Managing the Sapsucker Managing the Sapsucker Woods Wetland Area - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Managing the Sapsucker Managing the Sapsucker Woods Wetland Area Woods Wetland Area

A Policy Brief from Andrew Jenkins, A Policy Brief from Andrew Jenkins, Ariadne Ariadne Reynolds, Sarah Schneider, Reynolds, Sarah Schneider, and Jennifer Swartz and Jennifer Swartz

An Introduction to Wetlands An Introduction to Wetlands

• Wetlands are a unique and limited resource

Wetlands are a unique and limited resource

• Include swamps, bogs, and wet meadows

Include swamps, bogs, and wet meadows

• Either freshwater or saltwater

Either freshwater or saltwater

• The most diverse type of ecosystem

The most diverse type of ecosystem

• Important in many ways

Important in many ways

• Water regulation

Water regulation

• Improvement of water quality

Improvement of water quality

• Act as buffers between upland areas and aquatic

Act as buffers between upland areas and aquatic habitats habitats

Federal Wetland Regulations Federal Wetland Regulations

• 1979

1979 Cowardin Cowardin Wetland Classification System Wetland Classification System

• For the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

For the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Coastal Zone Management Act

Coastal Zone Management Act

• Clean Water Act (CWA)

Clean Water Act (CWA)

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act

Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act

• Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

NY State Wetland Management NY State Wetland Management

• NY State wetlands are managed by the

NY State wetlands are managed by the Department of Environmental Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Adirondack Conservation (DEC) and the Adirondack Park Agency Park Agency

• Environmental Conservation Law

Environmental Conservation Law

• Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975

Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975

• Established a permit program to limit wetland

Established a permit program to limit wetland degradation degradation

What is Sapsucker Woods? What is Sapsucker Woods?

• Sapsucker Woods is a woodland area in northeast

Sapsucker Woods is a woodland area in northeast Ithaca, with an acreage slightly over 300. Ithaca, with an acreage slightly over 300.

• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is located in the

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is located in the woods, along with a 250 acre swath of University woods, along with a 250 acre swath of University-

• wned bird sanctuary.
• wned bird sanctuary.
• It has been designated a Tompkins County Unique

It has been designated a Tompkins County Unique Natural Area. Natural Area.

• The woods contain dozens of native bird species, as

The woods contain dozens of native bird species, as well as a wetlands area. well as a wetlands area.

• The wetland area includes a creek that feeds into

The wetland area includes a creek that feeds into Cayuga Lake. Cayuga Lake.

What is the Controversy? What is the Controversy?

• Ithaca resident Rocco

Ithaca resident Rocco Lucente Lucente, until now, , until now,

• wned a forty
• wned a forty-
• seven acre parcel of land

seven acre parcel of land abutting the bird sanctuary. abutting the bird sanctuary.

• The twenty

The twenty-

• five acres contain a portion of the

five acres contain a portion of the aforementioned woodland. aforementioned woodland.

• There is some concern in the area as to what

There is some concern in the area as to what the runoff increase from the construction will the runoff increase from the construction will do to the wetland. do to the wetland.

This had to be approved, This had to be approved, right? right?

• The Ithaca Town Planning Board approved an

The Ithaca Town Planning Board approved an Environmental Impact Assessment by the developer Environmental Impact Assessment by the developer in June of 2006. in June of 2006.

• The measure was approved over the objections of

The measure was approved over the objections of local residents and environmental groups, and local residents and environmental groups, and without an independent verification of facts. without an independent verification of facts.

• A Storm

A Storm-

• water Assessment is currently underway to

water Assessment is currently underway to look at runoff problems, which are already an issue in look at runoff problems, which are already an issue in that part of Ithaca. that part of Ithaca.

Case Study: Case Study: Ballona Ballona Wetlands Wetlands

• Last large wetland

Last large wetland system in Los Angeles system in Los Angeles basin basin-

• 1087 acres

1087 acres

• Coastal Wetland that

Coastal Wetland that provides habitat for provides habitat for marine life, migratory marine life, migratory birds, mammals, birds, mammals, amphibians amphibians

• Influences water quality,

Influences water quality, flood and erosion control flood and erosion control

The Development The Development

• Phase one of the development project has already been

Phase one of the development project has already been completed and includes areas D completed and includes areas D-

• 1 and D

1 and D-

• 3, about 125

3, about 125

• acres. Phase two has been approved by the City of Los
• acres. Phase two has been approved by the City of Los

Angeles and includes area D Angeles and includes area D-

• 2, another 300 acres of

2, another 300 acres of wetland habitat. wetland habitat.

The Controversy The Controversy

Phase One of development has already had significant impact

• n birds and mammals in the area
• The development was approved following an incomplete EIR

that did not take water or traffic patterns, methane gas release,

• r marine ecosystem effects into account.
• Appeals and concerns during the public comment period were

ignored by state and local officials approving the project

• The massive development plan goes against the City of Los

Angeles original development plan

• Santa Monica Bay is already listed as a threatened water body

under the CWA because of enormous pollution. The development project would take away natural means of cleaning the bay, and add more pollution

Policy Prescription Policy Prescription Challenges Challenges

• What is preventing better wetland

What is preventing better wetland management? management?

• Lack of information and data sharing between

Lack of information and data sharing between actors at all levels actors at all levels

• Lack of communication among actors

Lack of communication among actors

• Lack of tacit knowledge about wetlands

Lack of tacit knowledge about wetlands

Policy Prescription Solution Policy Prescription Solution

• Integrate local governmental actors

Integrate local governmental actors

• Increased use of adaptive management strategies

Increased use of adaptive management strategies

• Allows for more information sharing, greater communication,

Allows for more information sharing, greater communication, and greater tacit knowledge and greater tacit knowledge

• Interests of the local community given consideration

Interests of the local community given consideration

• Increased decentralization and

Increased decentralization and complementarity complementarity between actors between actors

• Permits more community

Permits more community-

• based management

based management