It was ten years ago that scientists began to take note of Jamaica Bay’s rapidly deteriorating marshes, and earlier this year that Congressman Anthony Weiner proclaimed a four point plan to target the culprit: nitrogen. While small projects have come and gone to shore up the city’s most important ecological treasure, which includes Plumb Beach and Gateway National Park, they proved to be akin to putting a band-aid on a late stage Ebola victim. Well, Ebola-infected Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, get ready for your cast!
The United States Army Corps of Engineers announced last week that it will partner with several agencies to help restore the dying salt marshes. The marshes starting shrinking by more than 44 acres a year, according to a study done in 2001. At the time, scientists predicted it would be gone in 20 years, and with it the fish, shellfish, birds, and plants that make the most unique and important ecosystem in the northeastern coastline. The marshes help improve water quality by removing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphates. That is, unless it overdoses on those ingredients
And it has. More than 250 million gallons of “treated” shit, piss, and children’s dead goldfish pour into Jamaica Bay each day from four wastewater treatment facilities. The nitrogen buildup proved to be too much for the marshes, and like a heroin addict with too much smack, they’re withering away.
That’s why in November the Corps of Engineers (Earth), Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Fire), the U.S. National Park Service (Wind), the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (Water), and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (Heart) have combined their powers to dump 200,000 cubic yards of clean sand (Captain Planet) into our Bay. The project aims to restore about 35 acres of low and high marsh habitat in Jamaica Bay, at a cost of $11.5 million.
This is a good thing, right? We think so, but we still can’t shake the idea that this is just a larger, more expensive band-aid on that heroin-addicted Ebola victim. Afterall, if the marshes are declining by 44 acres each year, how the hell will 35 acres and $11.5 million change the situation?
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“EARTH!”
“FIRE!”
“WIND!”
“WATER!”
“HEART!”
“Go Planet!”
“By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!”
Captain Planet, he’s our hero
Gonna take pollution down to zero
He’s our powers magnified
And he’s fighting on the planet’s side
Captain Planet, he’s our hero
Gonna take pollution down to zero
Gonna help him put asunder
Bad guys who like to loot and plunder
“You’ll pay for this Captain Planet!”
We’re the Planeteers
You can be one too
‘Cause saving our planet is the thing to do!
Looting and polluting is not the way
Hear what Captain Planet has to say!
“The Power is Yours!”
wow i was gonna post about the marsh but after arthur’s post i completely forgot what i was going to write
I live in Gerritsen Beach and a huge Army Corp of Engineers Boat was hanging out near the channel near TGIF’s today. Anyone know what that was all about?
They have built up coney island and sea gate already.
Breezy point and fort Tilden.
I fell in a hole in the middle of the beach 15 years ago when Army Corp. was expanding the sand on the jetty in Coney Island.
It was scary the way the sand could of just swallowed me up, I was cut and bruised.
It does seem like a losing battle and a great expense.
But, what are the consequences if the shifted sand is not replaced?
Don’t mess with mother nature??
Good 1 Arthur. lol
The Combined Power project sounds like a big patch depending on the frequency of application. Anyway keeping up with the rate of deterioration at this price might not be affordable. Are there more effective measures like upgrading treatment plans, building buffer storages to prevent CSO, promoting private rainwater storages with the same purpose, deploying floating farms of nitrogen-processing plants?
Anyways its a better thatn nothing and good that it is publicized (thanks Ned).