APPENDIX L.2 NATURAL RESOURCES— FEDERAL TRANSIT ...web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/sdeis/appendixl2.pdf · Appendix L.2: Natural Resources—EFH L.2-3 the East River. The mean tidal

APPENDIX L.2

NATURAL RESOURCES— FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION /

METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ASSESSMENT

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Natural Resources— Federal Transit Administration/Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Second Avenue Subway, New York, New York Appendix L.2: Essential Fish Habitat Assessment

A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Harlem and East Rivers are relatively close to the Second Avenue Subway alignment at several locations, providing the opportunity to transport spoils and other materials to and from Manhattan by barge. To take advantage of waterborne transportation opportunities, riverfront sites were explored along most of Manhattan’s East Side. Two sites stand out as potentially viable: at 129th Street along the Harlem River, and near Pier 6 on the East River in Lower Manhattan. See Figures L-2.1 and L-2.2.

By minimizing truck traffic, barge transport would generally create the fewest street-level impacts. Spoils and other materials from the Second Avenue Subway project could be transported to and from the barge site by:

• An underground conveyance system connecting the Second Avenue shaft sites with the Harlem or East Rivers;

• A covered above-ground conveyor system; or

• Trucks from the Second Avenue shaft sites.

Each of the potential barge sites would require two barge cranes to be located next to the bulkhead as shown in Figure L-2.3. These cranes would be used to load spoils and other materials on or off the barges. If underground conveyors are used to transport spoils, a shaft would also have to be located near the bulkhead on the land side. Approximately 12 barge trips would be made from each barge site every day. In addition, approximately three additional barges could be moored in the vicinity to store materials. This additional storage space would be needed because the land between the Harlem River and the nearby Harlem River Drive, and between the East River and the FDR Drive is narrow.

In addition to the barge sites, an additional waterfront site is also being evaluated for the Second Avenue Subway. This site, on Coney Island Creek, is being considered for possible use as a storage yard for Second Avenue Subway rail cars. This would effectively expand the large Coney Island Yard subway rail storage facility already located immediately to the north of the site. Please see Figure L-2.4.

The following sections describe activities associated with the construction of the barge and rail yard storage facilities. Coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and other agencies would occur as part of the permitting process to determine the most appropriate seasons and timeframes for in-water construction, based on other projects within the New York Harbor area.

BARGE SITE AT 129TH STREET AND THE HARLEM RIVER

As described earlier, having a shaft site and staging area at the northernmost point of the project would allow for efficient spoils removal operations. Further, the proximity to the river in this area could allow use of barges rather than trucks for moving much of the materials. Transporting materials by barge would

Second Avenue Subway SDEIS

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substantially reduce the distance that trucks would need to travel to remove and bring in material from shaft sites each day; consequently, removing spoils from Manhattan by barge was given serious consideration as a potential means of minimizing disruption to the surrounding communities where shaft sites may need to be constructed.

The proposed waterfront site on the Harlem River is located at the project’s northern end at approximately 129th Street. This site is proposed as a barge operation site because it is the only site in the vicinity that would allow for spoils conveyance by barge. The site is currently publicly owned and is under the New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYCDOT’s) jurisdiction. This site and adjacent areas are planned for use as a support area for reconstruction of the Willis Avenue Bridge, which is adjacent to the site on the south and east. The staging area for the bridge construction would be located directly south of the proposed barge site for the Second Avenue Subway. While the City and community have identified the project site as part of the future East River Esplanade Park, no funding for this use has yet been identified. This site was formerly used as a concrete plant and some infrastructure for barging still exist on the site, although long out of use. Permits from the ACOE and NYSDEC would be required to construct the barge facility. Dredging would probably be required given the shallow water depth at the site.

The barge facility would include two barges with cranes (approximately 120 feet long and 60 feet wide) that could be fixed in place using piles or attached to the bulkhead. Pile driving equipment could be required. Barges of approximately the same size are also proposed to store materials needed to construct the subway. Both the crane barges and materials storage barges are expected to be used throughout the spoils removal phase for the Second Avenue Subway construction period, which is estimated to last for up to 10 years. It is possible that the location of these barges could be fixed for that entire duration. In addition to the fixed barges, four floating hopper barges (approximately 260 feet long and 50 feet wide) would move to and from the site to load and unload spoils and other construction materials. A maximum of four hopper barges could be present at any one time. The upland portion of the 129th Street site would be used for storing construction spoils and other materials as they are loaded and unloaded from the barges.

The site’s existing bulkhead would need to be repaired or replaced to accommodate the activities that would occur on the upland portion of the site. Although detailed plans for such construction are not yet available, the project would likely use common replacement practices for bulkhead restoration. Depending on the type and condition of the existing bulkhead and relieving platform replacement methods could include the following:

• Driving steel sheet piles 18 inches outward from the existing bulkhead and then tying back the top of the sheeting to a support located landward of the new sheeting;

• Constructing a new high- or low-level relieving platform for support;

• A concrete cap could be poured in place on top of the sheeting to form a new edge, and the area behind the new sheeting would be filled with clean soil; and/or

• Pile clusters might also be needed to bulkhead and to moor barges safely.

HARLEM RIVER

The Harlem River is a tidal strait about 6 miles long and 400 feet wide that connects the Hudson and East Rivers. The water depth of the navigable channel is maintained at 15 feet below MLW, except for the area around Spuyten Duyvil where the channel is maintained to 18 feet at MLW. The tidal currents in the Harlem River run in two directions: north and west toward the Hudson River and south and east toward

Appendix L.2: Natural Resources—EFH

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the East River. The mean tidal range varies from 5.1 feet at Hell Gate to 3.6 feet at the Hudson River. The current velocity is 2.0 knots or more in the narrower parts of the channel (ACOE, 1999).

Water Quality Overview

NYCDEP currently collects water quality monitoring data from 6 sites in the upper East River and western Long Island Sound, including sites along the Harlem River. The closest sampling site to the proposed 129th Street barge is East 155th Street. According to the New York Harbor Water Quality Survey (NYCDEP, 2001), summer temperatures in the Harlem River near the project site ranged from 22.2°C to 24.2°C (71.96°F to 75.56°F), and salinity ranged from 15.9 to 24.2 parts per thousand (ppt). Temperatures and salinities varied only slightly between surface waters 0.9 to 1.8 meters (3 to 6 feet) and bottom waters 6 to 8.8 meters (20 to 29 feet).

Summer dissolved oxygen (DO) values for the 155th Street sampling station ranged from 2.6 to 5.7 mg/L and varied little between bottom waters and surface waters. The highest DO concentration (11.3 mg/L) was recorded during February. The Harlem River is classified as a Class I water. The NYCDEP DO standard for Class I waters is 4.0 mg/L. Although water quality conditions in the estuary have improved considerably over the past two decades, the “never less than” DO standard for fish was violated once during the 2001 sampling conducted at the Harlem River station. DO is indicative of overall water quality in aquatic systems, and areas with extremely low DO are often avoided by finfish. Decomposition of algae and other organic compounds from various sources can deplete DO. Exposure to short periods of DO below 4.0 mg/L is generally not as stressful to estuarine organisms as prolonged exposure. Periodic exposure to low DO occurs naturally, and estuarine organisms generally have developed adaptations to these short periods of stress. DO concentrations in the Harlem River follow a seasonal pattern: lowest during the summer growing season, and highest during the late winter/early spring months when water temperatures are coolest (NYCDEP, 2001).

Fecal coliform concentrations have shown a downward trend within the northeastern harbor region (including the upper East River, Harlem River and western Long Island Sound) over the past 20 years. In 2001, fecal coliform concentrations at the at the 155th Street Harlem River station ranged from 17 to 3,960 MF/L, with no apparent seasonal patterns in concentrations. Fecal coliform concentrations did not meet not meet the bathing standard (300 MF/L) in 7 of 16 samples and failed the fishing standard (2,000 MF/L) once (NYCDEP, 2001).

Other water quality parameters, such as nutrients (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen), are routinely monitored as part of the New York Harbor Water Quality Survey. Nutrients are present in the Harlem River year-round; however, they are most important to aquatic plant growth during the spring/fall growing season. The Harlem River 155th Street sampling station showed an average chlorophyll a concentration above 20 µg/L in 2001, which is considered indicative of eutrophic conditions. NYCDEP reports concern over increased chlorophyll a levels in 2001 that reversed the trend of decreasing levels that had been observed in the upper northeast harbor area over the past several years. A comprehensive plan is being developed to reduce nutrient discharges in the northeast harbor region (NYCDEP, 2001).

Sediments Overview

Sampling at the 129th Street barge site in June 2002 indicates that sediments on the bottom of the Harlem River were mostly gravel and silt. Sediment concentrations of contaminants exceed NYSDEC guidance levels (TAGM #4046 Determination of Soil Cleanup Objectives and Cleanup Levels) for some SVOCs and heavy metals (EEA, 2002). Many studies within the vicinity have shown that the Harlem River exceeds guidance values defined in NYSDEC’s Technical Guidance for Screening Contaminated Sediments (1999) for silver, cadmium, arsenic, pesticides, and PCBs. Consequently, the Harlem River


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near 129th Street is likely to be moderately to severely affected by contaminants. Local industry, as well as the historic use of the waterfront site for concrete manufacturing, may have contributed to the river’s contamination through runoff and other discharges. High levels of contamination often result in low diversity of macroinvertebrate species in an aquatic environment.

