APPENDIX C

SHORELAND AND AQUATIC COASTAL
HABITATS OF SPECIAL EMPHASIS SPECIES
IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK

A. Primary focus of the Northeast Coastal Areas Study is on those breeding/spawning areas, nursery areas, feeding/staging areas, wintering areas and migration pathways of importance to Federal trust species of regional or national significance, particularly those in the following groups:

- Migratory birds

- Anadromous fish

- Endangered species of fish, wildlife and plants (Federally listed, proposed and candidates)

- Marine mammals

- Native species populations on Federal lands

- Recreationally and commercially important species

- Ecologically significant species

- Depredating, nuisance, exotic and potentially invasive species

In addition, other habitats and areas of special emphasis are:

- Areas of significant biological diversity

- Outstanding representatives of Regional Coastal Community types

B. Significant Coastal Habitat Types^* in Southern New England and Long Island

- Maritime grasslands

- Vegetated tidal wetlands (freshwater and brackish) with contiguous upland buffers

- Sandplain grasslands and heathlands

- Coastal Plain freshwater and brackish ponds

- Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak barrens

- Atlantic White Cedar swamps

- Colonial bird rookeries

- Relatively undisturbed sand beaches and contiguous dunelands

- Intertidal mud and sand flats

- Submerged aquatic vegetation beds

- Relatively undisturbed and free-flowing freshwater coastal streams

- Shellfish beds

- Floodplain forests

- Productive subtidal shoal areas

- Open peatlands

- Marine mammal pupping and hauling out islands (seal islands and rocks)

* Preferred or Important Habitats of Federal Trust Species/Species of Special Emphasis.

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