Tedesco Reports on Point To Stone Harbor Council

STONE HARBOR – Stone Harbor Borough Council held its work session July 5. A focal point for the meeting was a presentation by Wetlands Institute Executive Director Lenore Tedesco on the history of the Stone Harbor Point Preservation Plan. 
Stone Harbor Point is a protected conservation area with both a recreational area and a species protection zone.
The Point extends south from the jetty at 123rd Street to the southern end tip of Seven Mile Island, a distance of about 1.5 miles.
Giving that number perspective one need note that the borough, from its northern border at 80th Street to 123rd Street is only 2.5 miles.
Tedesco called this area a treasure, an untamed natural habitat of enormous importance for migratory birds of all types, many endangered.
It is a complex environment with a sensitive ecology, and Tedesco used her presentation to highlight the many achievements of the ongoing preservation and maintenance plan as well as to remind council and the public of the continuing challenges facing those who care for this unique and dynamic place.
Her presentation placed emphasis on the year-round importance of the Point for coastal birds. She called it “one of the most important havens for coastal birds along the East Coast.”
Breeding shore birds of varied species use the point nesting amid the low dunes. In spring and summer, portions of the area are closed to protect the beach-nesters.
Tedesco humorously compared the Point to a “truck stop” for migratory birds that annually make nonstop flights of thousands of miles. The Point is a place of safety for “refueling” after exhausting days of continuous flying.
She spoke of red knots, American oystercatchers, piping plovers, land terns and much more for whom the Point is an essential habitat.
For all of us the Point is a place of special natural wonder, but for the birds that depend on its delicate environment it is, she noted, “a critical place.”
The Point is constantly changing. At present, beach replenishments to the north and the natural activity of the winds and ocean to move sand south are combining to lengthen the Point, thus narrowing Hereford Inlet.
Tedesco said the inlet is one of the few natural, non-engineered inlets on the East Coast.  It is not marked for navigation.
The inlet, the southernmost marking for the Point, is dynamic and responds to the same natural changes impacting the beaches. Tedesco said that the narrowing of the inlet with accumulated sand on the growing Point beaches has probably reached its end forcing the sand to “wrap around” the island.
She used photographs of the Point from 1995 to 2014 to show the constant change and natural evolution of the area including the disappearance of what was once Champaign Island.
The management of the area is a cooperative endeavor involving federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations like the Wetlands Institute and the Audubon Society, and the Borough of Stone Harbor entrusted with special responsibility for this large section of the island community.
Tedesco spoke of natural challenges in the area including four-legged predators. However, the challenge that is often the hardest to deter is the human one, what she called the disturbance challenge.
The area is a highly restricted and regulated one. Attempts have been made to create ways for visitors to enjoy the Point’s natural beauty while still providing the protection the birds and the delicate ecology require.
That means that it is critical that visitors observe the rules for the Point, rules spelled out on prominent signage and available on the borough website.
Those wishing to enjoy the Point need to stay on their proper side of the fencing, respecting the off-limits restricted areas.
No dogs are allowed at the Point at any time of the year.
Observe nature put don’t plan on setting up for a picnic on the beach.  Swimming is not allowed.
Disturbance challenges are among the greatest threats to this wildlife sanctuary. If visitors enjoy this special place while observing the rules and restrictions on use and activity, they will do their part in protecting and preserving a unique environment.
Other business
Last updated 20 years ago, the water tower bathrooms may finally see a much-needed make-over.
Council member Joan Kramar explained to council that the borough was applying for a Small Cities grant that would support efforts to make the bathroom facilities Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, expand their size, and make plumbing maintenance easier.
The grant, which the borough would use for multiple purposes, should if the borough is successful in gaining it, provide the funds for the project.
The borough has budgeted some its own funds to supplement the effort.
The council adopted changes to its ordinance covering municipal fees for erecting large tents for social and celebratory functions.
The fee moved from $235 to $275, with the addition of $40 for a utility fee aimed at recovering the cost of the additional water used.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.