovers and least terns
Recreational significance
- Includes two boat ramps
- A winter striped bass catch-and-release fishery
- Includes an important swimming beach and a popular surf casting fishing site
- Coastal marine education center may be developed
3. Fishers Island Coastline – Southold, NY
Anchor Site: Fishers Island Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Beds
Ecological significance
- Exemplary submerged aquatic vegetation habitat and rocky reef habitat
- Includes 98% of the eelgrass meadows in NY waters of Long Island Sound
- Provides critical habitat for bay scallops
- Designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
4. Hempstead Harbor – North Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Glen Cove, NY
Anchor Sites: Hempstead Harbor and Sands Point Preserve
Ecological significance
- Restoration of wetlands at Bar Beach and native plants on the Garvies Point bluff
- Designated by New York State as a Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Designated by Audubon New York as an Important Bird Area
- Provides habitat for at least 10 osprey pairs
Recreational significance
- Numerous preserves surrounding the Harbor offer public access to natural areas and educational opportunities
- Access to public beaches, walkways and a marina
- Additional trails and a boat launching area planned for the southern end of the Harbor
5. Huckleberry & Davids Islands – New Rochelle, NY
Anchor Sites: Huckleberry and Davids Islands
Ecological significance
- Largest colonial waterbird rookery in western Long Island Sound
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Recreational significance
- Provides opportunities for sport fishing and SCUBA
- Historically, an important commercial lobstering area
- Opportunity for potential park on Davids Island following the cleanup of toxic materials
6. Jamesport State Park – Mattituck Inlet – Southold, NY
Anchor Sites: Jamesport State Park and Preserve and Mattituck State Tidal Wetlands
Ecological significance
- Includes a variety of freshwater wetland types that are not typical on the north shore of Long Island
- Undisturbed tidal wetlands provide habitat for nesting osprey
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Recreational significance
- State-owned properties will provide public access opportunities for all state residents in the future
- Includes two municipal boat ramps
- Excellent swimming, fishing, and SCUBA diving opportunities
- Includes newly-renovated facilities
- Only protected harbor for small boats (for refuge and for mooring/access) from Mt. Sinai to Orient Point
7. Lloyd Neck – Huntington, NY
Anchor Sites: Caumsett State Park and Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Ecological significance
- Largest and most diverse coastal forest on the north shore of Long Island, including coastal oak-hickory forest, oak-tulip tree forest, tidal mudflats, a maritime beach, mature woodlands, a freshwater pond, bluffs and open fields
- Includes a site designated as a Bird Conservation Area
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Provides forage areas for least terns, common terns, and black skimmers
Recreational significance
- Features miles of bridle paths, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and nature trails that provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities
- Provides access for fishing, swimming, and SCUBA diving
- Recreational fishing areas
- Outstanding environmental programs and field studies
8. Manhasset Bay – North Hempstead, NY
Anchor Sites: Manhasset Bay and Mitchells Creek
Ecological significance
- A major waterfowl wintering area and exemplary embayment area
- Provides significant nursery and feeding habitat for striped bass, winter flounder, menhaden and other forage species
- Provides nesting areas for least tern and osprey
- Includes an undeveloped stream/wetland community
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Recreational significance
- Excellent boating access and opportunities
- Important wildlife viewing area
- Includes remnant open space in a densely populated area
9. Marshlands – Rye, NY
Anchor Sites: Marshlands Conservancy, Edith Read Sanctuary and Rye Playland Park
Ecological significance
- One of the largest contiguous areas of undeveloped coastal land and the largest tidal marsh system in Westchester County
- Provides nesting and feeding habitat for native shorebirds and rare birds, including the wood sandpiper, black rail, little gull, sedge wren and yellow-headed blackbird
- Part of the Westchester County Parks System
Recreational significance
- Provides dockside accommodations for both power and sail boats
- Includes the only general admission swimming beach on Long Island Sound in Westchester County
- Excellent opportunities for fishing and bird watching
- Environmental education programs provide opportunities for informal nature study
10. Mt. Sinai – Port Jefferson Harbor – Brookhaven, NY
Anchor Sites: Mt. Sinai and Port Jefferson Harbors
Ecological significance
- Large area of undeveloped coastal wetlands and barrier beach
- Provides habitat for wading birds, waterfowl, and commercially and recreationally important shellfish (e.g., hard and soft clams) and finfish (e.g., winter flounder)
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Includes areas designated as part of the National Coastal Barrier Resources System
