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 Reynolds, Sarah Schneider, Reynolds, Sarah Schneider, Ariadne 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 owned bird sanctuary. owned 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, � owned a forty- -seven acre parcel of land seven acre parcel of land owned a forty 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: Ballona Ballona Wetlands Wetlands Case Study: � Last large wetland Last large wetland � system in Los Angeles system in Los Angeles basin- - 1087 acres 1087 acres basin � 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- -1 and D 1 and D- -3, about 125 3, about 125 completed and includes areas D 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- -2, another 300 acres of 2, another 300 acres of Angeles and includes area D wetland habitat. wetland habitat.
The Controversy The Controversy � Phase One of development has already had significant impact on 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, or 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 �
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