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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Dredge Site Habitat Assessment1" " ! !! ! !2014%Dredge%Site%Habitat%Assessment% %Town%of%Southold%–%Beach?Dependent%Species%Management%Program% NYS%DEC%Piping%Plover%and%Least%Tern%Site%Monitoring% __________________________________% % % ! !! !! !! ! ! % Prepared!By:!!Aaron!Virgin!and!Christine!Tylee% September%2014% % 2" " ! Background% The%following%sites%were%visited%and%evaluated%using%2014%breeding%season%(April%1%–% August%15)%photos%and%multiyear%Google%Earth®%satellite%images.%%All%photos%were%taken% by%Group%for%the%East%End%staff%and,%unless%noted,%were%taken%in%2014.%Google%Earth®% images%from%3/6/12%and%6/19/14%are%used%to%compare%and%contrast%pre?%and%post?% dredging%activities%in%2012/13,%and%to%compliment%the%on?the?ground%observations%to% determine%the%following%factors:%%% • Amount%of%sandy%beach%and%suitable%nesting%habitat%above%the%mean%high%tide% mark;% • Area%of%foraging%habitat%for%transient%and%winter%shorebirds;%%% • Proximity%to%homes%and/or%recreational%areas,%e.g.%heavy%watercraft%use,%beach% bathing,%fishing,%dog%walking,%etc.;% • Presence%or%absence%of%nesting%and/or%foraging%PIPL%and%LETE%in%past%surveys.%% % % Dredge!Site! Suitable!! Nesting!! Habitat! Suitable!! Foraging!! Habitat! Nesting!Piping!! Plovers!in!! 2014! Nesting!Least!! Terns!in!! 2014! NYS!DEC! Monitored! Sites! 1. Brushes%Creek%%%%%% 2. Cedar%Beach%Creek%%%%%%%%%*% 3. Corey%Creek%%%%%% 4. Deep%Hole%Creek%%%%%% 5. Goldsmith%Inlet%%%%%% 6. Goose%Creek%%%%%% 7. Halls%Creek%%%%%% 8. James%Creek%%%%%% 9. Little%Creek%%%%%% 10. Mud%Creek%%%%%% 11. Richmond%Creek%%%%%% 12. School%House%Creek%%%%%% 13. Sterling%Harbor%%%%%% 14. Town%Creek%%%%%% 15. West%Creek%%%%%% 16. Wickham%Creek%%%%%% ! !! *!Monitored)by)Suffolk)County)Parks! ! ! ! ! ! 3" " ! Brushes!Creek! As%noted%in%the%2013%report,%multiple%groins%and%bulkheads%are%featured%at%this%site%(Figs.%1% &%2).%On%multiple%visits,%PIPL%and%LETE%were%not%observed,%which%is%consistent%with%prior% years.%%Due%to%the%area%being%an%active%boat%channel%with%a%modest%private%marina,%the%area% was%dredged%last%winter.%%Following%the%recommendation%of%the%2013%report,%the%dredge% material%was%placed%east%of%the%inlet%and%in%front%of%the%newly%constructed%bulkhead%(Figs.%2% &%4).%While%adding%dredge%material%to%a%site%can%improve%beach?nesting%bird%habitat,%the% result%at%this%site%is%increased%visitation%by%beach%bathers,%boaters,%and%many%others.% Recommendation%–%none%at%this%time.%% % Fig.%1 %(7/13)%%%%%%Fig.%2 % %%%%%Fig.%3 (3/12)%% Fig.%4%%(6/14)% Dredge"site""" Material"placed""" 4" " !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cedar!Beach!Creek! This%site%continues%to%host%both%breeding%PIPL%and%LETE,%which%is%a%testament%to%the% optimal%beach?nesting%habitat%and%the%consistent%dredge%plan%for%this%county%park.%As% evident%in%the%images%below%(Figs.%5%&%6),%beach%grasses%have%taken%hold%within%previously% deposited%dredge%material.%This,%added%to%the%modest%slope%from%the%shoreline%provides%the% necessary%and%highly%sought%after%nesting%substrate%for%PIPL.%While%this%site%is%not% monitored%under%the%Town’s%existing%contract%(monitored%by%Suffolk%County),%at%least%two% PIPL%pairs%utilized%this%site%in%2014.%%% Recommendation%–%if%dredging%occurs%in%2015,%continue%placing%dredge%material%to%the%east% of%the%inlet%(Fig.%6%&%7)%to%maintain%excellent%nesting%habitat%for%PIPL%and%LETE.%% % Fig.%5%%%%%%%%Fig.%6%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%Fig.%7%%(6/14)% %%%%%%%%%% % % Area"to"place" future"material" 5" " % Corey!Creek! This%site%was%very%popular%for%breeding%PIPL%pairs%in%2014,%with%no%fewer%than%four% attempts.