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NEW YORK CITY WETLANDS TRANSFER TASK FORCE

Public Hearing June 7, 2006. NEW YORK CITY WETLANDS TRANSFER TASK FORCE. Blue Heron Park, Staten Island. What are Wetlands?.

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NEW YORK CITY WETLANDS TRANSFER TASK FORCE

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  1. Public Hearing June 7, 2006 NEW YORK CITYWETLANDS TRANSFER TASK FORCE Blue Heron Park, Staten Island

  2. What are Wetlands? • Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year round or for varying periods of time during the year; including during the growing season. • Why protect Wetlands? • Wetlands provide habitat for a variety of species of plants, reptiles, birds and fish. They can also provide natural water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control and flood protection.

  3. Over 100 square milesof wetlands historically existed within the New York City limits. Today that number has been depleted to approximately 14 square miles. Courtesy of: Jennifer Cox (RPA), George Colbert & Guenter Vollath.

  4. On August 31st 2005, Mayor Bloomberg signed a local law, sponsored by the City Council, to create a task force to inventory all City-owned wetlands in the metropolitan area. • Local Law #83 mandated the task force to determine the feasibility of transferring these wetlands to the jurisdiction of NYC Department of Parks & Recreation using 4 criteria: • Environmental • Technical • Economic • Legal

  5. The Task Force is comprised of seven individuals, three appointed by the NYC Council and four by the Mayor. The sitting members are • Eugenia Flatow,NYC Soil & Water Conservation District. • Randal Fong,NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services • Dana Gumb,NYC Department of Environmental Protection • E.J. McAdams,NYC Audubon • Rob Pirani, Co-chair,Regional Plan Association • Doug Rice,NYC Economic Development Corporation • Bill Tai, Co-chair,NYC Department of Parks & Recreation

  6. MANHATTAN

  7. THE BRONX

  8. BROOKLYN

  9. QUEENS

  10. STATEN ISLAND

  11. Does the property fall within EDC’s Vision and/or Study area? Is there an established development proposal for the property? What are the economic development opportunities at the site? Does existing zoning accommodate proposed development? Does the property present possible limited development? Is the proposed development well suited to the property? Will implementation of the proposed development provide economic benefit to NYC? (jobs, tax revenue) Is the property needed as a place to locate mitigation for some future development project? What are other competing uses for the property? Economic Criteria

  12. Flood/Shoreline Protection Is property within the coastal zone? Does property contain areas subject to flooding What storm water management benefits accrue if the site is preserved? Does the wetland provide protection from storm surges? Habitat Does property contain special habitat values? (endangered species, native plants or animals) Is it an opportunity for wetland restoration? Public Use Is there potential for passive recreation? Is there potential for education and research? Is it a potential resource for stewardship within the community? Size, Quality, and Location Is it a large parcel? Does it contain a large wetland (> 12.4 acres; > . 5 acres)? Is it contiguous to parkland or other existing open space? Does it link protected lands through greenways or biological corridors? Regional Context / Other Studies Has property been identified in other inventories or studies as being a conservation priority? Is it in the Jamaica Bay Task Force’s purview as well? Environmental Criteria

  13. Legal Criteria • Legal obligations/restrictions. (mandated hazmat cleanup, orders on consent w/DEC to meet obligations, address violations) • Existing leases. (their duration, renewals, purchase options. Leases held by the Port Authority) • Easements. (sewer, utilities, rail/transit, restrictions within airspace flight paths) • Alienation. (City Charter prohibits sale of public waterfront to private entity in most locations) • How does the park alienation issue relate to the proposed transfer? • City regulations/procedures for agency identification and acquisition of city property to carry out agency’s mission (e.g. holds, designated jurisdiction)

  14. Is the property adjacent to an existing City park or other open space? Would the community, as represented by Community Boards, accept the transfer? Does the Parks Dept. have the ability to manage/maintain the property in terms of physical site constraints? Does the Parks Dept. have adequate budget to maintain the property? Could some other conservation agency/organization maintain the property? (DEP/Bluebelt, NPS, NYSDEC or other not- for- profit) Does the transfer support some existing initiative such as DEP’s Bluebelt program? Technical Criteria

  15. CONTACT INFORMATION • By Email NYC Wetlands Transfer website: www.nyc.gov/parks Keyword: wetlands • By Mail Wetlands Transfer Task Force C/o Bill Tai, DirectorNatural Resources GroupNYC Department of Parks & RecreationArsenal North1234 Fifth AvenueNew York, NY 10029

  16. Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens

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