TRUCKING OR BARGE SITE IN LOWER MANHATTAN

In Lower Manhattan, the proposed barge site is located at Pier 6 on the East River, the site near Coenties Slip recently used to remove debris from the World Trade Center site. Tunnel spoils would be removed from a shaft at the southern terminus of the Second Avenue Subway alignment on Water Street near Coenties Slip and conveyed to the Pier 6 barge site, where they would be removed by barge. A docking facility for several barges would be operated at Pier 6. Materials could be transported to the barge site by a conveyor system by trucks. The shaft on Water Street could be used for inserting the tunnel boring machine, most likely an Earth Pressure Balance Machine (EPBM), which would then excavate a tunnel northward toward Houston Street.

The proposed barging facility near Pier 6 would include the placement of three barge cranes that would be fixed in the water for the duration of construction at this site, which could last for up to 10 years, depending on the construction option. Generally, the operation of a spoils removal and delivery site at Pier 6 would be similar to that described previously for the proposed 129th Street site. One crane barge (approximately 240 feet long and 70 feet wide) is proposed adjacent to the existing bulkhead for storage to allow vehicles to drive over the water for loading and unloading. Two crane barges (120 feet by 60 feet) placed to the north and east of this storage barge would be used to load and unload materials to and from the vehicles. Piles would be used to secure the crane barges. Up to four hopper barges, two approximately 260 feet by 50 feet and two approximately 200 feet by 50 feet, would be temporarily moored near the crane barges. Because these four barges would be used for transporting materials to and from the site, they would move frequently; only one or two barges would be located at the construction site at any one time. In contrast, the crane barges (storage and crane barges) would remain as fixed platform coverage, for the duration of the construction period.

EAST RIVER

The East River is a tidal strait connecting New York Harbor with the western end of Long Island Sound. It is approximately 16 miles long and generally ranges from 600 to 4,000 feet wide. Water depth in the navigation channel is maintained at 40 feet below MLW from the Battery to the former Brooklyn Navy Yard, and 35 feet at MLW from that point to the Throgs Neck Bridge. In reality, the channel is much deeper in places than the maintained depth, reaching up to 100 feet deep in areas just north of Hell Gate.

Circulation and salinity structure is largely determined by conditions in the Harbor and Sound. The East River fish, benthic, and plankton communities are strongly influenced by the composition and abundance of these communities in adjacent water bodies. The reach of the East River between Roosevelt Island and Wards Island, known as Hell Gate, is noted for its strong tidal currents. The flood current sets eastward and the ebb sets westward. Direction and velocity of the currents are affected by strong winds, which may increase or diminish the periods of flood and ebb. Current velocities are rapid in the East River—maximum velocities in the lower River reach 5 knots. Current speeds in the upper East River are not as great because it is wider and more of its tidal prism is exchanged with the Harbor than with the Sound.

The mean tidal range is considerable—approximately 1.3 meters (4.26 feet) at the Battery increasing to 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) at Willets Point. The phase of the tide at Willets Point lags the Battery by about 3 hours. This phase difference (and the difference in resulting water elevations between the Battery and


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Willets Point) is chiefly responsible for the rapid tidal currents in this water body. Tidal excursion distances vary between 16 and 21 kilometers (9.9 to 13 miles) in the upper East River.


NYCDEP currently collects water quality monitoring data from 14 sites in the Inner Harbor area, which encompasses the proposed Pier 6 barge site in the Lower East River as well as the Hudson River, the Narrows, and the Kill van Kull-Arthur Kill system. The closest sampling site to the proposed Pier 6 barge site is located on the west side of the river off of East 23rd Street. Summer temperatures in 2001 in the East River near the project site at the East 23rd Street sampling station ranged from 20 to 24°C (68 to 75.2°F), and salinity ranged from 23 to 26.5 ppt. As with the Harlem River sampling site, differences in water quality measurements between surface waters 0.91 to 1.8 meters (3 to 6 feet) and bottom waters 11.9 to 15.9 meters (39 to 52 feet) were slight (NYCDEP, 2001).

The East River is classified as a Class I water by NYCDEP. The DO standard for Class I waters is 4.0 mg/L. As mentioned previously, although water quality conditions in the estuary have improved considerably over the past two decades, violations of the “never less than” DO standards are still recorded. Summer DO values recorded at the East 23rd Street sampling station ranged from 2.5 to 5.3 mg/L for surface waters and 2.2 to 5.0 for bottom waters. DO concentrations were below the 4.0 mg/L standard in 3 of 15 surface water samples and 5 of 15 bottom water samples in 2001 (NYCDEP, 2001).

Fecal coliform concentrations for the Lower East River ranged from 8 to 1,020 MF/L in 2001 and complied with the standard for best-use classifications for fishing (2,000 MF/L). Past data show that the Inner Harbor area is prone to short-term fluctuations in water quality, particularly episodic increases in fecal coliform following rainstorms. The Inner Harbor shows the least year-to-year chlorophyll a variation and lowest summertime average (5 µg/L average in 2001), although, trends have shown a slight increase in chlorophyll a concentration in the 1990’s relative to the value concentrations measured in the 1980’s. In 2001 chlorophyll a concentrations at the East 23rd Street sampling station ranged from 1.2 to 9.6 µg/L, with 13 of 15 samples below 5 µg/L (NYCDEP, 2001).

Sediments Overview

The lower East River primarily has a hard, rock bottom consisting of gravel, cobble, rocks, and boulders covered with a shallow layer of sediment, usually ranging from less than 2 inches and occasionally up to 12 inches thick in the channel area. Sediment samples collected at the Pier 6 site were primarily silt and clay with some sand (EEA, 2002). Studies indicate that the lack of soft sediments is most likely attributable to the high current velocities that maintain particulate matter in suspension (PAS, 1985). In addition, elevated concentrations of several heavy metals and methylene chloride in East River sediments were measured over the period between 1980 and 1982 as part of the Newtown Creek 301 (n) application (Hazen and Sawyer, 1983). Results of sampling at Pier 6 in June 2002 indicate that sediment concentrations of contaminants exceed NYSDEC guidance levels for some SVOCs and heavy metals (EEA, 2002).

NEW STORAGE YARD AT CONEY ISLAND YARD

A site at Coney Island Creek is being considered for use as a storage yard for Second Avenue Subway rail cars. Construction of a new single-track bridge over the Coney Island Creek would be needed to connect a potential new rail yard adjacent to the existing Coney Island Yard. The bridge construction would include new abutments and placement of a new span, and probable pile placement within Coney Island Creek. It is possible that some repairs to the existing riprap (stone embankment) bulkhead would also be needed to support the upland activities. This could occur either by rearmoring the slope with stones of a suitable


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size, or potentially installing a new bulkhead. Within the potential new yard site, construction would be limited to surface construction, including grading, track bed, traction power equipment, and signals.

CONEY ISLAND YARD EXPANSION SITE-CONEY ISLAND CREEK

Coney Island Creek is a small tidal creek approximately 1.6 miles in length, along the northern border of Coney Island in Brooklyn. At its head, Coney Island Creek is a narrow, shallow, body of water approximately 50 yards wide. At low tide, this portion of the creek becomes exposed as mudflat. Farther west, the creek bends, flowing northwest, and water depths increase to approximately 2 to 4 feet MLW. The creek is considered a navigable water of the United States and thus is subject to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. The potential yard expansion site encompasses these portions of the creek, from its head and up to its westward turn at Stillwell Avenue. Continuing past Cropsey Avenue, the creek deepens to 13 to 14 feet MLW and widens to 1,500 feet at West 19th Street; the creek is up to 3,300 feet wide at its widest point (Kaiser Park fishing pier). The creek then narrows again to approximately 2,100 feet and empties into Gravesend Bay, where it ranges in depth from 14 to 26 feet MLW. Velocity data from 1993 indicated generally weak and shore parallel currents ranging from 0.00 to 0.26 knots. The mean tidal range is approximately 4.8 feet at the mouth of the creek and 4.9 feet at the head of the creek. (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998)


Water quality sampling was conducted for a combined sewer overflow (CSO) planning project within Coney Island Creek in 1993 under both wet and dry conditions between the months of June and October (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Average monthly surface water temperatures ranged from 14.2°C (57.6°F) near Gravesend Bay in October to 24.2°C (75.6°F) near the creek’s head in August. Temperature differences between surface and bottom waters were less than 1°C at all stations throughout the sampling period. Average surface salinity under dry conditions ranged from 17.2 to 26.5 ppt, and under wet weather conditions ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 ppt lower reflecting the influence of CSOs and storm water inputs.

Dissolved oxygen averages ranged from 2.0 mg/L at the head of the creek to 8.9 mg/L towards the creek’s outlet to Gravesend Bay. Coliform concentrations were high in the upper portion of the creek due discharges from CSOs and stormwater outfalls as well as the confined nature of the creek at the head, which restricts exchange (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998).

Sediments Overview

Sediments of the Coney Island Creek bottom were analyzed for their composition of materials to determine grain size distribution and organic matter content by EEA, Inc. in 1995. Sediments at the easternmost stations (farthest upstream in the creek) contained high organic content—approximately 20 to 30 percent. Downstream, where the creek widens near Gravesend Bay, sediments contained a lower organic content (0.7 percent). Grain size distribution of sediments was approximately 80 percent mud (combined silt and clay fractions) and 20 percent sand in the upper portions of the creek. Sand content increased moving to the western portions of the creek [sand (46 percent) and silt (40 percent)].

