County, they are the concern of this County government. Because they happen to be located in the State of New York, they are the concern of this State government. Because the migrating ducks, geese, egrets, sandpipers, hawks, owls, sparrows, etc., don't know whether they are in Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina after visiting and using our salt marshes, they are also a concern of the National government. In fact, these salt marshes and bottom lands are also an international concern because the bulk of waterfowl wintering there breed in the Canadian provinces. The around 20,000 Brant that can be found flocked on these wetlands in winter spread out into the Canadian Arctic islands and even Danish ruled Greenland to nest and raise their young. Some like the regiments of wintering Canvasback will go far west in spring-probably areas in Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada in the United States and British Columbia in Canada. Let's look at it from another direction. Many of the migrating species that rest and feed on the 16,000 acres of wetlands in Hempstead and Oyster Bay eventually are strung out for the wintering months through our southern states and South America: the Greater Yellow-legs whose three-syllabled whistle is a common, cheerful sound in season among our marshes is found in winter from Georgia to Patagonia and the good-sized, plain looking Willet along the marshy banks that often pleasantly surprises passing boatmen with its vivid, contrasting white wing pattern when it flies up, is distributed from the Bermudas to Brazil and Peru in winter. The areas where migrating birds feed and rest are as vital as those where they breed or winter. From the aspect of migrating wildlife and this could concern fish also these various areas in effect form a single habitat. For the Dowitcher, a large, long-billed shorebird, its Hudson Bay breeding grounds, Long Island's south shore wetlands where it can be found by the thousands during migration, and its wintering grounds in perhaps some West Indian marsh form a single ecological system. The destruction of any one part can have its depleting effect on this species. When you consider that hundreds of species of birds are dependent on wetlands for migration, as well as wintering and breeding, then it is impressively clear that our wetlands in effect comprise a single ecological system. This is one reason why the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc., at its annual meeting in May, 1966 (held at Lido Beach, Long Island, where delegates would have a chance to see and enjoy the wetlands) went on record favoring H.R. 13447 to establish a national system of estuarine areas and H.R. 11236 to protect a vital segment of our nation's east coast wetlands. Long Island's South shore wetlands are also an important breeding area as can be attested by the Black Ducks and Mallards that might fly up at your approach through the waving, ankle high marshy fields of spartina-the salt meadow grass that abounds there. But, the observor, by using his senses to the full-his ears and eyes-will begin to realize that these wetlands are thick with life in summer. Although largely unseen, the cackle of the rails from about the marshes will demonstrate their presence. If you listen carefully you hear thin little buzzes emanating from all around you. If you watch you will see a small puff of brown wing itself for a short distance and then cling to some piece of spartina to emit its little, insect like call. This would be either the Seaside or the Sharp-tailed Sparrow both of which abound on the salt marshes. The word "sparrow" sounds like something uninteresting until you look closely to see yellow and black patterns on their features which make them distinctive appearing little creatures, yet often overlooked. These along with Swamp Sparrows, Long-billed Marsh Wrens, and other birds nest abundantly here. These Long Island wetlands are becoming more important as breeding areas for the hertofore more southerly nesters, American and Snowy Egrets. A dozen or more years ago they were quite a rarity there. But in the last few years they have begun to nest by the hundreds in pine groves on upland areas or on the barrier beaches from where they spread out into the marshes to feed. They make an attractive addition to the scene for boatmen and for people walking down to what few waterfront parks there are. Exactly why these showy appearing birds are moving north to breed has not been fully determined-possibly because of the loss by drainage of southern breeding areas. At any rate, there is now an indication that another more southerly species is moving into the south shore wetlands to breed-the Glossy Ibis. They have been reported here more frequently in the last four or five years and have actually bred in the Brooklyn wetlands. Owls are among the birds for which our south shore wetlands serve as an important wintering area. Walk out among the then brown spartina grass in winter and what looks like a large moth-or several of them-might fly up in front. These will be Short-eared Owls that winter among the wetlands and can often be found flocked more or less together in groups of 20 or more. Of course, for waterfowl these wetlands are essential. Again, the point must be stressed that wintering grounds are as important as the breeding grounds for birds. If there are no wintering grounds there will be no birds for the summer breeding