Shinnecock Habitat Restoration Project

COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION: 
SHINNECOCK INDIAN RESERVATION

In 2013, Hurricane Sandy hit the shoreline of Long Island causing
catastrophic damage. The Shinnecock Indian Reservation was among
the communities most impacted; large areas of shoreline were eroded,
leading to the loss of vegetation and vital habitat. In 2014, Shinnecock
Indian Nation partnered with CCE to prepare an application for

funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Hurricane

Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program. A
$3.75 million grant was awarded to help reverse the damage done by
the storm. Our restoration efforts commenced in 2015 and focus on:
strengthening shoreline resiliency; improving tidal flushing; and
increasing ecological diversity by rebuilding habitat.

Strengthening shoreline resiliency: To rebuild the shore, more than
30,000 cubic yards of sand were pumped onto approximately 3,000
linear feet of beach, extending the shoreline out into the bay between
75 and 100 feet. In addition to this, a combination of rocks, marsh

grasses, oyster reef and ribbed mussels will create a “living shoreline”

to protect this newly placed sand. Once complete, the project will
stabilize the shore and provide a buffer to protect upland areas from
future storm events.

Improving tidal flushing: Salt marsh ponds along the west shore of
the Reservation have lost regular connection to Shinnecock Bay
resulting in decreased salinity, increased stagnation, and as a result
have become major mosquito breeding areas. Tidal flow to these
marshes will be restored through the excavation of small channels,
which will allow water to flow in and out regularly with the tides.
Increasing tidal flow to these salt ponds will improve the ecological
carrying capacity, increase species diversity, and help reduce if not
eliminate mosquito populations.

Increasing ecological diversity and habitat: Extensive plantings of
marsh grass along the new beach will create acres of marsh habitat.
Re-establishment of flushing to existing tidal ponds will help to
increase species diversity. Planting of eelgrass, beach grass, and
upland species is expected to greatly increase ecological diversity.

>3,000 FT 40,000 770,000

of shoreline Marsh Grass plugs oysters will
is being restored will be planted be seeded

ON THE WATER & IN THE FIELD | 19