Draft 02/07
Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands:
Draft 02/07
Description:
Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands is a large area of shoreline and associated
wetlands stretching from El Dorado Nature Preserve near Stony Creek and the Town of
Henderson, south to Deer Creek Marsh WMA near the Salmon River and the Village of
Pulaski. This stretch of Lake Ontario includes 16.5 miles of shoreline, 6.7 of which are
publicly owned, 9.8 miles of which is privately owned. From west to east, portions of the
protected areas stretch from the shore of Lake Ontario inland to Route 3.
Long-time birders of this area report that this area has provided much better habitat for
shorebirds in the past, before Lake Ontario was cleaned up, simply due to the algae
growth. The presence of invasive species such as the zebra mussel has also had an impact
on the ecology of Lake Ontario. There are much fewer shorebirds (two-thirds or more
fewer) stopping in this area compared to the thousands back in the late ‘60s. Controlled
Lake Ontario water levels have potentially eliminated traditional shorebird habitat.
It is also suggested that when Lake Ontario water levels are high, the birds can be found
out in the surrounding farmlands, along Perch River, and the Perch River Wildlife
Management area, for example. Other locations to check for shorebirds include: Pillar
Point, Point Salubriouse, Point Peninsula, Dablon Bay (near Cape Vincent).
Currently, shorebird data is only available from two areas: El Dorado Nature Preserve
and Sandy Creek/Sandy Pond. From north to south, areas open to the public along the
Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands are as follows:
El Dorado Nature Preserve: 360 acres owned and managed by Central and Western New
York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. This area is monitored by The Nature
Conservancy’s Northern New York Land Steward and New York Sea Grant’s Eastern
Lake Ontario Dune Stewards.
Black Pond WMA: adjacent to El Dorado; 526 acres managed by the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation. This area is monitored by the Eastern Lake
Ontario Dune Stewards.
Southwick Beach State Park: 500 acres managed by New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
Lakeview Marsh WMA: 3,461 acres managed by the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation. Because of its size and geography, is one of the most
challenging areas monitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards. Boating is
limited to car-top vessels and engines with less than 10 horsepower. There is a bird
observation tower at Montario Point Road, and South Sandy Creek Trail leads to a marsh
area known for shorebirds.
Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area: a small peninsula of land on the barrier beach
separating Sandy Pond from Lake Ontario; owned and managed by the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation. A bird sanctuary on the northern-most tip of
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this point hosts large numbers of shorebirds during migration. This area is roped off and
access is restricted. There is a stringed fence trail leading to a bird observation point on
the east side of the peninsula. The site as a whole is monitored by the Eastern Lake
Ontario Dune Stewards, and is accessible primarily by boat. To access this area, use the
car-top boat launch at Sandy Island Beach.
Sandy Island Beach State Park: 13 acres managed by New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
Deer Creek Marsh WMA: 1,195 acres managed by the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation; the southern-most property monitored by the Eastern Lake
Ontario Dune Stewards. Deer Creek Marsh WMA allows canoeing, fishing, hiking and
hunting.
This complex contains the remains of one of the largest inland dune systems in the
Eastern Great Lakes and some of the highest quality freshwater marshes in New York.
Black Pond WMA, Lakeview Marsh WMA, Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area, and Deer
Creek Marsh WMA together make up a state Bird Conservation Area. In total, this just
over 6,000 acres of protected area falls within a core of 16,000 acres that has been
identified in The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern Lake Ontario Megasite Conservation
Plan. Threats to this area include the impact on dune formation and vegetation
composition in the wetlands as a result of the regulation of Lake Ontario water levels.
Residential development has increased nutrient levels in the wetlands and destroyed dune
habitat.
Maximum counts, Sandy Creek and Sandy Pond, 1994-20011:
Tier – A
Species
AGPL
AMWO
BBSA
HUGO
MAGO
PIPL
REKN
SAND
SBDO
SOSA
UPSA
WHIM
Spring
Fall
Tier – B
Species
BBPL
DUNL
GRYE
LESA
LEYE
SEPL
WIPH
Spring
Fall
Other
Spring Fall
Species
4
1
21
KILL
Unk
0
4
57
SPSA
4
9
1
WILL
1
3
2
25
RUTU
65
4
SESA
10
200
1
4
31
WRSA
1
4
1
4
1
BASA
5
110
120
PESA
20
13
2
STSA
1
4
LBDO
1
DOsp.
1
4
COSN
Unk.
REPH
1
RNPH
WESA
1
AMAV
3
1
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Compilation of survey data from multiple
sources, ~1950-2002, unpublished data. (John Ozard, Personal Communication).
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Maximum counts, El Dorado Nature Preserve:
Tier A
Species
AGPL
NYS1
(spring)
ISS2
(fall)
NYS1
(fall)
4
1
1
AMWO
BBSA
HUGO
MAGO
PIPL
REKN
SAND
SBDO
SOSA
UPSA
WHIM
20
1
7
179
21
7
1
4
8
100
3
4
Tier B
Species
BBPL
DUNL
GRYE
LESA
LEYE
SEPL
WIPH
2
NYS
(spring)
1
4
3
5
ISS
(fall)
NYS
(fall)
51
310
5
114
145
26
8
100
5
150
30
50
1
Other
Species
KILL
SPSA
WILL
RUTU
SESA
WRSA
BASA
PESA
STSA
LBDO
DOsp.
COSN
REPH
RNPH
WESA
PUSA
NYS
(spring)
5
3
ISS
(fall)
NYS
(fall)
57
34
1
44
850
4
12
31
5
6
11
19
7
100
6
2
2
1
12
1
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Compilation of survey data from multiple
sources, ~1950-2002, unpublished data. (John Ozard, Personal Communication).
2
ISS site NYAD (El Dorado Nature Preserve)
Survey Method: To be determined
Selection Bias: *
Measurement error: *
Measurement bias: *
Pilot Studies:*
Local Contacts: Chris Lajewski, The Nature Conservancy’s Northern New York Land
Steward.
1
1
1
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Additional Resources:
New York Sea Grant Extension, Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands: Trails and
Boat Route Maps
http://www.nysgextension.org/glhabitat/dunefun/trail1.htm
Alternatively, the same information in PDF format:
A Recreational Guide to Eastern Lake Ontario’s Dunes and Wetlands
http://www.nysgextension.org/glhabitat/dunefun/Sand%20wind%20water.pdf
From: Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands
website, New York Sea Grant Extension Program (get permission)