grounds. Scaup, Baldpate, Mergansers, Black Ducks, Mallards, and many other species are common among the wetlands in winter. In fact. from mid-October to midMarch, up to 20 percent of the Brant, eight percent of the diving ducks and five percent of all ducks of the total Atlantic Flyway numbers are found on the Long Island waters. This raises the crucial problem of who should have jurisdiction. Should the local townships be denied any responsibility and benefit from what is actually within their borders? But should the Federal government be denied exercising a responsibility over what is also a national resource? We do not believe that an important segment of a widespread ecological system can be left to the exclusive control of a local governing unit whose few law-making members may not be aware or concerned with conservation— especially in view of pressures for development that will be building up even more on Long Island. We do feel that H.R. 11236 goes a long way toward answering these jurisdic tional problems by enabling the Federal government to enter into conservation management agreements with other governmental bodies. This bill provides for a multi-governmental level of dealing with a valuable resource that is of both local pride and value and also of importance to County, State and Nation— perhaps even of the world. We urge passage of H.R. 11236 and H.R. 13447. Very truly yours, MAXWELL C. WHEAT, Jr.. Chairman, Conservation Committee. LAWRENCE ASSOCIATION, Long Island, N.Y., June 20, 1966. COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, GENTLEMEN: At the regular monthly meeting of The Lawrence Association I was authorized by resolution to communicate to the Committee our endorsement of H.R. 13447, as introduced by Mr. Dingell. The need for protecting permanently the valuable natural resources of our shoreline and estuarine areas is now. We urge the Committee to act favorably on this Bill and hope that it will be even stronger in its final form. Attached as Exhibit "A" is an article in The Lawrence Association Bulletin by myself and Mr. Robert C. Baldridge, which bears directly on the need for this Bill. Yours truly, MALCOLM O. MACLEAN. WETLANDS ARE THEY REALLY SAVED? (By Robert Baldridge and Malcolm O. MacLean) (Although the Board of Governors of the Lawrence Association has previously passed a resolution endorsing the Wetlands bill as introduced by Congressman Tenzer, the comments expressed in this article are the views of the writers.) During the past six years, Yacht Clubs. Civic Associations, Garden Clubs Sportsmens Groups, Conservationists and others have endeavored to persuade Hempstead Town officials to take legal action to preserve in perpetuity, Hempstead's 10.000 acres of tidal wetlands. A major batle was won in 1963 when the Town of Hempstead designated its wetlands to conservation, and put 2.500 acres under the management of a joint State-Town plan which provided for a 50-50 shared cost of management. A new Town Department of Conservation and Waterways was established, with a marine scientist at its head. The Town's stated purpose was to preserve all of its 10,000 acres, and to enhance their sports, biological, and recreational values. In October 1965, the Town took an additional step, when they redesignated the whole 10,000 acres to conservation for preservation and improvement under a similar joint State-Town plan. It appeared that most of the destruction that had been going on rapidly since 1945 was stopped. Until 1963 the Town's conservation record was dismally destructive. It took them from 1945 to 1963 to realize that it was fast allowing one of our most valuable resources to be destroyed. After public pressure, they smoke-screened charges that they were doing nothing about the systematic destruction by requesting in 1957, along with the Town of Oyster Bay, a study of the whole situation. The result was the 1959 New York State Wetlands Act, which is primarily a financing vehicle to allow the State to share the cost of a conservation management program with the Towns who own wetlands. But Hempstead Town, unlike Oyster Bay, did not avail themselves of this opportunity, and did nothing between 1959 and 1963 except to allow continued destruction. In 1961 they even rejected the concept of the study and the State Act, by authorizing an expensive engineering study by Andrews & Clark, that spelled final and complete destruction. It proposed that the marshes be filled in and covered with golf courses, picnic areas and playgrounds. This report did it— the people rebelled, and the Town hastily withdrew it. By 1963, the Town had finally started on its own conservation program, taking advantage of the already four year old State Act but for only one-fourth of its acreage. It promised to conserve the balance in its own way, under its own plan. During 1965, newly elected Congressman Tenzer of Lawrence studied the conservation problem of the South Shore from the Federal level. He introduced in Congress, in September, H.R. 11236, a bill that proposed a Long Island National Wetlands Recreational Area. Its purpose is to preserve the various natural resources of the area, and to promote broad outdoor recreational use of the type that would not be destructive to the wetlands. It was designed not to pre-empt the various plans of the Town, County and State, but rather to bring the best parts of all of them together in a united and permanent pact. The bill is a logical