Elevated heavy metals and organic pollutants (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] and ethylbenzene) concentrations were previously found in sediments collected from Coney Island Creek, and are typical of those found in waters impacted by CSOs and storm sewers (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1988).


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B. EFH DESIGNATIONS

129TH STREET AND PIER 6 SITES

The 129th Street study area on the Harlem River and the Pier 6 study area on the East River are within a portion of the Hudson River estuary EFH that is situated in the NOAA/NMFS 10' x 10' square with coordinates (North) 40o50.0' N, (East) 73o50.0' W, (South) 40o40.0' N, (West) 74o00.0' W, which extends from Manhattan Island and Brooklyn to the Bronx, south of Unionport, and Queens, west of College Point. The Harlem River and East River have been identified as Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for 17 species of fish. The species and life stages for the Harlem and East Rivers are shown below in Table L.2-1.

Table L.2-1 Essential Fish Habitat Designated Species for the Harlem and East Rivers

Species Eggs Larvae Juveniles Adults Pollock (Pollachius virens) X X Red hake (Urophycis chuss) X X X Winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) X X X X Windowpane flounder (Scopthalmus aquosus) X X X X Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) X X X Bluefish (Pomatomus saltrix) X X Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) X X X Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) X X Summer flounder (Paralicthys dentatus) X X X Scup (Stenotomus chrysops) X X X X Black sea bass (Centropristus striata) N/A X X King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) X X X X Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) X X X X Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) X X X X Sand tiger shark (Odontaspis taurus) X Dusky shark (Charcharinus obscurus) X Sandbar shark (Charcharinus plumbeus) X X Source: National Marine Fisheries Service. “Summary of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Designation”

posted on the internet at www.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/STATES4/conn_li_ny/40407350.html.

CONEY ISLAND YARD EXPANSION SITE

The proposed Coney Island Yard expansion site on Coney Island Creek is within a portion of the Hudson River estuary EFH that is situated in the NOAA/NMFS 10' x 10' square with coordinates (North) 40o40.0' N, (East) 73o50.0' W, (South) 40o30.0' N, (West) 74o00.0' W, encompassing western Rockaway Beach, western Jamaica Bay, Rockaway Inlet, and Coney Island (except for Norton Point). Coney Island Creek has been identified as EFH for 18 species of fish listed in Table L.2-2.


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Table L.2-2 Essential Fish Habitat Designated Species for Coney Island Creek

Species Eggs Larvae Juveniles Adults Whiting (Merluccius bilinearis) X X X Red hake (Urophycis chuss) X X X Winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) X X X X Windowpane flounder (Scopthalmus aquosus) X X X X Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) X X Monkfish (Lophius americanus) X X Bluefish (Pomatomus saltrix) X X Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) X X X Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) X X Summer flounder (Paralicthys dentatus) X X X Scup (Stenotomus chrysops) X X X X Black sea bass (Centropristus striata) N/A X X King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) X X X X Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) X X X X Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) X X X X Sand tiger shark (Odontaspis taurus) X Dusky shark (Charcharinus obscurus) X Sandbar shark (Charcharinus plumbeus) X X X Source: National Marine Fisheries Service. “Summary of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Designation”

posted on the internet at www.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/STATES4/conn_li_ny/40307350.html.

C. ANALYSIS OF EFFECT TO THE EFH

GENERAL DISCUSSION OF AQUATIC IMPACTS

129TH STREET AT THE HARLEM RIVER

The 129th Street site would be used for storing construction spoils and other materials as they are loaded and unloaded from the barges. At this site the existing bulkhead, including the relieving platform, would need to be repaired or replaced to accommodate the proposed activities. In addition, dredging of approximately 6,500 cubic yards would be required. Fixed platform coverage from the proposed crane barges is approximately 12,000 square feet. The construction period at this site is estimated to last up to 10 years.

The proposed construction and barging activities would not have any long-term adverse impacts to water quality. Some temporary water quality degradation caused by dredging and a limited amount of pile driving and bulkhead reconstruction would be expected, but this effect is likely to be limited to a temporary increase in suspended sediments. These effects would be short term, occurring as a direct result of physical disturbances. In general, estuarine species, such as those that occur in the Harlem River, have adapted to relatively harsh estuarine conditions and can avoid or tolerate turbid conditions that are temporary in nature. Mitigation measures, discussed below, would be implemented to minimize potential water quality impacts. Water quality would be expected to return to a level consistent with the waterway’s intended use shortly after the completion of construction activities. The barge facility construction period is expected to be 3 to 6 months.


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The cranes would load spoils onto the barges, in such a manner that spoils would be confined by the barge and minimize spillage. However, there is a potential for particulates and other fine matter to be released into the air, with some eventual settlement into the waterway. In addition, the tugs (typically 750 horsepower) used to pull the barges often have large wakes that could result in increased turbidity. Resuspension from tugs is expected to be minimal and temporary, and their use would not cause significant long-term impacts to the Harlem River.

Potential benefits of the fixed barges are that their piles could provide additional temporary substrate for the invertebrate communities in the Harlem River, increasing food sources for fish species, and may provide shelter for some species commonly associated with man-made structures, such as black sea bass.

PIER 6 AT THE EAST RIVER

As with the proposed 129th Street barge facility, a barge facility is proposed at or near Pier 6. The current concept design of the barging facility involves the placement of three fixed barges, each supporting a crane, in the water for the duration of construction at this site, which could last for up to 10 years. In addition, up to four hopper barges would be temporarily moored near the barge cranes and used to transport construction spoils. No bulkhead repairs would be required, and only a small amount of dredging (approximately 3,500 cubic yards) may be required. Fixed platform coverage from the proposed crane barges is approximately 30,000 square feet.

As with the barge facility at 129th Street, some water quality degradation would be expected to occur while the crane barges are anchored to the river bottom; this could last for approximately 3 to 6 months. It is likely that in-water placement of spud barges would require the use of pile driving equipment from the landside, which would cause resuspension of particulates and fine matter within the water column. However, the current velocities within the East River should disperse suspended material quickly. Additionally, the decrease in water quality should only be temporary and would be minimized using mitigation measures described below.

Barge facility operations, as described above for the 129th Street site, are not likely to result in any significant long-term impacts to water quality within the East River. In addition, the potential above-ground conveyer system, which would transport material to the site, would be completely covered, and would minimize the release of materials or fines into the water or air.

Because the area around Pier 6 was recently dredged to accommodate transport of World Trade Center debris by barge, it is not anticipated that dredging would be required at the site, with the possible exception of a small amount of channel deepening at the southern edge of Pier 9 (if needed for safe barge operations). However, it may be necessary to conduct maintenance dredging if the area were to become resedimented. Maintenance dredging is expected to be minimal, approximately 3,500 cubic yards.

Potential benefits of the fixed barges are that their piles could provide additional temporary substrate for the invertebrate communities in the East River, increasing food sources for fish species, and may provide additional habitat for those species commonly associated with man-made structures, such as black sea bass.

CONEY ISLAND YARD EXPANSION AT CONEY ISLAND CREEK

Construction of a new single-track bridge over Coney Island Creek would be required to connect a potential new rail yard adjacent to the existing Coney Island Yard. The bridge construction would include new abutments, placement of a new span, and probable pile placement within Coney Island Creek. The bridge would cross Coney Island Creek near the existing track bridge just south of the existing Coney Island Yard, and would measure approximately 15 to 20 feet in width. To support train activities, it may


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also be necessary to rearmor the existing riprap bulkhead, or to build a new bulkhead along a portion of the creek.

Temporary water quality impacts may occur during the approximately 3 to 6 months period when the piles and bulkhead are installed. It is likely that in-water construction would require the use of pile driving equipment, which would cause temporary resuspension of fine matter within the water column. However, the potential increase in suspended sediment would be temporary, and would be minimized using mitigation measures described below. As discussed previously, estuarine organisms are generally tolerant of short periods of increased suspended sediment concentrations and the aquatic community of Coney Island Creek would not be expected to be adversely impacted by the proposed construction activities.

At the Coney Island site, no dredging would be required, and no changes to hydrodynamics would be expected due to the limited incursion into the water. If a new bulkhead were needed, disturbances would be fewer if only rearmoring were to take place. Again, however, the increased turbidity and degradation or water quality would be temporary (approximately 3 to 6 months), with minimal impacts to Coney Island Creek.

PROPOSED MITIGATION

The MTA and NYCT have previously worked successfully with natural resource issues, and have coordinated with regulatory agencies, such as the NYSDEC, to develop viable design options and mitigation for various projects. The MTA/NYCT will continue to work with regulatory agencies in developing the Second Avenue Subway project in order address and resolve natural resource issues.

