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Performance History |
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Performance History |
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National Park Service: this Biological Assessment Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Sandy Hook, the northernmost 7 miles of barrier beach along New Jersey's coast, has a long history of persistent shoreline erosion and change. A four-mile seawall constructed in the early 1900's immediately adjacent to the National Seashore has effectively prevented the natural transport of sediment into Sandy Hook. This long-standing artificial structure has resulted in steepened nearshore slopes and significant shorelines retreat at its northern terminal- the southern beaches (Critical Zone) of Sandy Hook. Since its inception as a National Recreation Area (NRA) Unit in 1976, the National Park Service (NPS) has attempted to maintain Sandy Hook's shoreline in order to provide continued recreational opportunities and protect its significant natural and cultural resources. Accelerated erosion with subsequent shoreline retreat due to the adjacent man-made structures threaten Sandy Hook's resources as well as the NPS' present level of use and operations. Continued erosion will likely result in a breach to the peninsula, damage NPS physical and historical facilities and beaches, and severely restrict access by the public and tenants. 
Since 1976, the NPS has been pursuing and evaluating practical alternatives
to address this problem and provide for continued operations and access
to NPS resources, while minimizing adverse impacts to its exemplary cultural
and natural resources. Four alternatives have been identified which would
meet NPS objectives. They are (A) No Action, (B) Status Quo rebuilding
of Beach Profile every 5-7 years, (C) Pipe sand from off-shore borrow
site, and (D) the preferred alternative, annually recycle sand via a
slurry pipeline. Each of these alternatives may have an impact on the
shoreline as well as the protected species which inhabit the beach. The National Park Service has prepared this Biological Assessment Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in order to evaluate the potential effects of each of the four alternatives on the three federally Threatened or Endangered Species that occur within the project area. This document provides the most current data available on the status of the piping plover (Charadrius melodus), seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilis), and the northeastern beach tiger beetle (Cicindella dorsalis dorsalis) and assesses potential impacts to these protected species under each alternative. Consideration is also given to the two species listed by the state of New Jersey, seabeach knotweed (Polygonum glaucum) and the least tern (Sterna albifrons) that occur within the project area. NE Species of Regional Conservation Concern Since 1995, the NE Endangered Species and Wildlife Diversity Technical Committee (NE ES &WDTC) has been developing a regional approach to conservation of it's rarest species not protected by the Federal ESA. Further impetus was provided when the USFWS eliminated the use of the C2 category and the NE state coordinators felt the need to prioritize and determine the status of these species. Instead of approaching it from a state by state basis, they, through the NE ES &WDTC wanted to pursue a coordinated regional approach to conservation. The ecological and economical efficiency of this approach is a clearly significant incentive for all cooperating states. 
The committee used the 1996 French and Pence list of NE species and surveyed
each state regarding the status of each of these species. Taxa committees
reviewed this and other information, and developed a final list of species
to be included in the regional list for conservation concern for all
taxa. Criteria used in this review are summarized in Therres' 1999 Northeast
Wildlife paper. In total, 106 species were included on the list. The next step in pursuing a regional conservation approach for these species was to develop a brief summary of the conservation issues and needs on a regional basis in the form of Species Accounts. The committee had identified this as a priority need for 4 years, but no one was able to allocate the significant time commitment needed to complete this task. The committee decided that it was important enough to do and enlisted the help of a contract biologist (me). In January 2001, the committee developed a scope of work which included a list of 106 species, state and committee contacts, and a species account format to follow, with a 2 page (average) target. The project was approved and began in February (of 2002). |
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