Good News for Jamaica Bay

The 25,000 acres of marsh, meadows, woods and beaches that make up Jamaica Bay, one of New York City's richest ecosystems, have a healthier, cleaner future thanks to a $115 million commitment from the City to upgrade nearby sewage treatment facilities and restore marshland.

The February 25 announcement by Mayor Bloomberg, City DEP Commissioner Cas Holloway, State DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis and Natural Resources Defense Council Executive Director Peter Lehner detailed $100 million worth of new technologies to be installed at four wastewater treatment plants that will cut almost in half the 40,000 pounds of nitrogen discharged daily into Jamaica Bay. High levels of nitrogen lead to reduced levels of oxygen and excessive algae growth in waterways, and contribute to the increasing erosion of Jamaica Bay marshland.

The DEC will exempt the City from $45 million in potential penalties for delays in nitrogen upgrades at other wastewater treatment plants as it focuses work on Jamaica Bay. Fifteen million more is being set aside by the City for marshland restoration projects. The Mayor said this investment can be leveraged further by applying for Federal matching funds, netting an additional $30 million for Jamaica Bay.

Standing with the city and state officials at the announcement were Dan Mundy, president of Jamaica Bay Eco-Watchers, Don Riepe, director of the northeast chapter of the American Littoral Society and Debbie Mans, executive director of the NY/NJ Baykeeper, who had helped negotiate the agreement. City Council Environmental Protection Committee Chair James F. Gennaro and Major Mike Clancy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also attended.

Photos of Jamaica Bay courtesy of the NYC DEP web site