Silt curtains would be used where appropriate (i.e., during dredging or shoreline construction activities) to reduce and control turbidity in the water column and to allow suspended solids to settle. These curtains could also capture floating debris during placement of crane barges and bridge piles within the waterways. Silt curtains would also be expected to minimize local water quality degradation from in-water construction. Additionally, standard erosion control measures would be implemented during bulkhead replacement activities and bridge construction activities involving upland areas. Additional mitigation measures would be implemented as identified during the permitting process by federal and state agencies. Coney Island Creek is a distressed waterway surrounded by industrial development, subject to numerous sewer outfalls and littering. As part of the permitting processes, the Second Avenue Subway project would coordinate with the NYSDEC to identify appropriate mitigation for any temporary aquatic habitat impacts. All mitigation measures would be organized into the CEPP, which would be applied to all aspects of planned project construction and operation. This CEPP would be implemented through MTA/NYCT.

ASSESSMENT OF EFH SPECIES

An analysis of EFH for each fish species and life stage for each water body listed in Tables 1 and 2—including the likelihood that the species would occupy the project area—is summarized below.

POLLOCK

Pollock are marine fish that occur on both sides of the Atlantic (NEFMC, 2000). In the western Atlantic, pollock occur from the Hudson Strait south to North Carolina, and is rare at the extremes of its range (Fishbase, 2002). In the northwest Atlantic they are most abundant on the western Scotian Shelf and in the Gulf of Maine. There is one major spawning area in the western Gulf of Maine and several spawning areas on the Scotian Shelf (NEFSC, 2002). The East River and Harlem River are designated as EFH for juvenile and adult pollock.


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Juvenile pollock are common in inshore areas and move offshore as they get older. The typical habitat for juveniles is bottom habitats with aquatic vegetation or a substrate of sand, mud, or rocks with water temperatures below 18°C (65°F), depths from 0 to 250 meters (0 to 820 feet), and salinities of about 29 or 30 ppt (NEFMC, 2000). This is a higher salinity and lower temperature than is typical for the 129th Street and Pier 6 project areas in the summer (NYCDEP, 2001). In addition, there is currently little, if any, aquatic vegetation to provide nursery areas for juvenile pollock at either site.

Adult pollock are found on hard bottom habitats, including artificial reefs, with water temperatures below 14°C (57.2°F), depths from 15 to 365 meters (50 to 1,200 feet), and marine salinities above 31 ppt (NEFMS, 2000). These are greater depths and salinities and lower temperatures than are typical for the 129th Street and Pier 6 project areas (NYCDEP, 2001). However, adult pollock were collected during impingement studies conducted during 1993-1994 at the Ravenswood plant on the Queens side of the East River (NYSDOT, 2000), suggesting that pollock do use the East River.

Adults are the stage of pollock with the greatest potential to occur in the project areas. However, if present in either of the project areas, adults of this species are expected to be transient. Project activities would not substantially alter the existing habitat at any of the in-water construction sites. Furthermore, the fixed barges will provide additional substrate for invertebrate communities in the East and Harlem Rivers, increasing food sources for fish. As such, EFH for this species would not be affected by the project. The status of the pollock fisheries stock is considered “undetermined” by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, 2002).

WHITING

Whiting (silver hake) range in the Atlantic from Newfoundland to South Carolina. There are two stocks in U.S. waters. The northern stock inhabits Gulf of Maine – Northern Georges Bank waters, and the southern stock inhabits Southern Georges Bank – Middle Atlantic Bight waters. Whiting migrate in response to seasonal changes in water temperatures, moving to shallow waters in the spring to spawn and returning to deeper waters in the autumn (NEFMC, 1998). Coney Island Creek is designated as EFH for eggs, larvae, and juvenile whiting.

Coney Island Creek area makes up a very small portion of the EFH for this species. The whiting stock is considered overfished and is in the third year of a ten-year rebuilding program. Coney Island Creek is located in a quadrant of the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary that contains high quality fish habitat areas such as Jamaica Bay. However, Coney Island Creek, especially in the upstream reaches at the location of the project site, is very poor habitat and contains very few fish. In a 1994 biota sampling study of the creek, only 2 fish (an Atlantic silverside and a striped bass) were collected from the head of the creek to a point about 2,000 yards above the mouth (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). In this study no fish were caught in the most upstream reaches. As such, no effects to EFH from the project are expected for any life stage of whiting.

RED HAKE

Red Hake is a bottom-dwelling fish that lives on sand and mud bottoms along the continental shelf from southern Nova Scotia to North Carolina (concentrated from the southwestern part of the Georges Banks to New Jersey). The East River and Harlem River are designated as EFH for larvae, juvenile, and adult red hake. Coney Island Creek is designated as EFH for eggs, larvae, and juveniles of this species. Spawning adults and eggs are common in marine portions of most coastal bays between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Spawning occurs from May to June in the New York Bight (Steimle et al., 1999a).


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Red hake eggs are pelagic and range from the Middle Atlantic Bight to the Gulf of Maine. Eggs are found on the edge of the continental shelf during the cooler months and across the continental shelf during the warmer months. The characteristics of the habitat in which red hake eggs are commonly found are not well understood because red hake eggs co-occur with, and are indistinguishable from, the eggs of other hake species (Steimle et al., 1999a). Due to shallow depths and poor water quality of Coney Island Creek in the vicinity of the Coney Island Yard site, it is unlikely that red hake eggs would be present in this study area.

The typical habitat for red hake larvae is sea surface temperatures between 8 and 23°C (46 to 73°F), depths between 10 and 200 meters (33 to 660 feet), and salinities greater than 0.5 ppt. The larvae are most often observed from May through December, with peaks in September and October. Although larvae have been reported from the Hudson River Estuary, they are most abundant at the middle and outer continental shelf throughout the Middle Atlantic Bight (Steimle et al., 1999a). While red hake larvae do have the potential to occur in the East River and Harlem River, these individuals would be transient on the basis of habitat preferences, and the potential habitat modifications that would occur as a result of in-water construction would not significantly affect EFH for larvae.

Shelter is a critical habitat requirement for red hake. In the autumn, young juveniles descend from the water column to the bottom and seek sheltering habitat in depressions in the sea floor. Juveniles are found on shelly substrates, and prefer water temperatures below 16°C (61°F), depths of less than 100 meters (328 feet), and a salinity range of 31 to 33 ppt (Steimle et al., 1999a). This is a slightly lower temperature and greater salinity then is typical in the vicinity of the project site (NYCDEP, 2001). In the Hudson-Raritan Estuary red hake were collected at depths between 5 and 50 meters (16 to 164 feet) (Woodhead, 1990). Juveniles would not likely be found in the shallow waters of the project area on Coney Island Creek. Red hake are very sensitive to low DO (Steimle et al., 1999a). In particular, juveniles are sensitive to DO levels less than 4.2 mg/L, and would likely not tolerate summer minima conditions that occur occasionally in the East and Harlem Rivers, and frequently in Coney Island Creek.

Adults are found in bottom habitats of sand and mud, and they prefer water temperatures below 14°C (57 °F), depths from 15 to 365 meters (50 to 1,200 feet), salinities between 31 and 34 ppt, and a more open water environment than the project areas. Red hake adults are sensitive to hypoxia, and prefer DO levels greater than 6 mg/L (Steimle et al., 1999a), and as noted for juveniles, may not tolerate summer minima conditions the project areas.

Adult red hake were collected during impingement studies at the Ravenswood plant on the Queens side of the East River (NYSDOT, 2000). If present in the project areas, adults of this species are expected to be transient, likely during the spring and fall when DO is above 4.2 mg/L, prior to winter migrations to deeper waters. The project areas are likely at the upper portion of the geographic range for juveniles and adults and would constitute a small portion of the EFH for this species. Overfishing is not currently occurring for the southern stock of red hake, the stock that occurs within the New York/New Jersey Harbor (NMFS, 2002). As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish. No red hake were collected in the 1994 sampling of the creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998); therefore, red hake are not expected to occur in this project area. No effects to EFH from the project are expected for any life stage of red hake.

WINTER FLOUNDER

Winter flounder can be found from Labrador to North Carolina but most commonly in estuaries from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Chesapeake Bay including the Lower Hudson (Heimbuch et al., 1994, ACOE, 2000). It is a fairly small, thick flatfish that is abundant in the Lower Hudson Estuary, where it is a


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resident, but may travel upriver into fresh water (Heimbuch et al., 1994). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for eggs, larvae, juvenile, and adult winter flounder.

Habitat and environmental conditions in the East River are typical for all life stages of winter flounder. All life stages were collected during impingement and entrainment studies conducted in 1993-1994 at the Ravenswood plant on the Queens side of the East River (NYSDOT, 2000). All life stages are expected to occur at the Pier 6 site. Spawning adults and eggs are often observed from February to June, and larvae are observed from March to July. Eggs, juveniles, and adults prefer bottom habitats of mud or fine-grained sand, and larvae are found in both bottom habitats and in the water column (Heimbuch et al., 1994). All stages of winter flounder are also known to occur in the Harlem River (NOAA, 2001).

Winter flounder are particularly susceptible to pollution (Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982). The eggs are laid directly on the substrate and therefore any toxins in the sediment can affect their viability. This species' close association with sediments also potentially exposes the fish to sediment toxins. Grosslein and Azarovitz (1982) noted that few larvae survived in polluted estuaries, and that winter flounder were entirely absent from polluted sections of the New York/New Jersey Harbor. In particular, winter flounder experience increased mortality as a result of exposure to insecticides, especially DDT (Buckley, 1989).

