Comments can also be submitted here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=116907
Just to be safe I would also submit comments via US Mail. > On Jun 2, 2022, at 12:16 PM, Peter W. Post <pwp...@nyc.rr.com> wrote: > > The National Park Service is requesting comments for an East and West Pond > “Stewardship” Plan to be incorporated into the Gateway General Management > Plan. > > The Refuge is becoming overgrown. We are losing species diversity. The is a > total lack of management. All of which needs to be addressed. > > Even a quick short letter voicing just a couple concerns that are listed > below would be helpful.. > > Unfortunately time is short to submit comments. > > Send letter before June 7th to: Gateway NRA, Attn: East and West Pond > Stewardship Plan, 210 New York Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305 > > > > Jamaica Bay Management Plan Comments > > Here are some ideas for proposing to have in the plan: > > - A living action plan with timeframes, transparent budget, and > accountability built in. Manage area as a Wildlife Refuge as originally > intended. > > - > > - A Refuge Manager position - a qualified habitat management / resource > specialist to be stationed on site and help supervise habitat plan work. > > - > > - All refuge staff should be resource management / interpretation > rangers who on managing the trails, gardens, ponds, etc. They need to work > closely with and help train maintenance staff. Rangers need to do daily > ‘working patrols’ where they help control invasive species – even if it's 15 > minutes/day. > > - > > - A mowing plan with timeframes and goals. The west pond viewshed is > quickly disappearing as is the view of marshes. > > - > > - An on-site volunteer coordinator – A much-needed dynamic person to > oversee, train, and work with volunteers, rangers, and maintenance staff on > various resource projects. > > Resurface the west pond trail and remove the construction-size gravel that > many people, especially seniors have been complaining about. > > - A plan for the East Pond valve system- need an engineer to design a > better valve system. > > Immediately Put back the Bird feeder and bird bath; These have been in place > for 50 years and suddenly disappeared without informing the public! > > - Repair/replace Tree Swallow, House Wren, and Bat box > > - > > - Put up a Purple Martin nest box as they are now nesting > > - In Jamaica Bay area > > Manage open habitats for pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, etc.) by > allowing sterile lawns to grow into wildflower meadows. Mow once or twice a > year. > > Manage Raccoon populations on the islands in Jamaica Bay where they have > caused heron colonies to leave thus greatly reducing available nesting sites > for egrets, herons, ibises, oystercatchers, willets, waterfowl, and gulls. > > Fresh Water Pond – A study by NY Polytechnical Institute in the 1980’s > concluded that something similar to Big John’s Pond built on the west side of > Crossbay would greatly enhance herptile populations, freshwater birds such as > coots, gallinules and bitterns while also adding enhanced viewing for > visitors. > > - Finally, institute a Resource Management Oversight Committee: NYCA, > ALS, JB EcoWatchers, NYCBC, QCBC, BBC, Linnaean Society, SSA …to meet two or > three times /yearly with NPS to assess plan, budgets, funding, etc. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Don Riepe > > Jamaica Bay Guardian > > > > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> > Please submit your observations to eBird <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
