Northeast Coastal Areas Study
Significant Coastal Habitats
Site 6 (NY)
I. SITE NAME: North Fork Beach Complex
II. LOCATION: This complex extends along the northern shoreline of Great and Little Peconic Bays, on the southern side of Long Island's North Fork, from Jamesport, in the Town of Riverhead, to Greenport, in the Town of Southold.
TOWNS: Riverhead, Southold
COUNTY: Suffolk
STATE: New York
USGS 7.5 MIN QUADS: Southampton, NY 40072-84;
Mattituck, NY 40072-85; Southold, NY 41072-14; Mattituck Hills,
NY 41072-15
USGS 30x60 MIN QUADS: Long Island, East
40072-E1; New Haven 41072-A1
III. GENERAL BOUNDARY: A narrow, linear complex of sand beaches, salt marshes, tidal creeks and nearshore baywaters occurring along the south shore of eastern Long Island's North Fork, bordering Great Peconic Bay, Little Peconic Bay and Southold Bay, and extending southwest to northeast from Jamesport, in the Town of Riverhead, to Greenport, in the Town of Southold, an approximate linear distance of 17 miles (27 km). In most instances the habitats themselves are quite narrow, rarely more than a few hundred feet wide, except for several tidal creeks and associated marshlands which may extend inland a short distance. Both the general boundary of the complex and the individual significant habitat units are outlined in the accompanying maps. Included in this complex are at least 22 individual areas of regional fish or wildlife significance that are in particular need of protection, management or enhancement, of which the majority are colonial bird nesting beaches. Although the distances between these individual sites are not very great, the areas are nonetheless discontinuous while at the same time part of a single, ecologically interrelated, linear shoreline system.
IV. OWNERSHIP/PROTECTED STATUS: Ownership is complex, particularly for beach areas. A number of the beach habitats and tidal marshes identified here are in public ownership, with various parcels owned by the State, the Towns of Riverhead and Southold, or Suffolk County. The Nature Conservancy owns and manages several parcels, but many of the lands within this habitat complex are privately held, either by individuals or private associations.
V. GENERAL HABITAT DESCRIPTION: Beach habitats in this complex favored by colonial nesting birds such as piping plover (Charadrius melodus), a U.S. Threatened species, and terns (Sterna spp.) are typically low sandy or gravelly beaches, occasionally dredge spoil deposits, generally with sparse to no vegetation and adjacent to productive nearshore baywaters and tidal flats which serve as feeding areas. Tidal range in the area is approximately 2.5 feet (0.75 meters). Ideally, these habitats, at least the most successful sites, are relatively undisturbed. The lack of recent breeding activity at otherwise favorable habitat sites, particularly those which had been previously active, may perhaps be the result of local human-related disturbances. Where vegetation becomes increasingly dense, nesting success is often correspondingly reduced as well. Tidal saltmarshes and creeks in this area are generally dominated by pure stands of cordgrasses (Spartina alterniflora and S. patens), but also often occurring in a complex mosaic with other marsh plant species and communities, including spikegrass (Distichlis spicata) and blackgrass (Juncus gerardi). In many areas, invasion by common reed (Phragmites australis) is commonplace and may, in fact, affect half of the tidal marshes along the North Fork. Dredge spoil sites or spoil deposits on beaches are often used by nesting colonial birds and characteristically contain weedy plant species of early successional stages, including winged pigweed (Cycloloma atriplicifolium), lovegrass (Eragrostis pectinacea) and crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis).
VI. SIGNIFICANCE/UNIQUENESS OF AREA: The overwhelming significance of this beach and marsh complex to wildlife in the region lies in its value, both actual and potential, as nesting, feeding, migration and recovery habitat for colonial beach nesting birds, principally the U.S. Endangered roseate tern (Sterna dougallii), U.S. Threatened piping plover, common tern (S. hirundo) and least tern (S. antillarum). Although many of the individual habitat sites are small and separated from one another, a result of both natural and man-caused habitat fragmentation, these sites may be viewed collectively as part of a single metapopulation, or complex of interacting and interbreeding local populations, serving as individual source areas for recruitment into existing or extirpated populations or colonies or as stepping stones between populations and during migration. Thus it is essential to attempt to maintain the full geographic and ecological continuum of these habitats in order to provide for the long-term survival of these beach-dependent species.
The wetland habitats in this region are important to Northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys t. terrapin) both as feeding and nesting areas, particularly where there are adjacent upland sites for egg-laying. They are also valuable feeding areas for other species of special emphasis in the region, including osprey (Pandion haliaetus), green-backed heron (Butorides striatus), yellow-crowned night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), American black duck (Anas rubripes) and clapper rail (Rallus longirostris). The creeks and baywaters are productive habitats for finfish, shellfish and crustaceans, especially blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), hard-shelled clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), bay scallop (Aequipecten irradians), winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and scup (Stenotomus chrysops). These waters also provide food and refuge for overwintering flocks of American black duck and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Recent studies indicate that the bay waters in the area of Peconic and Gardiners Bays may serve as important summer feeding and nursery areas for juvenile Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), a U.S. Endangered species and one of the rarest of the sea turtles.
VII. THREATS: Colonial nesting birds and Northern diamondback terrapins are highly vulnerable to human disturbances during the nesting season, whether from beach-walkers or off-road vehicles, and can easily lead to destruction of eggs and individuals as well as result in seasonal or permanent abandonment of the site. Several presently inactive sites may have been abandoned as the result of human disturbances during the critical nesting period. Additionally, there is the ever-increasing problem of predation by cats and dogs and other human-associated species. Vegetation succession, resulting in the loss of bare sand for nesting, is also a factor in reducing the favorability of nesting beaches for terns and piping plovers. Competition with expanding populations of great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) and herring gulls (L. argentatus) is becoming an increasingly important factor throughout the region. Elimination or adverse modification of habitat through marina, housing and other development in the area directly threatens these habitats and also poses a threat to water quality and the suitability of these waters for prey and predators alike.
VII. CONSERVATION CONSIDERATIONS: Protection of the full geographical extent of both current and recent historical nesting beaches should be sought as a means of ensuring the long-term survival of beach-nesting birds in this region. Protection should include beach closures, fenced exclosures, posting, predator and pet trapping, beach warden patrols and public education. The management of small populations of species which are extremely prone to local extinction requires the protection of many sites in close relative proximity to each other (at least within the local movement abilities of the species) as part of an overall metapopulation conservation strategy and clearly is called for in the management of this complex. Special emphasis should be placed on implementing objectives and tasks outlined in the recovery plans for piping plover and roseate tern. Identification, delineation and protection of main feeding areas should be given high priority for beach-nesting birds in this area. Several sites may require restoration to enhance their suitability as nesting sites, including dredge spoil deposition and vegetation control. Gull removal may need to be considered at certain sites where this is a significant problem. In addition to excluding human intrusions, protection of specific beach sites can be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms including cooperative management and conservation agreements, conservation easements, zoning, planning, land-use regulations and, in some instances, acquisition.
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