As discussed above, surveys of the upper portion of Coney Island Creek suggest poor fish habitat due to discharges from the CSO. In fish trawl studies performed for the CSO facility, one adult winter flounder was collected in Coney Island Creek during May 1994 biota surveys (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). However, this specimen was collected near the mouth of the creek, at the confluence with Gravesend Bay, and the study area is located near the head of the creek, closer to the CSO facility. Stations near the head of the creek exhibited both low species diversity and low numbers of individuals. If present within the Coney Island Creek, adults of this species are expected to be transient. Eggs, larvae, and juveniles are not expected to be present at this site.

Installation of piles for the crane barges, replacement of bulkheads, and dredging would disturb substrate habitat and the water column. These activities could result in a temporary increase in turbidity, and a temporary adverse impact on the habitat for winter flounder because of this species’ dependence on sight. However, this species has adapted to relatively harsh estuarine conditions and can avoid highly turbid conditions that are temporary in nature. Because the proposed action would occur over a maximum of approximately 6 months, and since the activities on the Harlem and East Rivers would be separated from each other by approximately 8 miles, water quality is expected to return to existing levels following the construction of barge facilities. In addition, the intensity of construction during this period would vary, with periods of turbidity alternating with periods of limited activity. Due to current velocities within the East River dispersion of re-suspended sediments would likely occur quickly.

No significant adverse impacts are expected to occur from the limited amount of platform addition that would result from the barge operations at 129th Street and Pier 6. The limited size of the fixed barges, coupled with the limited amount of vertical intrusion into the river bottoms, would allow fish to move through the underpier areas at both barge locations. In addition, the narrow dimensions of the proposed crane barges at either site reduce the amount of habitat affected by shading, proposed construction activities would not significantly alter the habitat used by fish. Shading by fixed barges may adversely affect some habitat but the project areas constitute a small portion of EFH for this species and would not adversely impact this fishery. Winter flounder are found throughout the Upper New York Harbor, Kill van Kull and Arthur Kill, and the southern New England-Middle Atlantic stocks of winter flounder are not considered over-exploited (NMFS, 2002). Project activities would not substantially alter the existing habitat at any of the three in-water construction sites. As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish and winter flounder were only captured at the mouth


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of the creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Therefore, winter flounder are not expected to occur in this project area. No impacts to EFH for winter flounder are anticipated from this project.

WINDOWPANE FLOUNDER

Windowpane flounder, also called sand flounder, is found from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to South Carolina and has its maximum abundance in the New York Bight. Windowpane flounder are generally found offshore on sandy bottoms in water between 50 and 80 meters (164 to 262 feet) deep, and close inshore in estuaries just below the mean low water mark. They migrate onshore in the shallow shoal water in the summer and early autumn as water temperatures increase, and migrate offshore during the winter and early spring months when temperatures decrease (Chang et al., 1999). Habitat and environmental conditions in the East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are typical for all life stages of win-dowpane flounder. The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for eggs, larvae, juvenile, and adult windowpane flounder. Windowpane flounder eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults were collected during impingement and entrainment studies conducted in 1993-1994 at the Ravenswood plant on the Queens side of the East River (NYSDOT, 2000).

Windowpane flounder spawn within the mid-Atlantic Bight from April to December in the bottom waters with temperatures ranging from 8.5 to 13.5°C (47 to 56ºF). Spawning peaks occur in May and then again in the autumn in the southern portion of the Bight (ACOE, 2000).

The buoyant eggs and larvae that settle to the bottom are found predominately in the estuaries and coastal shelf water for the spring spawned eggs, and in the coastal shelf waters alone for those eggs spawned in the autumn. Windowpane eggs are found floating in the water column at temperatures of 5 to 20°C (41 to 68ºF), specifically at 4 to 16°C (39 to 61ºF) in spring (March through May), 10 to 16°C (50 to 61ºF) in summer (June through August), and 14 to 20°C (57 to 68ºF) in autumn (September through November), and within depths less than 70 meters (229 feet) (Chang et al., 1999). Larvae are typically found in the area of the estuary where salinity ranges from 18 to 30 ppt in the spring, and on the shelf in the autumn. Juvenile windowpane flounder were found year-round in both the shelf waters and in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. Larvae are found at similar temperature and depth as the egg stage of this species, particularly at 3 to 14°C (37 to 57ºF) in the spring, 10 to 17°C (50 to 63ºF) in the summer, and 13 to 19°C (55 to 66ºF) in the autumn (Chang et al., 1999).

Within the Hudson-Raritan estuary, juvenile fish were fairly evenly distributed but seemed to prefer the deeper channels in the winter and summer. They were most abundant where bottom water temperatures ranged from 5 to 23°C (41 to 73ºF), depths ranged from 7 to 17 meters (23 to 55.7 feet), salinities ranged from 22 to 30 ppt, and dissolved oxygen concentrations ranged from 7 to 11 mg/L. Similarly, adults were fairly evenly distributed year-round, preferring deeper channels in the summer months. Adults were collected in bottom waters where temperatures ranged from 0 to 23°C (32 to 73ºF), depths were less then 25 meters (82 feet), salinity ranged from 15 to 33 ppt, and dissolved oxygen ranged from 2 to 13 mg/L (ACOE, 2000).

As noted above for winter flounder, no significant adverse impacts are expected to occur from the limited amount of platform addition that would result from the barge operations at 129th Street and Pier 6 or from the installation of piles for the crane barges, replacement of bulkheads, and dredging. Shading may affect some habitat but the barge areas constitute a small portion of EFH for this species. Project activities would not substantially alter the existing habitat at any of the three in-water construction sites. The southern New England/Middle Atlantic stock is not currently considered to be overfished (NMFS, 2002) and should not be affected by any temporary changes associated with the project. As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish. No windowpane flounder


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were collected during the 1994 biota survey of the Coney Island Creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Windowpane flounder are not expected to occur in this project area. Therefore, no impacts to EFH for windowpane flounder are anticipated from this project.

ATLANTIC HERRING

Atlantic herring is a planktivorous marine species that occurs throughout the Northwestern Atlantic waters from Greenland to North Carolina. They are most abundant north of Cape Cod and relatively scarce in waters south of New Jersey (ACOE, 2000). Atlantic herring rarely move into fresh water (Smith, 1985). Juvenile and adult herring undergo complex north-south migrations and inshore-offshore migration for feeding, spawning, and overwintering. They spawn once a year in late August to November, in the coastal ocean waters of Gulf of Maine and Georges Banks. This species never spawns in brackish water. Post-spawn, the adults migrate to the New York Bight to overwinter from December to April. The autumn migration to overwintering areas is done in tight schools while the spring migration to spawning areas is much more dispersed. Fish that pass through the mid-Atlantic Bight are typically four years of age or older (ACOE, 2000).

NOAA (Stone et al., 1994) indicates that larvae, juvenile, and adult Atlantic herring are common within the mixing zone portion of the Hudson River/Raritan Bay Estuary and are known to occur in the Harlem River and East River (NOAA, 2001). In addition, larvae and adult life stages of this species were collected during impingement studies at the nearby Ravenswood plant conducted in the East River 1993-1994 (NYSDOT, 2000). The East River and Harlem River are designated as EFH for larvae, juvenile, and adult Atlantic sea herring. Coney Island Creek is designated as EFH for juvenile and adult Atlantic Herring.

Larvae are generally found in pelagic waters with temperatures below 16 °C (60 °F), water depths from 50 to 90 meters (154 to 300 feet), and salinities of about 32 ppt. Larval Atlantic herring occur in the Harlem River and East River from April to June (NOAA, 2001).

Juveniles and adults prefer pelagic waters and bottom habitats with water temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F), at water depths of 15 to 135 meters (50 to 450 feet) and 10 to 130 meters (33 to 430 feet), respective-ly, and salinity ranges of over 26 ppt. Juveniles overwinter in deep bays. In the Hudson- Raritan estuary NEFSC bottom trawl surveys, adults collected were most abundant at 3 to 6°C (37 to 43ºF) at depths ranging from 4.5 to 13.5 meters (14.7 to 44.2 feet). Preferred salinities for the Atlantic herring occur at 28 ppt and greater (Reid et al., 1999). The preferred depth for this species is considerably greater than at the Coney Island Creek project site.

Juveniles and adults perform diel and semi-diel vertical migrations in response to daily photo periods and increased turbidity. Being sensitive to light intensity, activity is highest after sunrise and just before sunset where the herring will avoid the surface during daylight to avoid predators (Reid et al., 1999). Atlantic herring are pelagic (found within the water column). Because of this, individuals of this species are less likely to be affected by the in-water activities than bottom dwelling fish. The Atlantic herring stock complex in the northeastern United States is considered under-utilized with the exception of the portion in the Gulf of Maine (Reid et al., 1999) and is not overfished (NMFS, 2002). In addition, habitat areas affected by the 129th Street and Pier 6 sites make up a small portion of EFH for this species and potential impacts to these areas would not adversely affect the Atlantic herring fishery. The fixed barges and pilings have the potential to provide additional substrate for invertebrate communities in the East and Harlem Rivers, increasing food sources for fish. As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish. No Atlantic herring were collected in the 1994 Coney Island Creek biota survey (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Therefore, Atlantic herring are not


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expected to occur in this project area. Temporary increases turbidity and shading from the project are not expected to impact EFH for any life stage of Atlantic herring.

