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Oyster Bay

Location

Oyster Bay, NY

Anchor Site(s)

Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Mill Neck Preserve, Centre Island, Beekman Beach, the Waterfront Center, and Shu Swamp Nature Preserve

About the Site

The Oyster Bay Stewardship Area includes the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Mill Neck Preserve, Centre Island Beach Village Park, Beekman Beach, the Waterfront Center, and Shu Swamp Nature Preserve. These sites around Oyster Bay hold a rich historical, cultural and environmental heritage, providing numerous ecological and recreational benefits.

Watch Scott Gurney, a Park Ranger at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, describe the beach at Cold Spring Harbor, part of the Oyster Bay Long Island Sound Stewardship Area that Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed with his family.

Watch Park Ranger Gurney give a description of  Shu Swamp Nature Preserve, a freshwater wetland that drains into Oyster Bay Harbor.

Ecological Importance
  • This Stewardship Area is designated as a New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat, a New York State-designated Outstanding Natural Coastal Area, and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area.
  • The American strawberry bush and sweetbay magnolia, both state-listed endangered plants, and osprey, a bird species of “special concern” in NY, are found in this Stewardship Area.
  • Red maple-black gum swamp habitat, an increasingly important habitat existing primarily in coastal areas throughout the state, is found in this Stewardship Area.
  • The Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge provides 3,209 acres of bay bottom, saltmarsh, and freshwater wetland habitat that is home to more than 126 bird species, harbor seals, sea turtles, and diamondback terrapins.
Recreational Opportunities
  • Relax at the beach or visit a local park located in this Stewardship Area.
  • Launch a boat, kayak, or canoe from the boat ramp and fishing pier/dock in Oyster Bay or rent a boat or kayak at the Bridge Marina in Bayville.
  • Visit the Waterfront Center, an educational and recreational facility that offers kayak and boat rentals, boating education, and environmental education programs.
  • Visit Cold Spring Harbor, a charming, historic seaside town that supported the whaling industry and was known as “Clamtown”.
  • Explore the Theodore Roosevelt Audubon Sanctuary which offers a wide variety of activities, including environmental education, wildlife research, and conservation advocacy.
  • Visit Sagamore Hill, the home of Theodore Roosevelt (the 26th President of the United States) from 1885 until his death in 1919. The Visitor Center, Theodore Roosevelt Museum, and the park grounds are open for visitors to explore.
  • Wander along the Japanese Stroll Garden, a seamless integration of ageless Japanese landscape techniques with the woodland terrain of Long Island’s North Shore.
Dive Deeper
  •  State of the Watershed
    The State of the Watershed Report summarizes existing environmental and land use conditions and is the first step in developing a watershed management plan for Oyster Bay.
  • Watershed Action Plan
    This Watershed Action Plan identifies priority action items to protect and improve the health of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor watershed and estuary.
  • Friends of the Bay
    The Friends of the Bay website details the efforts of citizens and local governments to preserve, protect, and restore the Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor estuaries and the surrounding watershed.
  • Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Protection Committee
    This Committee is made up of fourteen municipalities which officially formed the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Protection Committee by signing an Intermunicipal Agreement in August 2012.
Places to Visit
  •  The Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park offers nature paths through 400 acres of woodlands and gardens. The Camellia and Main Greenhouses exhibit a collection of camellias, hibiscus, orchids, and succulents.
  • Tiffany Creek Preserve is made up of three former estates sprawled over 197 acres and is home to many diverse ecological communities such as an oak forest and upland and wet meadows.
  • The Bailey Arboretum sits on 40 acres of woods, ponds and gardens in close proximity to Oyster Bay and Long Island Sound. Bring a picnic or take a walk through the woodland trails.
  • Raynham Hall Museum is a historic home on the shores of Oyster Bay, Long Island, revealing life from the American Revolution to the beginning of the Gold Coast.
  • Oyster Bay Historical Society offers exhibits, educational programs, and much more to teach you about the history of this Stewardship Area.
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is focused on making advances in biomedical research, and hosts a number of public events for scientists of all ages and experience to participate in.
  • Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium serves the public as a trout hatchery and a non-profit educational center where visitors can explore aquariums and feed trout, among other activities.
  • Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum explores the history of whaling in Long Island and Cold Spring Harbor.
  • Oyster Bay Railroad Museum in scenic Oyster Bay, NY is dedicated to preserving the rich legacy of Long Island’s railroad history.
Get Involved/Events
  • Spend your time volunteering with Friends of the Bay.
  • Volunteer to become a shellfish gardener and join hundreds of others in improving water quality of the bay and enriching marine habitats!
  • Check out the events taking place around Cold Spring Harbor.
  • Find out how you can volunteer at the Theodore Roosevelt Audubon Sanctuary.
Field Notes
  • It’s the law to pump out your boat’s holding tank. Find a pumpout station here.

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OysterBay

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Did You Know?
  • Endangered species such as the American strawberry bush, sweetbay magnolia, and bald eagles are found in this Stewardship Area.
  • The Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a 3,209-acre refuge, is part of this Stewardship Area.
  • This Stewardship Area includes undeveloped parkland, interpretive trails, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Oyster Bay

Success Stories
Invasive Plant Removed in Mill Pond

An initial infestation of water chestnut that once covered approximately three quarters of Mill Pond has now been reduced to a few plants along the shore and throughout the pond thanks to the efforts of US Fish and Wildlife, Friends of the Bay, The Nature Conservancy, North Shore Land Alliance, The Town of Oyster Bay, Huntington/Oyster Bay Audubon Society, local neighbors, and many volunteers.

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