%%However,%none%were%successful%due%to%predation,%and%frequent%dogs%seen%off% leashes.%All%nesting%attempts%occurred%within%private%property%just%east%of%the%South%Harbor% town%beach.%As%noted%in%Fig.%8%&%9,%the%shelf?like%erosion%of%the%beach%was%not%advantageous% to%breeding%PIPL%or%LETE.%%While%the%east%side%of%the%creek%has%been%a%popular%site%for%PIPL% in%the%past,%the%topography%of%the%spit%has%become%flattened,%especially%within%the%past%year% due%to%the%numerous%storms.%%% Recommendation%–%dredge%material%should%be%placed%east%of%the%channel%to%increase%beach? nesting%habitat%above%high%tide%(Fig.%11).%% Fig.%8%%%%%Fig.%9%% Fig.%10%%(3/12)%% Fig.%11%%(6/14)% Area"to"place" future"material" 6" " ! Deep!Hole!Creek! As%recommended%in%the%2013%report,%dredge%material%was%placed%east%of%the%creek%inlet%and% adjacent%bulkhead.%%The%severe%erosion%noted%in%2013%(Fig.%12)%had%occurred%from%storm% events%and%wave%movement%bouncing%off%the%adjacent%bulkhead.%As%noted%in%2012%and% 2013,%it%is%most%likely%they%will%not%breed%at%this%location%in%the%near%future.%As%showed%in% Fig.%13,%the%topography%is%fairly%steep%and%allow%for%very%little%suitable%habitat.%%Similar%to% 2013,%PIPL%were%not%observed%during%site%visits%but%LETE%were%occasionally%observed% foraging%in%the%area,%particularly%offshore%in%Peconic%Bay.%% Recommendation%–%none%at%this%time.%% Fig.%12%(7/13)%%%%Fig.%13%% %%%Fig.%14 %(3/12)% Fig.%15%%(6/14)% ! 7" " ! Goldsmith!Inlet! This%site%continues%to%be%the%most%dynamic%area%visited.%%Unfortunately,%no%breeding%PIPL% nested%this%year.%%Lack%of%habitat%was%not%the%reason%but%more%than%likely%one%or%more%pair% attempted%or%nested%east%of%the%Sound%View%Dunes%Park%and%along%Kenney’s%Beach.%Again% this%season%the%channel%into%the%pond%maintained%a%broad%shoal,%nearly%preventing%a%proper% flush%to%enter%and%leave%through%the%inlet%(Figs.%17).%% Recommendation%–%continuing%to%place%dredge%material%east%of%the%inlet%(Fig.%19)%has%been% beneficial,%as%at%least%three%PIPL%pair%have%nested%in%the%last%two%years.%%This%should%be% continued.%% Fig.%16 !!!!!Fig.%17!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Fig.%18 %(3/12)! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%19!!(6/14)"! ! ! Area"to"place" future"material" 8" " ! Goose!Creek! This%widely%popular%town%beach%maintains%potential%breeding%habitat%(Fig.%21).%%However,% beach%bathers,%dog%walkers,%and%a%large%concentration%of%Herring%Gulls%prevent%PIPL%and% LETE%nesting%at%the%site.%%In%addition,%a%significant%stand%of%Common%Reed%(Phragmites),% seen%in%Fig.%20,%has%been%encroaching%steadily%along%the%western%shoreline.%%Since%the% dredge%material%was%removed%and%placed%west%of%Southold%Yacht%Club,%as%recommended%in% 2013,%the%channel%has%remained%quite%deep%and%very%little%sedimentation%has%returned%(see% Figs.%22%&%23).%% Recommendation%–none%at%this%time.% Fig.%20 %%%Fig.%21 % Fig.%22 %(3/12)% Fig.%23 %(6/14)% ! 9" " ! Halls!Creek! Since%the%dredging%in%2013,%the%channel%into%Halls%Creek%has%remained%open%and%clear%for% navigation%(see%Figs.%24%&%25).%The%groins%along%the%east%side%of%the%inlet%have%been%efficient% in%keeping%the%dredge%material%from%moving%further%east%down%the%shoreline.%Some%of%the% material%that%moved%with%the%littoral%drift%helped%stabilize%the%shoreline%(see%Fig.%25)%along% Down’s%Creek%(not%one%of%the%sites%featured%in%this%Dredge%Report).%Sightings%of%PIPL%and% several%nest%attempts%of%LETE%occurred%at%Down’s%Creek.%% Recommendation%–%none%at%this%time.%%% % Fig.%24 "(3/12)" %%%%%%%%Fig.%25%"(6/14)!" " " " Increased" beach" stabilization" 10" " " James!Creek! As%noted%in%2012%and%2013,%the%presence%of%multiple%groins%and%bulkheads%(see%Fig.%26)%at% this%site%do%not%provide%adequate%nesting%habitat%for%PIPL%and%LETE.%%While%LETE%were% again%seen%foraging%on%site%visits,%but%PIPL%were%not.