MONKFISH

Monkfish (also known as goosefish) are bottom-dwelling fish that range from Quebec to northeast Florida. They inhabit the continental shelf and are uncommon in nearshore waters south of North Carolina. These fish feed by sight, using a modified dorsal spine as a lure and engulfing prey attracted to the lure in a sudden lunge (Robbins et al., 1986). Coney Island Creek is designated as EFH for eggs and larvae of monkfish.

Adult monkfish spawn during the months between February and August, on bottom substrates with a sand-shell mix, algae covered rocks, hard sand, pebbly gravel, or mud along. Spawning areas include the outer continental shelf middle Atlantic, the mid-shelf off southern New England, along the outer perimeter of Georges Bank, and areas of the Gulf of Maine. Spawning monkfish are generally found in areas with water temperatures below 13 °C (55.4°F), depths from 15 to 200 meters (49.2 to 656 feet), and salinity from about 30 to 37 ppt. Monkfish egg veils are most often found in waters with sea surface temperatures below 18°C (64.4°F) and depths from 15 to 1,000 meters (49 to 3,280 feet). Larvae are pelagic and are most often found in waters with temperatures of about 15°C (59°F) and depths of 25 to 1,000 meters (82 to 3,280 feet) (NEFMC, 1998).

As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish. In addition, no monkfish were caught in a biota survey conducted in the creek in 1994 (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Spawning areas are on the outer continental shelf and the Coney Island Creek is out of this area. Therefore, no impacts to EFH for any life stage of monkfish are anticipated from this project.

BLUEFISH

Bluefish is a carnivorous marine fish that occurs in temperate and tropical waters on the continental shelf and in estuarine habitats around the world. In North America, bluefish live along most of the Atlantic coastal waters from Nova Scotia south, around the tip of Florida, and along the Gulf Coast to Mexico (Fahay et al., 1999). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for juvenile and adult bluefish.

Bluefish often migrate to estuaries in the summer months, between April (adults) or May (juveniles), and October. Juveniles in the Mid-Atlantic Bight inhabit inshore estuaries from May to October, preferring temperatures between 15 and 30°C (59°F to 86°F), and salinities between 23 to 33 ppt. Although, juvenile (and adult) bluefish are moderately euryhaline, occasionally they will ascend well into estuaries where salinities may be less than 3 ppt. Juveniles use estuaries as nursery areas, and can be found in sand, mud, silt, or clay substrates as well as Spartina or Fucus beds. Bluefish juveniles are sensitive to changes in temperature where thermal edges apparently serve as important cues to juvenile migration off shore in the winter season (Fahay et al., 1999).

Adult bluefish are pelagic and highly migratory with a seasonal occurrence in Mid-Atlantic estuaries from April to October. They prefer temperatures from 14 to 16 °C (57.2°F to 60.8°F) but can tolerate temperatures from 11.8 to 30.4 °C (53.24°F to 86.72°F) and salinities greater than 25 ppt. Adult bluefish are not uncommon in bays and larger estuaries, as well as coastal waters (Fahay et al., 1999).

Juvenile bluefish may be abundant and adults are common within the mixing zone portion of the Hudson River/Raritan Bay Estuary (Stone et al., 1994). Juvenile and adult bluefish are known to occur in the


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Harlem River and East River from June to October (NOAA, 2001). Bluefish adults were collected during impingement studies conducted in 1993-1994 at the Ravenswood plant in the East River (NYSDOT, 2000).

Juveniles and adults are the stages of bluefish with the greatest potential to occur within the project areas. No spawning would occur within these project areas. Because this species is pelagic, occupying open water areas and not bottom habitat, potential impacts associated with temporary increases in turbidity would not be significant. Bluefish is currently categorized as overfished—the stock size is below the minimum threshold set for this species and a rebuilding program has been implemented (NMFS, 2002). However, recent estimates of fishing mortality suggest that the rebuilding program, state-by-state quota system, and recreational harvest limit have been successful and that overfishing is no longer occurring (MAFMC, 2002). As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish. Bluefish were not collected in the 1994 biota survey of the creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998), and so bluefish are not expected to occur in this project area. The temporary increases in turbidity and shading from the project are not expected to impact EFH for any life stage of bluefish.

ATLANTIC BUTTERFISH

Butterfish occur from Newfoundland to Florida and are most abundant between southern New England and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It has been suggested that two populations of butterfish exist. One population appears largely restricted to shoals (less than 20 meters [65 feet]) south of Cape Hatteras, and another mainly north of Hatteras that occurs in shoals and possibly some deeper waters along of the shelf. Throughout its range, butterfish are found over the entire shelf, inshore and offshore. Cooling temperatures associated with late autumn trigger a migration offshore to the edges of the shelf where waters are warm. Butterfish spawning takes place chiefly from May through October in Mid-Atlantic Bight. The times and duration of spawning are closely associated with changes in surface temperatures (Cross et al., 1999). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for larvae, juvenile, and adult Atlantic butterfish.

Larvae are found at the surface or in the shelter of the tentacles of large jellyfish, and are more nektonic than planktonic from 10 to 15 mm. Larvae are found at temperatures ranging from 7 to 26 °C (44 to 78.8°F) (although most abundant at 9 to 19 °C [148.2 to 66.2 °F]), and at depths less than 120 meters (393.8 feet).

Both juveniles and adults have similar habitat characteristics. Both are eurythermal and euryhaline and are common often near the surface in sheltered bays and estuaries during the spring to fall months. In the Hudson-Raritan trawl survey, juveniles and adults were found at depths from 3 to 23 meters (9.8 to 75 feet), salinities from 19 to 32 ppt, and DO from 3 to 10 mg/L. Juvenile and adult butterfish also often prefer sandy and muddy substrates, and temperatures from 3 to 28 °C (37.4°F to 82.4°F) (Cross et al., 1999).

Juvenile and adult butterfish have the potential to occur in the East River and Harlem River sites. Larvae and adult butterfish were collected during impingement and entrainment studies conducted in 1993-1994 at the Ravenswood plant in the East River (NYSDOT, 2000). Studies performed in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary noted that butterfish comprised less than 1 percent of total catches of fish (ACOE, 2000).

Woodhead (1990) reports butterfish to be a common transient to the New York Harbor in the summer. They prefer sandy bottoms but are not closely associated with the bottom when inshore during the summer. They may stay close to the bottom during the day and move upward at night (Smith, 1985). Because this species is not closely associated with bottom habitats and can be found throughout the water column, individuals of this species are less likely to be affected by the in-water activities than more


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bottom dwelling fish. This species is found throughout the Upper Harbor and temporary increases in turbidity or shading would not adversely impact this fishery. Butterfish stock is not overfished or approaching an overfished condition (Cross et al., 1999, NMFS, 2002) and it is considered an underexploited fishery (Cross et al., 1999). As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish. Furthermore, no butterfish were collected in the 1994 biota survey of this creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). This project is not expected to impact EFH for any life stage of butterfish.

ATLANTIC MACKEREL

Atlantic mackerel is a pelagic marine fish that occurs in the western North Atlantic from Labrador to North Carolina. It sustains fisheries from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Nova Scotia to the Cape Hatteras area. There may be two populations: one occurring in the northern Atlantic and associated with the New England and Maritime Canadian coast, and another more southerly population inhabiting the mid-Atlantic coast. Both populations overwinter in the deep waters at the edge of the continental shelf, generally moving inshore (in a northeastern direction) during the spring, and reversing this migration in autumn. The southern population begins its spawning migration by moving inshore between the Delaware Bay and Cape Hatteras and in a northeastern direction along the coast. The timing of the migration and spawn is a result of warming water temperatures. The peak spawn for the southern population occurs off New Jersey and Long Island Sound in April and May. Most spawning occurs in the shoreward half of the shelf and in waters from 7 to 14°C (45 to 57ºF) (with the peak being 10 to 12°C (50 to 54ºF). By June there are schools of juveniles off Massachusetts, and they move into the Gulf of Maine by June and July where they remain for the summer (Studholme et al., 1999). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated EFH for juvenile and adult Atlantic mackerel.

In the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, juveniles are present from April to December, but are most common from April through June and October through November (ACOE, 2000). Juvenile transformation includes swimming and schooling behaviors starting at 30 to 50 mm, and closely resemble adults when about 1 year of age. In the Hudson-Raritan Bay estuary, juveniles are present in the spring and summer months preferring depths from 4.9 to 9.8 meters (16 to 32 feet), salinity ranges from 26 to 28.9 ppt, dissolved oxygen from 7.3 to 8.0 mg/L and temperatures from 17.6 to 21.7°C (64 to 71ºF) (Studholme et al., 1999).

In the Hudson-Raritan Estuary adults are present from April through June and from September through December, most commonly from April to May and from October to November (ACOE, 2000). Adult Atlantic mackerel can range from 26 cm in their second year to about 40 cm in their sixth year. NEFSC trawl surveys show that adults are found in the spring at temperature ranges from 5 to 13°C (41 to 55ºF) dispersed from 0 to 380 meters (0 to 1246 feet) (most abundant at 160 to 170 meters [524 to 558 feet]), and in the summer at temperatures ranging from 4 to 14°C (39 to 57ºF) at depths of 10 to 180 meters (32.8 to 590.5 feet) (abundant at 50 to 70 meters [164 to 229.6 feet]). Adults also prefer salinities of 25 ppt or greater (Studholme et al., 1999).

