Draft 02/07

Eastern LakeOntario Dunes and Wetlands:

Description:

EasternLakeOntario Dunes and Wetlands is a large area of shoreline and associated wetlands stretching from El Dorado Nature Preserve near Stony Creek and the Town of Henderson, south to Deer Creek Marsh WMA near the Salmon River and the Villageof Pulaski. This stretch of LakeOntario includes 16.5 miles of shoreline, 6.7 of which are publicly owned, 9.8 miles of which is privately owned. From west to east, portions of the protected areas stretch from the shore of LakeOntario inland to Route 3.

Long-time birders of this area report that this area has provided much better habitat for shorebirds in the past, before LakeOntario was cleaned up, simply due to the algae growth. The presence of invasive species such as the zebra mussel has also had an impact on the ecology of LakeOntario. There are much fewer shorebirds (two-thirds or more fewer) stopping in this area compared to the thousands back in the late ‘60s. Controlled LakeOntario water levels have potentially eliminated traditional shorebird habitat.

It is also suggested that when LakeOntario water levels are high, the birds can be found out in the surrounding farmlands, along PerchRiver, and the Perch River Wildlife Management area, for example. Other locations to check for shorebirds include: Pillar Point, Point Salubriouse, PointPeninsula, DablonBay (near CapeVincent).

Currently, shorebird data is only available from two areas: El Dorado Nature Preserve and Sandy Creek/Sandy Pond. From north to south, areas open to the public along the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands are as follows:

El Dorado Nature Preserve: 360 acresowned and managed by Central and Western New York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. This area is monitored by The Nature Conservancy’s Northern New York Land Steward and New York Sea Grant’s Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards.

Black Pond WMA: adjacent to El Dorado; 526acres managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This area ismonitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards.

SouthwickBeachState Park: 500 acres managed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

Lakeview Marsh WMA: 3,461 acres managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.Because of its size and geography, is one of the most challenging areas monitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards. Boating is limited to car-top vessels and engines with less than 10 horsepower. There is a bird observation tower at Montario Point Road, and South Sandy Creek Trail leads to a marsh area known for shorebirds.

SandyPondBeach Natural Area: a small peninsula of land on the barrier beach separating Sandy Pond from LakeOntario; owned and managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. A bird sanctuary on the northern-most tip of this point hosts large numbers of shorebirds during migration. This area is roped off and access is restricted. There is a stringed fence trail leading to a bird observation point on the east side of the peninsula. The site as a whole is monitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards, and is accessible primarily by boat. To access this area, use the car-top boat launch at SandyIslandBeach.

SandyIslandBeachState Park:13 acres managed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

Deer Creek Marsh WMA: 1,195acres managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; the southern-most property monitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards. Deer Creek Marsh WMA allows canoeing, fishing, hiking and hunting.

This complex contains the remains of one of the largest inland dune systems in the Eastern Great Lakes and some of the highest quality freshwater marshes in New York. Black Pond WMA, Lakeview Marsh WMA, Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area, and Deer Creek Marsh WMA together make up a state Bird Conservation Area. In total, this just over 6,000 acres of protected area falls within a core of 16,000 acres that has been identified in The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern Lake Ontario Megasite Conservation Plan. Threats to this area include the impact on dune formation and vegetation composition in the wetlands as a result of the regulation of LakeOntario water levels. Residential development has increased nutrient levels in the wetlands and destroyed dune habitat.

Maximum counts, SandyCreek and Sandy Pond, 1994-20011:

Tier – A Species / Spring / Fall / Tier – B Species / Spring / Fall / Other Species / Spring / Fall
AGPL / 4 / BBPL / 1 / 21 / KILL / Unk / 0
AMWO / DUNL / 4 / 57 / SPSA / 4 / 9
BBSA / 1 / GRYE / WILL / 1
HUGO / 3 / LESA / 2 / 25 / RUTU / 65 / 4
MAGO / LEYE / SESA / 10 / 200
PIPL / 1 / SEPL / 4 / 31 / WRSA / 1 / 4
REKN / 1 / 4 / WIPH / 1 / BASA / 5
SAND / 110 / 120 / PESA / 20
SBDO / 13 / 2 / STSA / 1 / 4
SOSA / LBDO / 1
UPSA / DOsp.
WHIM / 1 / 4 / COSN / Unk.
REPH / 1
RNPH
WESA / 1
AMAV / 3

1New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Compilation of survey data from multiple sources, ~1950-2002, unpublished data. (John Ozard, Personal Communication).

Maximum counts, El Dorado Nature Preserve:

Tier A Species / NYS1
(spring) / ISS2
(fall) / NYS1
(fall) / Tier B Species / NYS
(spring) / ISS
(fall) / NYS
(fall) / Other Species / NYS
(spring) / ISS
(fall) / NYS
(fall)
AGPL / 4 / 1 / BBPL / 1 / 51 / 8 / KILL / 57 / 11
AMWO / 1 / DUNL / 310 / 100 / SPSA / 5 / 34 / 19
BBSA / GRYE / 5 / 5 / WILL / 1
HUGO / LESA / 4 / 114 / 150 / RUTU / 44 / 7
MAGO / LEYE / 3 / 145 / 30 / SESA / 3 / 850 / 100
PIPL / 1 / SEPL / 5 / 26 / 50 / WRSA / 4 / 6
REKN / 7 / 8 / WIPH / 1 / BASA / 12 / 2
SAND / 179 / 100 / PESA / 31 / 2
SBDO / 21 / 3 / STSA / 5 / 1
SOSA / 7 / 4 / LBDO / 6
UPSA / 20 / 1 / DOsp.
WHIM / 4 / 2 / COSN / 12
REPH / 1
RNPH
WESA / 1
PUSA / 1

1New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Compilation of survey data from multiple sources, ~1950-2002, unpublished data. (John Ozard, Personal Communication).

2ISS site NYAD (El Dorado Nature Preserve)

Survey Method:To be determined

Selection Bias: *

Measurement error:*

Measurement bias: *

Pilot Studies:*

Local Contacts:Chris Lajewski, The Nature Conservancy’s Northern New York Land Steward.

Draft 02/07

Additional Resources:

New YorkSea Grant Extension, Eastern LakeOntario Dunes and Wetlands: Trails and Boat Route Maps

Alternatively, the same information in PDF format:

A Recreational Guide to Eastern Lake Ontario’s Dunes and Wetlands

From: Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands website, New York Sea Grant Extension Program (get permission)