- Important nesting site for piping plovers, least terns, and common terns
Recreational significance
- Exemplary boating opportunities provided by eight marinas and three boat ramps
- Includes excellent swimming beaches and great access for saltwater fishing
- Coastal education nature center
11. Nissequogue River – Smithtown, NY
Anchor Sites: Nissequogue River State Park and Sunken Meadow State Park
Ecological significance
- Exemplary riverine habitat – the only major tidal river draining into Long Island Sound where the coastal portion remains in relatively undisturbed condition
- One of the largest coastal wetlands on the north shore
Includes diverse habitats, including intertidal mudflats, brackish tidal wetlands, freshwater wetlands, a rare red maple-black gum swamp and coastal forests- Supports a sea-run fishery for brown trout
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Includes a 100-acre site designated as a Bird Conservation Area
Recreational significance
- Fisheries resources support recreational fishing of regional significance
- Excellent fishing and boating access and wildlife viewing opportunities
- Includes hiking trails that are part of the Greenbelt Trail
Important swimming beach- Coastal education opportunities at nature center and museum
12. Oyster Bay (Mill Neck) – Oyster Bay, NY
Anchor Sites: Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Shu Swamp Nature Preserve
Ecological significance
- Exemplary embayment area that provides critical habitat for wintering waterfowl and is a highly productive area for marine finfish and shellfish
- Includes New York’s only remaining commercial oyster farm, which produces up to 90% of New York’s oyster harvest
Provides important habitat for diamondback terrapin and wintering bald eagles- Supports the only known spawning population of native brook trout in Nassau County
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Includes red maple – black gum swamp habitat
- Provides habitat for American strawberry bush and sweetbay magnolia, both state endangered plants
- Restored riverine migratory corridor for upstream passage of alewives, herring, and sea run trout
Recreational significance
- Excellent swimming facilities and boating access
- Marine education and coastal recreation opportunities
- Includes undeveloped county parkland, interpretive trails, excellent wildlife viewing and extensive recreational fishing opportunities
13. Pelham Bay – Bronx, NY
Anchor Sites: Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach
Ecological significance
- Almost 500 acres of relatively undisturbed tidal wetlands – one of the few undisturbed wetland areas remaining in the Bronx
- Provides productive nursery and feeding habitats for a variety of marine finfish and shellfish, including striped bass, bluefish, silversides, menhaden, winter flounder, hard clams, oyster, and horseshoe crabs
Recreational significance
Largest municipal park in New York City
- Provides opportunities for unparalleled fishing, birdwatching, boating access, and informal nature study
- Environmental Center attracts students and visitors throughout northern New York City for educational nature study
- Includes the premier swimming beach in the Bronx
14. Plum, Little and Great Gull Islands – Southold, NY
Anchor Sites: Plum and Great Gull Islands
Ecological significance
- Exemplary colonial waterbird habitat, including sites that are of national – if not international – significance
- Small rocky islets dominated by grassy and herbaceous vegetation
- Colonized by over 6,000 pairs of common tern and approximately 1,200 pairs of roseate tern, making this the second largest breeding population of this endangered species in North America
- Identified by the USFWS as a Significant Coastal Habitat
15. Shoreham – Baiting Hollow – Riverhead, NY
Anchor Sites: Wildwood State Park and Wading River Tidal Wetlands
Ecological significance
- Relatively undisturbed salt marsh and maritime beach complex that are rare on the north shore of Long Island in Suffolk County
- An important nesting site for piping plover and least tern
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Includes over 15 acres of barrier beach
- Provides habitat for silverweed, a state-threatened plant species, and saltmarsh bulrush, a state-endangered plant species
- Exemplary bluff habitat supports a globally-rare maritime beech forest
- Sand shoal habitat supports sandlance, which is a food source for tern populations
Recreational significance
- Excellent swimming beaches, over 11 miles of hiking trails, camping opportunities and significant saltwater fishing access
- Includes a boat ramp for small boats to enter the Sound
- Potential areas for public access and recreational opportunities exist
16. Stony Brook Harbor – Brookhaven/Smithtown, NY
Anchor Sites: Flax Pond State Tidal Wetlands and Laboratory and Long Beach
Ecological significance
- Over a 1,000 acres of diverse tidal wetlands
- Provides habitat for diverse species of colonial waterbirds
- Provides important spawning sites for horseshoe crabs
- Research and education marine laboratory
- Includes areas designated as New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Includes a site designated as a Bird Conservation Area
Recreational significance
- Excellent swimming, boating and fishing access
- New opportunities for ecological restoration, environmental education and expansion of recreational opportunities exist