Juveniles and adults are the stages of Atlantic mackerel with the greatest potential to occur within the project areas, although most individuals are found in the Lower Harbor (Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay) (Woodhead, 1991 in ACOE, 1999). Atlantic mackerel were rarely collected during trawls in the New York Harbor by ACOE from October 1998 through November 1999 (ACOE, 1999). Spawning would not occur within these areas. As noted above for pollock, project activities would not substantially alter the existing habitat at any of the in-water construction sites. As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site does not support fish. No Atlantic mackerel were collected in 1994 biota survey of the creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). The fixed barges have the potential


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to provide additional substrate for invertebrate communities in the East and Harlem Rivers, increasing food sources for fish, and may provide shelter for some fish species. Because the habitat found within the project areas in the Upper Harbor do not represent a significant portion of the EFH for this species, as evidenced by the low numbers of individuals that have been collected in this area, and because this species is pelagic (occupying open water areas and not bottom habitat) this project would not be expected to have significant adverse impacts on EFH for this species. The Atlantic mackerel fishery is no longer considered overfished and this stock is now considered underexploited (MAFMC, 2002; NMFS, 2002).

SUMMER FLOUNDER

Summer flounder prefer the estuarine and shelf waters of the Atlantic Ocean and are found between Nova Scotia and southeastern Florida. They are most abundant from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Summer flounder usually appear in the inshore waters of the New York Bight in April, continuing inshore in May and June, and reach their peak abundance during the warm summer months of July and August. Summer flounder move offshore for the winter season (Packer et al., 1999). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for larvae, juvenile, and adult summer flounder.

Larvae occur in water from 0 to 22°C (32 to 72ºF) and are transported to estuarine nurseries by currents. Juvenile summer flounder are well adapted to the temperature and salinity ranges present in estuarine habitats. They are distributed throughout the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary prior to late summer and are more concentrated in sea grass beds as opposed to tidal marshes in the late summer and early autumn (ACOE, 2000). Planktonic larvae (2 to 13 mm) have been found in temperatures ranging from 0 to 23°C (32 to 73ºF), but are most abundant between 9 and 17°C (48 to 63ºF). Salinity preference within the New Jersey area for this species was found between 20 to 30 ppt. In the Mid-Atlantic Bight, larvae were found at depths from 10 to 70 meters (32.8 to 229.6 feet). Greater densities of young fish were found in or near inlets (Packer et al., 1999).

Young summer flounder move into shallow (found usually at 0.5 to 5.0 meters [1.6 to 16.4 feet] in depth) estuaries using them as nursery habitat in the autumn, summer, and spring months. Juvenile summer flounder are well adapted for estuarine life. They are able to withstand a wider range of temperatures (greater than 11°C (52ºF)) and salinities from 10 to 30 ppt. Juveniles can be found on mud and sand substrates in flats, channels, salt marsh creeks, and eelgrass beds (Packer et al., 1999).

Adult summer flounder feed both in the shelf waters and estuaries and are more active in the daylight hours when they feed by sight (ACOE, 2000). Adults are found to grow to lengths ranging from 25 to 71 cm. Adults often feed in estuaries and shelf waters in the warmer months and are more active during daylight hours since summer flounder are primarily visual feeders. Adults inhabit sand substrates usually at depths up to 25 meters, at temperatures ranging from 9 to 26°C (48 to 79ºF) in the autumn, 4 to 13°C (39 to 55ºF) in the winter, 2 to 20°C (36 to 72ºF) in the spring, and 9 to 27°C (48 to 81ºF) in the summer. Salinity is known to have minimal effect on distribution in comparison to substrate preference (Packer et al., 1999).

Juvenile and adult summer flounder are known to occur within the Harlem River and East River (NOAA, 2001) and have the potential to occur within the 129th Street and Pier 6 project areas. Summer flounder larvae and adults were collected during impingement and entrainment studies conducted at the Ravenswood plant in the East River in 1993-1994 (NYSDOT, 2000). Summer flounder are unlikely to occur at the Coney Island Creek site which appears to provide poor fish habitat. Summer flounder were only collected at the creek mouth in the 1994 biota survey of Coney Island Creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Spawning would not occur in the Upper Harbor. Summer flounder have been collected


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within areas of the Upper Harbor, primarily in the summer (ACOE, 1999). As discussed with respect to the other flounder EFH, summer flounder is a bottom dwelling species and therefore has a potential to be affected by the temporary increases in turbidity and shading. As with winter flounder, any temporary changes associated with the project would not significantly impact this fishery since summer flounder are widely distributed in nearby habitats and the stock is not considered overfished provided it continues to rebuild as projected (NMFS, 2002; MAFMC, 2002). Therefore, summer flounder larvae, juveniles, and adults are likely to occur within the project area from April through late October.

SCUP

Scup is a marine fish that occurs primarily on the continental shelf from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It migrates extensively from inshore summer grounds to offshore winter grounds. Scup arrive in the waters off New Jersey and New York by early May. During the summer months, older fish (four years old or older) tend to stay in the inshore waters of the bays while the younger fish are found the more saline waters of estuaries such as the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. Spawning occurs in May through August with a peak in June and occurs principally in the estuaries of the New York and New Jersey. Juveniles grow quickly and migrate with the rest of the population to offshore wintering grounds starting in late October and are absent from inshore waters by the end of November (ACOE, 2000). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for eggs, larval, juvenile, and adult scup.

Scup eggs are buoyant and are rather small (0.8 to 1.0 mm), hatching in about 2 to 3 days depending on temperature. Most were collected from May-August at depths less than 50 meters (164 feet) and at temperatures ranging from 11 to 23°C (52 to 73ºF) (Steimle et al., 1999c).

Newly hatched larvae are pelagic and approximately 2 mm long. In approximately three days, diagnostic characters of the species are evident and shortly afterwards the larvae abandon the pelagic phase and become bottom dwelling. They occur at water temperatures ranging from 14 to 22°C (57 to 72ºF) and occupy more saline (23 to 33 ppt) portions of bays. They are often found within the water column at depths less than 50 meters (164 feet) (Steimle et al., 1999c).

Juveniles from 15 to 30 mm (up to 10 cm) are common during November. By the end of their first year they can reach up to 16 cm. Juveniles inhabit estuarine intertidal areas at depths of 5 to 12 meters (16.4 to 39.3 feet), particularly areas with sand and mud substrates or mussel and eelgrass beds. Juveniles prefer temperatures from about 9 to 27°C (48 to 81ºF) and salinities greater than 15 ppt (Steimle et al., 1999c).

Scup males and females reach sexual maturity at age two and reach about 15.5 cm. From April to December, adults can be found inshore along silt, sand, and mud substrates at depths less than 30 meters (98.4 feet). Temperature preferences for the adult species range from 6 to 27°C (43 to 81ºF) and salinities from 20 to 30 ppt are preferred (Steimle et al., 1999c).

Juveniles and adults scup are known to occur in the Harlem and East Rivers (NOAA, 2001) and have the potential to occur within the 129th Street and Pier 6 project areas, primarily in the summer and autumn. No spawning would occur within the vicinity of the project areas. Adults of the species were collected during impingement studies at the Ravenswood plant in the East River (NYSDOT, 2000). However, as noted above for whiting, the area of Coney Island Creek at the project site appears to provide poor fish habitat. Scup were only collected at the creek mouth in the 1994 Coney Island Creek biota survey (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Scup have been collected within the vicinity of the other project areas but the EFH for this marine species is primarily in higher salinity areas (ACOE, 1999). Because juveniles and adults tend to occur toward the bottom, in-water construction activities have the potential to temporarily impact scup EFH during the summer and autumn. As with other bottom dwelling fish,


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temporary habitat changes associated with the project would not impact this fishery since these fish are widely distributed in nearby habitats and the project areas constitute a small portion of the EFH for this species. Furthermore, the preferred EFH would be south of these areas. The rebuilding schedule and management measures implemented in 1996 have resulted in dramatic increase in scup abundance even though the stock is still considered overfished (MAFMC, 2002). The temporary loss of EFH within the vicinity of the barge sites should not adversely impact the status of scup stock.

BLACK SEA BASS

Black sea bass is a marine species that occurs from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Cape Canaveral, Florida. The fishery is divided into two populations: one major population above Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and one below. The northern population migrates seasonally: inshore and north in the spring and offshore and south in the autumn. In the autumn, older fish move offshore sooner and overwinter in deeper waters 73 to 163 meters (239.5 to 534 feet) than young-of-the-year fish (56 to 110 meters [193.7 to 360.8 feet]). Black sea bass can tolerate temperatures as low as 6°C (43ºF) but are most abundant in off-shore waters warmer than 9ºC (48ºF) and between 20 to 60 meters (65.6 to 197 feet) deep (ACOE, 2000). During the spring migration, adults move to spawning grounds and juveniles move into estuaries. For the northern population spawning generally takes place in the summer, in water 18 to 45 meters (59 to 147 feet) deep from the Chesapeake Bay to Montauk (Steimle et al., 1999b). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for juvenile and adult black sea bass.

