Appeal For Protection

Below is a letter from the President of the Ridgewood Reservoir/Highland Park Alliance. He is appealing to all those interested in protecting the habitats at the reservoir to write to the New York State Department of Conservation (click letter for full size):

Here are some important facts to include in your letter:

• Ridgewood Reservoir is the highest point in the Jamaica Bay watershed. The reservoir and its environmentally significant attributes should be incorporated into the ongoing planning for the Jamaica Bay Watershed plan.

• Ridgewood Reservoir is the highest point in the Newtown Creek sewershed and protects Newtown Creek from Combined Sewage Overflow.

• The site’s ponds and wetlands are key storm water filters.

• The site’s vegetation and wetlands help to mitigate Urban Heat Island Effect.

• New York City law 71 requires protection of the city’s wetlands

• The basins contain diverse ecologies: fresh water wetlands, mesic and wet forest and successional open fields. Three-quarters of the acreage is wetland or ecotonal habitat.

• The site is developing a mature canopy forest with some strong native plant presence. Plant species include three with a Conservation Status of either Endangered or Threatened in New York State.

• Bog-like open areas and forest fringes are unique within New York City. Large freshwater wetlands are uncommon in our region and provide critical habitat for native birds, mammals and amphibians.

• A stopover for migratory songbirds and seasonal shorebirds, it is also home to a variety of non-migratory and breeding birds.

• To date over 150 species of birds have been recorded. (See the Cornell eBird website here)

- The species list includes 7 birds with conservation status in New York State of Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern.

- An additional 7 species of birds were observed that are on the most recent Audubon Watchlist. All seven birds were listed in the yellow category, which designates species that are either declining or rare. These are typically species of national conservation concern.

• The habitat at the reservoir also provides important breeding habitat.
- 18 species have been confirmed to breed there.
- 17 are probable nesters.
- 3 additional species possibly nest at the reservoir.

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