extension of the Fire Island National Seashore, providing insurance that the integrity of the wetlands will be maintained in perpetuity. Conservationists immediately acclaimed the Federal bill. It gives much more permanent protection than the Town-State agreement which can be cancelled at any time by mutual consent. It checks the heavy hand of the Army Corps of Engineers which is still waiting off stage with its immense sand dune and water gate hurricane plan. It is more all inclusive of fish, wild life and migratory bird protection besides water pollution studies and controls, etc. The Town's hand was forced. A month after the Federal bill was introduced, they promised they would put the balance of 7,500 acres under the joint StateTown plan, which indeed would be an improvement over the first Town plan, that could be changed overnight by simple Town action. They then blasted the federal bill as a give-away. (Note: The give-away is only in control of use, not in ownership.) The writers of this article firmly adhere to the general principle of local control on local matters. But conservation control of such a major natural resource is an obvious exception. History has proven this all over the world, including the Town of Hempstead. The current State-Town agreement, although a start, can be cancelled too easily by tomorrow's pressures for land for homes, parks and new highway systems that are already on the drawing boards and under active consideration! Two examples of why the current State-Town agreement is weak are: 1. In July of 1964, the Town adopted Local Law No. 4-The Dredging Lawin spite of vigorous opposition. This law does not specifically require the board to consider the effect on fish and wildlife habitat before granting a permit to dredge. What's more, this dredging law encourages applications to dredge for fill. The Town says that only dredging for public purposes will be permitted. One of the Town's proposed public improvements for the wetlands is an overnight anchorage for larger boats at Alder Island opposite Point Lookout. It is planned to deposit the fill from this operation on one of the few remaining marsh land tracts still waiting to be filled and developed. 2. The wetlands are still zoned "Residence B District" under the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance; even under amendments to the Zoning Ordinance as recently as December 1964. Efforts to have something as important as zoning, changed, have gone unheeded. How safe are our wetlands, if they are merely designated as areas to be de veloped, etc., for conservation, etc., "pursuant to any and all ordinances, local law, resolutions, regulations and rules heretofore adopted by the Town's board of the Town of Hempstead in connection with same?" Actually, the present Town Board may not have realized that their conservation actions, being administrative policy decisions, are not legally binding on them or future Town Board members. Lack of public hearings on said actions is mute evidence of this fact. In summary, we do not feel a Cape Cod or Fire Island type of National Seashore Park is a bad Federal control, we feel it to be a good one. And we feel that the alternative-the plan now in effect-is a dangerously easily changeable one. WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES SUBCOMMITTEE, NATURAL AREA COUNCIL, GENTLEMEN: I should like to go on record as favoring Congressman Herbert Tenzer's bill H.R. 11236 that is currently before you. In support of my stand I submit for the record "A Priceless Resource In Danger" that I recently prepared for the publication Catalyst of the Belle W. Baruch Foundation. Very truly yours, A PRICELESS RESOURCE IN DANGER RICHARD H. POUGH. There is an urgent need for prompt action to safeguard the salt marshes and shallow bays along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Together with the tidal lower reaches of our coastal rivers they constitute an estuarine complex of extraordinary biological productivity. Lack of sufficient public appreciation of the role these areas play in supporting one of the world's great fisheries is permitting their slow destruction. The dumping of channel dredgings, the building of marinas, diking and filling for housing or industry near our large cities is taking thousands of acres of salt marsh out of production annually. With the barrier beaches of the coast rapidly building up, the pressure is growing to fill the salt marshes behind them to make "key and lagoon" developments where one can park a car in the front yard and a boat at the back. The building boom of the past ten years has obliterated one third of Long Island's salt marshes. One half of Connecticut's coastal wetlands are gone. The total loss for the Northeast is now over fifty thousand acres of marsh and every day sees that rate of destruction accelerate. Like some of our famous agricultural areas-the wine producing Napa Valley of California and the shade grown tobacco lands of the Connecticut Valley—it is time to call a halt on any further infringements on uniquely productive land. The land resource of the United States is still enormous and we have never possessed a great mobility or greater means for adapting land for housing or industry. Thus, no compelling necessity exists today for letting urban uses destroy uniquely productive areas that, once obliterated, can never be reclaimed. Pollution is the oldest threat to our fisheries. Polluted rivers destroy the