%%Other%shorebirds%and%terns%were%seen% repeatedly%but%no%breeding%habitat%exists.%% Recommendation%–%The%creek%is%a%very%active%waterway%and%a%private%marina%is%located% roughly%100%yards%from%the%channel%opening%to%the%bay.%Figs.%27%&%28%show%how%material% has%slowly%accumulated%over%the%past%27%months%–%timespan%between%Google%images.%It%is% recommended%that%dredge%materials%be%placed%east%of%the%inlet%in%the%section%with%multiple% groins.%%While%this%will%likely%not%create%breeding%shorebird%habitat,%it%will%help%stabilize%a% greatly%eroded%beachfront.%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%26%! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%27%!(3/12)"! %%%%%%Fig.%28%%!(6/14)!! Area"to"place" future"material" 11" " ! Little!Creek! Unlike%prior%years,%this%site%was%a%bust%for%breeding%PIPL%and%LETE.%There%had%been%a%single% PIPL%seen%in%June%and%early%July,%but%no%sign%of%a%second%bird%or%any%evidence%of%nesting%was% observed.%It%was%noted%that%the%northern%side%of%the%inlet%is%losing%lower%beach%habitat,%as% evident%by%the%mean%high%tide%wrack%line%in%Fig.%29.%Since%the%dredge%material%removed%in% 2012%was%placed%on%the%south%side%of%the%inlet,%the%north%side%has%lost%much%of%the%buildup% that%naturally%occurred%from%Superstorm%Sandy.%The%material%in%2012%had%initially%been% dumped%within%the%playground%area%and%during%the%summer%of%2013%was%spread%across%the% south%side%beach%(see%Fig.%30).%However,%this%did%not%provide%sufficient%breeding%habitat%in% 2014,%due%to%a%high%wrack%line%and%the%area%is%quite%popular%with%beach%bathers.%% Recommendation%–%As%noted%in%2012,%and%due%to%the%extensive%work%conducted%in%2013%to% address%erosion%issues%south%of%the%creek%channel,%it’s%advised%to%place%dredge%material%on% Town%land%to%the%north,%where%PIPL%nested%in%2012%and%2013.%%% %%%%%%Fig.%29%%%%Fig.%30%%% Fig.%31 %(3/12)% Fig.%32 %(6/14)% 12" " ! Mud!Creek! Surprisingly,%this%site%hatched%a%full%clutch%of%four%PIPL%chicks%in%2014.%As%noted%in%past% reports,%there%is%limited%nesting%habitat%(see%Fig.%33)%and%much%human%disturbance%due%to% recreational%pursuits%?%beach%bathing%and%boating%(Fig.%34).%The%PIPL%pair%nested%on%the% east%side%of%the%inlet%(see%Fig.%35),%whilst%up%to%a%dozen%LETE%was%observed%foraging%and% loafing.%One%property%owner%commented%that%this%was%the%first%time%a%PIPL%nested%on%this% section%of%beach%–%named%Haywaters%Beach%–%in%more%than%20%years.%It’s%likely%that%the%pair% chose%this%beach%instead%of%Meadow%Beach,%which%is%located%across%Cutchogue%Bay%and%had% no%nesting%PIPL%this%year.%% Recommendation%–%while%it%is%appears%the%channel%is%navigable%and%devoid%of%sediment% buildup%at%this%time%(see%Figs.%36%&%37),%future%dredge%material%should%be%placed%to%the%east% of%the%channel%to%maintain%and%possibly%expand%nesting%habitat.%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%33 %%%Fig.%34%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %Fig.%35%% %%%% %%%%%Fig.%36%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%(3/12)%%%%%%%%Fig.%37%%%%%%%%%(6/14)% 13" " % Richmond!Creek! Activity%at%this%site%was%uneventful%this%year.%Aside%from%the%occasional%PIPL%and%LETE,%as% well%as%transient%shorebirds,%there%was%very%little%to%observe.%As%noted%in%2013,%at%times%it% can%be%difficult%to%differentiate%PIPLs%at%this%site%and%neighboring%Corey%Creek,%as%the%latter% is%located%roughly%200%yards%to%the%east.%Potential%nesting%habitat%is%available,%as%evident%in% Figs.%38%&%39.%Flooding%does%occur%in%May%and%June%with%the%full%moon,%and%could%be%one%of% the%main%factors%as%a%nest%site.% Recommendation%–%when%comparing%Figs.%40%&%41%it%can%be%ascertained%that%the%dredging%in% 2013%was%sufficient.