Home / Environment / NYC Recycles Dredged Sand to Restore Vital Wetlands
NYC Recycles Dredged Sand to Restore Vital Wetlands
28 Jul
Summary
- Dredged sand rebuilt Yellow Bar Hassock Island, adding 42 acres.
- Restoration combats nearly a century of wetland loss in Jamaica Bay.
- Wildlife returned quickly, indicating a functioning restored habitat.
For decades, Jamaica Bay's crucial salt marsh islands have been succumbing to urbanization, erosion, and environmental shifts, leading to significant land loss. Between 1951 and 2003, over 60% of these vegetated islands converted to mudflats. In response, a significant restoration effort focused on Yellow Bar Hassock Island.
In 2012, the US Army Corps of Engineers undertook a project to restore Yellow Bar Hassock, utilizing approximately 375,000 cubic yards of dredged sand. This material, sourced from the Ambrose Channel, was repurposed through a "beneficial use" approach, avoiding disposal at sea. The sand raised the island's elevation, adding about 42 acres and bringing its total size to 156 acres.
Engineers then planted native vegetation, including smooth cordgrass and spikegrass, to stabilize the marsh. The restoration's success was evident as wildlife, such as horseshoe crabs and harbor seals, returned almost immediately. This project serves as a model for urban wetland restoration, demonstrating nature-based solutions that provide both flood protection and essential habitats.
