Jamaica Bay after Hurricane Sandy

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    Image source: Dan Hendrick via Queens Chronicle

    The Queens Chronicle published an article about the effects of Hurricane Sandy on Jamaica Bay. We were pleased to see they had spoken to Dan Hendrick, who is producing a film about Jamaica Bay, called Jamaica Bay Lives – he has spent a lot of time in this area of Queens. He says that the storm forever altered the geography of the Rockaways and left a number of environmental problems in its wake.

    That said, the marshland in Jamaica Bay came out alright post-Sandy. But here are some of the things that happened during the hurricane that will have long-lasting effects:

    • Water rose in the lagoon that separates the Rockaway peninsula from the rest of NYC, when the storm surge arrived.
    • A section of Breezy Point – where that fire raged and burned over 100 homes – where the piping plover (a protected shorebird) mates every year, has been changed.
    • Debris from the storm – pieces of homes, streetlights, and cars – were deposited into Jamaica Bay.
    • Thousands of gallons of oil leaked into the bay from home fuel tanks based in Broad Channel. On the bright side – most of the oil will dissipate over time, but cleanup is still needed.
    • Sewage leaked into the bay from damaged sewer lines and water treatment plants in the area.

    The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (GMAP) was also affected. Located north of Broad Channel, it has two ponds – West Pond and East Pond – both of which breached into Jamaica Bay. This breach in East Pond is part of the reason why the A train subway tracks/bridge there were damaged. The West Pond breach is now a channel into the bay. It is unknown if the West Pond breach fix will be able to be funded. The East Pond fix will likely happen when the MTA fixes the A train tracks.

    Hendrick believes that some of these problems will be fixed naturally, over time, due to the resilience of nature. Some, like the ponds mentioned above, will need help from humans. As we mentioned earlier about the idea of revitalizing the Rockaways on a commercial and mechanical level, Hendrick wonders if this is an opportunity to bring more attention to Jamaica Bay and the rest of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

    Jamaica Bay walloped by Hurricane Sandy [Queens Chronicle]
    The Broad Channel subway station severely damaged, will be closed for months, thanks to Hurricane Sandy [QNYC]
    Sunnyside’s Dan Hendrick is making a film about Jamaica Bay’s environmental history and future [QNYC]

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