Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary
Details
21.5 Acres
Fresh Water Pond
Fresh Water Meadow
Old Growth Maritime Forest
Saltwater Marsh
Saltwater Pans
Saltwater Streams with Fish
Songbird Forest
Colonial Wading Bird Nesting Areas
Hundred Year plus Holly Tree
Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary advisory committee
Chairman: Bob Bartke
Bev Cassidy
Dot Flynn
Ann Galli
Lois Hamilton
Dede Harris
Bill Lauth
Mike Runyon
Councilman Brian Levinson
Councilman Julian Miraglia
Councilwomen Anne Wannen
Consultants
Duffield Associates, Inc.
Wilmington & Stone Harbor
Jeff Bross
Jim Eisenhardt
Dianne Daly
PARTNERS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Eric Schrading
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
North American Wetland Conservation Act
C.M.C. Mosquito Control
NJ Forest Fire Service
Ducks Unlimited
Kirk Mantay
Two Years of Discovery
In January of 2005 the committee interviewed two consulting firms to help plan the Sanctuary’s rejuvenation. In September of 2005 a contract was awarded to Duffield Associates to study the Sanctuary. In the last year and a half the Sanctuary has been explored, measured and mapped. We discovered a fresh water pond and its meadow, an ancient holly tree, streams almost dried up and overgrowth of invasive plants! We learned that most importantly that we need lots more water coming into the Sanctuary. We need to ‘rescue’ all the great native plants from being overwhelmed by invasive plants and we need to make the Sanctuary more user friendly!
In June of 2006 the borough signed a 25 year agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This agreement provides the borough with funding and expertise from USF&WS in exchange for the borough maintaining the site as a Sanctuary.
In January of 2007 a presentation was made to Joint Permit Processing Committee in Trenton detailing the specific rejuvenation plans. These plans include increasing the size of the pipe bring tidal waters into the Sanctuary. Refreshing the fresh water pond and meadow, refreshing the berm that separates it from the salt water marsh. Removing the invasive plants. Adding several trails into the Sanctuary and improving the visitors area at 114th Street and Third Avenue. The plans were well received by the regulators!
