Protectors Advocates Protection of by Don Recklies, Conservation Co-Chair The following statement has been approved by the Board of Directors of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods. It was sent to the Regional Open Space Committee for inclusion in the comments to the “New York State Open Space Conservation Plan—2005”. Protectors of Pine Oak Woods heartily endorses efforts to preserve as open space the areas of the Sharrotts Road Shorelands and Port Mobile Swamp Forest and Tidal Wetlands nominated by The Trust for Public Land for open space preservation as described in the “Draft New York Open Space Conservation Plan—2005”. Because of the accelerated development of Staten Island’s west shore, we believe that it is imperative to secure those open spaces with high ecological and recreational value before they are forever lost to development, and therefore are calling the attention of our two thousand members to the state and fate of these shorelands and their inclusion in the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan. Because properties in this area have recently witnessed a spurt in development, Protectors especially urges that priority be given to securing those areas that are not in some way currently protected as wetlands or by other restrictions that maintain their open space status. We feel that the shore area between Sharrotts Road and Androvette Road is especially at risk. Securing this property now would preserve a resource that could provide public waterfront access for scenic views and passive recreation. The Sharrotts Shorelands lie midway between Conference House Park and the forthcoming Fresh Kills Park recreational areas, and there are no waterfront parks in this area of Staten Island. Preserving this area as public open space would also prevent further isolation, encroachment and fragmentation of the ecologically valuable wetland areas to the immediate east and west. Also of concern is the healthy swamp forest that has grown around the Kinder-Morgan (Port Mobil) tank facility and the associated ponds and wetlands that drain Tappans Creek from Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve to the Arthur Kill. This area presents a unique wildlife environment of small ponds and substantial wood and shrub regrowth over a clay-sand substrate that presents an opportunity for preservation by acquisition or conservation easement. Taken as a unit, the Sharrotts Road Shorelands and Port Mobil Swamp Forest and Tidal Wetlands present an opportunity to expand the area protected by Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve with adjacent city or state parkland. Protectors of Pine Oak woods applauds the foresight to register them in the Master Plan and supports making their acquisition as public land a priority.
Spartina,
fiddler crabs and shorebirds make up a rich habitat along this
stretch of the Arthur Kill at Sharrotts Road Shorelands. photo: Don Recklies |