breeding grounds of anadromous fish and take great areas of our shallow bays out of production. Today thirty percent of our 1,600.000 acres of hard clam flats on the Atlantic Coast are closed to harvesting. The once great salmon runs of our eastern rivers have been gone for almost a century and now the shad runs are dwindling. The Atlantic coastal fishery was the first of America's natural resources to be exploited by Europeans. Long before the Pilgrims landed it supported a thriving industry. Fishing boats from most of Western Europe were visiting it then and still do. Only recently, thanks to the work of ecologists, have we begun to have some understanding of the intricacies of the estuarine complex and the mechanisms that enable it to produce such fabulous quantities of protein rich foods. Ecologists are concerned with the study of living communities and the relation of each organism to the community as a whole. Ultimately, of course, such studies must include man as he is not exempt from the laws of nature. Ecological studies start with sun energy and after it has been trapped by plants trace its flow through the living community where it supports one species after another. Each animal in the food chain making use of some as a source of heat and energy until after passing through many organisms it is finally exhausted. Ecologists are also concerned with the parallel flow through the living community of the various mineral nutrients essential to life. Unlike energy these can stay in constant circulation and are used over and over again. The term ecosystem is coming into common use to describe a single biological complex within which these things take place. It seems appropriate at this point to speculate on how such living communities came into existence. To simply say through evolution is to beg the question. Nature probably first evolved in each environment organisms capable of using the sun energy and the nutrient elements essential to life until some one-nitrogent, phosphorous, etc.-became locally exhausted. The next step was the evolution of migratory behavior that enabled an organism to exploit the resources of one environment when they were at an optimum and then move to another. An example familiar to all: migratory birds who leave their homes in the tropics or warmer parts of the temperate zone to use for the rearing of their young the abundant supplies of food-primarily insects, but for some species fruits as well-that become available during the few months of summer in more northern climes. In the water world-a far older world-evolution has developed this process to a far greater degree of complexity. Most aquatic organisms need highly specialized and protected environments during early stages of their life cycle because most must "fend for themselves" even in the egg stage. The result is a closely meshed ecosystem of almost infinite complexity. Its elements involve: rivers and other drainage that carries nutrient-rich fresh water into the ecosystem; salt marshes with their tremendous ability to lock up sun energy through photosynthesis; winding creeks, shallow bays and mud flats where the organic compounds produced by the marsh become fully available to marine creatures; the coastal shelf waters where photosynthesis, largely by one-celled plants, makes use of the rich supplies of nutrients in the water to feed more energy in the ecosystem. Rivers have always been carriers of nutrients from the land to the sea, but today they carry more than ever before. For example, nitrates in the chemical fertilizers now so widely used by farmers are particularly mobile. Also most of the nutrient elements contained in the food we eat ends up in rivers as sewage and this multiplies as our population continues to increase. Instead of being lost in the sea as many people think, this "waste" is largely caught by nature's "nutrient trap," the estuary. Here the twice a day movement of the tides mixes it with salt water and moves it back and forth, providing plenty of time for plants to utilize its various nutrient elements. The "nutrient trap" also enables plants to obtain other nutrients they may need from the wedge of salt water that is pushed in along the bottom of the estuary on each flood tide. Hence the value of brackish waters of the estuary where nutrient levels are far higher than either the fresh or sale water that enters it. For some thousands of years, the East coast of North American has been a sinking coast, and it still is. Most of our salt marshes are the result of a slow advance of salt water over a gently sloping coastal plain Without that slow advance we would have salt marsh plants only in a narrow belt of land from the low tide to the high tide line. However, because salt marsh plants tend to trap silt particles and their own root systems resist decay underwater, the salt marsh has been able to build upward as fast as the sea rose. As a result we have very broad belts of level salt marsh. As the foundations extend far below the present sea level, this is truly a priceless resource that man could never recreate. Ecological studies indicate that nature is making superb use of this asset she has created. The salt marsh is irrigated twice a day with nutrient-rich water from the estuarine trap and has algae that grow on the wet mud and fix nitrogen from the air as well as carrying on photosynthesis, especially when the marsh grasses are dormant and more sun gets to the algae. |