%Placement%of%the%dredge%material%to%the%west%of%Indian%Neck%Lane%has% allowed%the%beach%west%of%the%inlet%to%build%nicely.%Future%dredging%should%follow%this% model.%%%%%%% %%%%%Fig.%38%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%39%% Fig.%40%%(3/12)%%%%%%%%% Fig.%41%%%(6/14)! 14" " ! School!House!Creek! As%noted%in%2012%and%2013,%the%presence%of%docks,%bulkheads,%and%rock%revetments%at%this% site%(see%Figs.%42%&%43),%do%not%allow%for%the%necessary%habitat%to%be%present%for%breeding% PIPL%and%LETE.%%Not%surprisingly,%neither%species%was%observed%during%site%visits%this%year.%% A%significant%amount%of%boat%traffic%(see%Figs.%44%&%45)%is%present%in%this%small%area,%also% contributing%to%an%insufficient%breeding%area.%% Recommendation%–%none%at%this%time.%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%42%%%%Fig.%43%% Fig.%44%%(3/12)%%%%%%%%% Fig.%45%%(6/14)% % % 15" " % Sterling!Harbor! As%noted%in%2012%and%2013,%this%site%does%not%contain%suitable%nesting%habitat%(see%Figs.%46? 48),%especially%when%compared%to%the%nearby%Gull%Pond%West%site%–%one%of%the%three%most% productive%beach?nesting%sites%in%Southold%–%about%400%yards%to%the%south.%Again%in%2014,% no%PIPL%or%LETE%were%seen%on%site%visits.%Boat%traffic%and%people%exploring%the%peninsula% are%two%limiting%factors%in%allowing%this%site%to%be%a%breeding%area.%%% Recommendation%–%none%at%this%time.% Fig.%46%% Fig.%47 %(3/12)%%%%%%%%% Fig.%48 %(6/14)% ! 16" " ! Town!Creek! As%noted%in%2012%and%2013,%this%area%features%extensive%bulkheads%and%docks%within%a%very% popular%waterway%(see%Figs.%49%&%50).%%Due%to%this,%there%is%not%any%viable%nesting%and% minimal%foraging%areas.%Therefore,%it%should%not%be%surprising%that%no%PIPL%or%LETE%were% seen%on%any%site%visits.%% Recommendation%–%future%dredge%material%should%be%placed%along%the%shoreline%fronting% Founder’s%Landing%and%continue%east%(see%Fig.%50).%% % Fig.%49%%(3/12)%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%50%%(6/14)%%%%% ! ! ! ! ! ! Area"to"place" future"material" 17" " ! West!Creek! In%company%with%other%dredge%sites%on%the%bayside,%this%area%contains%an%extensive% bulkhead,%network%of%groins,%and%housing%in%close%proximity%to%marginal%nesting%habitat.%% Due%to%this,%neither%species%was%seen%attempting%to%nest%again%this%year.%%Once%again%LETE% were%noted%foraging%in%the%bay%on%nearly%all%visits.%%Continuing%the%thread%of%special%interest% in%the%2013%report,%the%peninsula%(see%Figs.%53%&%54)%that%had%formed%within%the%West%Creek% channel%had%been%removed%in%2012.%The%June%2014%image%shows%the%gradual%accumulation% of%sediment,%which%is%further%documented%by%Fig.%51.%% Recommendation%–%the%beach%to%the%east%of%the%Kimogener%Point%bulkhead%continues%to% erode%(see%Fig.%52).%Future%dredging%efforts%should%be%made%to%place%material%in%this%section.%% Fig.%51%%%%%%%%%Fig.%52%% Fig.%53%%(3/12)%%%%%%%%% Fig.%54!!(6/14)%%%%! 18" " ! Wickham!Creek! A%thin%shoreline%and%a%massive%bulkhead%(see%Fig.%55)%are%to%blame%for%limited%nesting% habitat%at%this%site,%however%there%is%potential%foraging%and%breeding%habitat%for%PIPL%and% LETE%at%the%southern%portion%(see%Figs.%56%&%57).%%When%compared%to%2012,%this%area%has% developed%a%more%extensive%beach.%%Consistent%with%past%years,%both%species%were%noted%on% site%visits,%as%well%as%other%shorebirds.%While%people%(boater,%bathers,%fishers)%are%not%an% issue%since%the%suitable%habitat%is%on%private%property,%predation%from%fox,%gulls%and% raccoons%are%possibilities,%as%on%more%than%one%occasion%tracks%from%each%were%noted.%% Recommendation%–%future%dredge%material%should%be%placed%to%the%south%of%the%creek.%%% Fig.%55%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%56%%(3/12)% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Fig.%57%(6/14)%%%%% "" Area"to"place" dredge"material"