Colonial Waterbirds and Dredged Material Disposal
Populations of some colonial nesting waterbirds, including least terns, common terns, black skimmers, and several species of long-legged wading birds have been declining in the Barnegat Bay -- Little Egg Harbor Estuary. Loss of suitable nesting habitat due to unfavorable successional changes and competition from increasing gull populations is one probable factor in these declines. Long-legged wading birds are virtually dependant on "artificially" created habitat such as dredged material disposal islands which also provide important alternate nesting habitat for terns and skimmers. Although the techniques for developing nesting habitat on dredge disposal islands are well documented, the lack of a coordinated plan to create and manage nesting habitat in the Barnegat Bay - Little Egg Harbor Estuary has lead to declines in available nesting habitat and conflicts between waterway maintenance and waterbird habitat protection. Both habitat enhancement and waterway maintenance have been identified as important action items in the Watershed Management Plan for Barnegat Bay.
With funds provided through the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program, the Endangered and Nongame Species Program has begun a pilot project designed to better coordinate the need for dredge disposal site and nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds ENSP in cooperation with the DEP's Division of Engineering and Construction will develop a coordinated strategy for dredged material disposal and waterbird habitat creation and enhancement.
The plan will be developed for a demonstration area in the vicinity of Little Egg Harbor through the five phases:
- Mapping all colonial waterbird nesting sites and dredged material disposal sites in the pilot project region.
- Assessment of future dredge disposal needs.
- Assessment of waterbird habitat needs and available habitat enhancement techniques.
- Developing specific management strategies for creating and enhancing colonial waterbird habitat on each disposal site within the region.
- Assessment of regulatory impediments to creative waterbird habitat creation and enhancement and recommended regulatory changes.