Larvae develop for the most part in continental shelf waters and are most abundant in the southern portion of the Middle Atlantic Bight. Larvae quickly become bottom dwellers and estuarine. Young-of-the-year (YOY) fish in estuaries occupy bottom habitats with shells, amphipod tubes, and deep channel rubble and have been noted to appear on inshore jetties in late May to early June. In the Hudson River, YOY have been captured in open water and interpier areas. Juvenile sea bass occur in the saline portions of estuaries from Massachusetts to Florida starting with the initial spring migration until late autumn and are commonly found around jetties, piers, wrecks, and bottom areas with shells (ACOE, 2000). They appear to prefer hard bottom (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953).

Juveniles settle in estuaries and the inner continental shelf growing up to 19 cm. YOY from July to September inhabit estuarine areas in the Mid-Atlantic Bight at depths from 1 to 38 meters preferring rough bottoms, shell patch substrates and find shelter around manmade structures. Juveniles can be found in water temperatures ranging from 6 to 30°C (43 to 86ºF) and salinities ranging from 8 to 38 ppt (but most prefer 18 to 20 ppt). The YOY are migratory during some portions of the first year. They migrate out of the estuary and away from inner continental shelf nursery areas during the autumn as water temperatures drop (Steimle et al., 1999b).

Adult black sea bass prefer habitats similar to juveniles and perform similar migratory patterns. Adults also find shelter around manmade structures (Steimle et al., 1999b). Black sea bass are bottom feeders, consuming crabs, shrimp, mollusks, small fish, and squid. Woodhead (1990) describes black sea bass as a common summer transient in the New York Harbor, and individuals have been collected in the New York Harbor and the Arthur Kill (Smith, 1985). YOY have been collected in the lower Hudson River off Manhattan from mid-July to September (Able et al., 1995).

NOAA (Stone et al., 1994) indicates that adult and juvenile black sea bass are rare in the mixing zone portion of the Hudson River/Raritan Bay Estuary, but are known to occur in the Harlem River and East River from April to November (NOAA< 2001) and, therefore, have the potential to occur with the 129th Street and Pier 6 project areas. Adults were collected during the 1993-1994 impingement studies at the Ravenswood plant in the East River (NYSDOT, 2000). As noted above for whiting, the area of Coney


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Island Creek at the project site provides poor fish habitat. No black sea bass were collected in 1994 biota survey of the creek (Hazen and Sawyer and Hydroqual, 1998). Black sea bass stock is currently considered overfished (NMFS, 2002) but the stock is rebuilding and in the sixth year of a ten year rebuilding plan. The temporary increases in turbidity and shading during the construction period of the project areas should not affect the continued rebuilding of this stock. The fixed barges have the potential to provide additional substrate for invertebrate communities in the East and Harlem Rivers, increasing food sources, and serve as shelter areas for some individuals. Therefore, no effects to EFH are expected for any life stage of black sea bass.

KING MACKEREL

King mackerel is a marine fish that inhabits Atlantic coastal waters from the Gulf of Maine to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. There may be two distinct populations of King mackerel. One group migrates from waters near Cape Canaveral, Florida south to the Gulf of Mexico, making it there by spring and continuing along the western Florida continental shelf throughout the summer. A second group migrates to waters off the coast of the Carolinas in the summer, after spending the spring in the waters of southern Florida, and continues on in the Autumn to the northern extent of the range. Overall, temperature appears to be the major factor governing the distribution of the species. The northern extent of its range is near Block Island, Rhode Island, near the 20°C (68ºF) isotherm and the 18-meter contour. The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for eggs, larvae, juvenile and adult king mackerel.

King mackerel spawn in the northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic coast. Larvae have been collected from May to October, with a peak in September. In the south Atlantic, larvae have been collected at the surface with salinities ranging from 30 to 37 ppt and temperatures from 22 to 28°C (70 to 81ºF). Adults are normally found in water with salinity ranging from 32 to 36 ppt.

King mackerel would occur only as occasional transient individuals within the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary system, and would only be likely to occur in the Lower Harbor area where the salinities are higher. Therefore, EFH for this species would not be affected by this project.

SPANISH MACKEREL

Spanish mackerel is a marine species that can occur in the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Maine to the Yucatan Peninsula. It is most common between the Chesapeake Bay and the northern Gulf of Mexico from spring through autumn, and then heads south to overwinter in the waters of south Florida. These populations spawn in the northern extent of their ranges (along the northern Gulf Coast and along the Atlantic Coast). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for eggs, larvae, juvenile and adult Spanish mackerel.

Spawning begins in mid-June in the Chesapeake Bay and in late September off Long Island, New York. Temperature is an important factor in the timing of spawning and few spawn in temperatures below 26°C (79ºF). Spanish mackerel apparently spawn at night. Studies indicate that Spanish mackerel spawn over the Inner Continental Shelf in water 12 to 34 meters (39.3 to 111.5 feet) deep.

Spanish mackerel eggs are pelagic and about 1 mm in diameter. Hatching takes place after about 25 hours at a temperature of 26°C (78.8°F). Most larvae have been collected in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the United States. Juvenile Spanish mackerel can use low salinity estuaries (~12.8 to 19.7 ppt) as nurseries and also stay close inshore in open beach waters (ACOE, 2000).


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Overall, temperature and salinity is indicated as the major factor governing the distribution of this species. The northern extent of their range is near Block Island, Rhode Island, near the 20°C (68ºF) isotherm and the 18 meter contour. During warm years, they can be found as far north as Massachusetts. They prefer water from 21 to 27 °C (70 to 81ºF) and are rarely found in waters cooler than 18°C (64ºF). Adult Spanish mackerel generally avoid freshwater or low salinity (less than 32 ppt) areas such as the mouths of rivers (ACOE, 2000).

Because this is a marine species that prefers higher salinity waters, only occasional individuals are likely to occur within the project areas. Therefore, EFH for this species would not be affected by this project.

COBIA

Cobia are large, migratory, coastal pelagic fish of the monotypic family Racycentriadae. In the western Atlantic Ocean, cobia occur from Massachusetts to Argentina, but are most common along the south Atlantic coast of the United States and in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Gulf, cobia typically migrate from wintering grounds off south Florida into northeastern Gulf waters during early spring. They occur off northwest Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and southeast Louisiana wintering grounds in the fall. Some cobia overwinter in the northern Gulf at depths of 100 to 125 meters (328 to 410 feet). The East River is designated as EFH for eggs, larvae, juvenile and adult Cobia.

Information on the life history of cobia from the Gulf and the Atlantic Coast of the United States is limited. Essential fish habitat for coastal migratory pelagic species such as cobia includes sandy shoals of capes and offshore bars, high profile rocky bottom and barrier island ocean-side waters, from the surf to the shelf break zone, but from the Gulf Stream shoreward, including Sargassum. For cobia, essential fish habitat also includes high salinity bays, estuaries, and seagrass habitat. The Gulf Stream is an essential fish habitat because it provides a mechanism to disperse coastal migratory pelagic larvae. Preferred temperatures are greater than 20 and salinities are greater than 25 ppt.

Cobia are likely to occur only as occasional transient individuals within any of the project areas due to its coastal migrations, pelagic nature, and salinity requirements. No effects to EFH for this species are anticipated.

DUSKY SHARK

The dusky is a large, coastal species found in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world, and ranges from Nova Scotia to Cuba. It is often is most often found along continental coastlines where it ranges from shallow inshore waters to the outer continental shelf and adjacent oceanic waters. This species is highly migratory, moving north during the summer and south in the winter. The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for dusky shark larvae (neonates).

In the western Atlantic, mating occurs in the spring. Due to the presence of two size classes of young found in pregnant females off the coast of Florida, it is believed that females of this species only mate every second year. These different size classes suggest alternating birth seasons every two years with a gestation period of 8 months or a single season with a longer gestation period of about 16 months. In the western Atlantic, the number of young per litter ranges from 6 to 8.

Adults tend to avoid areas of low salinity, and rarely enter estuaries. However, dusky sharks are viviparous, and females enter bays and estuaries to drop their pups. After pupping, adult sharks move to deeper waters. The essential fish habitat for dusky shark neonate and early juvenile life stages are the shallow coastal waters, inlets, and estuaries from the eastern end of Long Island, NY south to West Palm Beach, FL to the 100 m isobath. The prime nursery areas are estuaries and bays from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to New Jersey (FMNH).


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This species is not expected to occur within the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary except as occasional transient individuals. Therefore, it is unlikely that this species would be found in the project area and EFH for sandbar shark will not be affected by the project.

SAND TIGER SHARK

The sand tiger is a large, coastal species found in tropical and warm temperate waters throughout the world. It is often found in very shallow water (< 4 m). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for sand tiger shark larvae (neonates).

Males mature between 190 to 195 cm total length (TL) or four to five years, and females at more than 220 cm TL or six years. The sand tiger has an extremely limited reproductive potential, producing only two young per litter. In North America, the sand tiger gives birth in March and April to two young that measure about 100 cm TL. Parturition is believed to occur in winter in the southern portions of its range, and the neonates migrate northward to summer nurseries. The nursery areas are the following Mid-Atlantic Bight estuaries: Chesapeake, Delaware, Sandy Hook, and Narragansett Bays, as well as coastal sounds.

The species congregates in coastal areas in large numbers during the mating season, and the species is limited in its fecundity with only two pups per litter often contributing to overfishing vulnerability. Embryos, being cannibalistic, consume other embryos until only one from each oviduct survives. Each pup grows to be quite large (up to 40 inches) before birth. Neonates, after birth, migrate northward in the summer to estuarine nursery areas (University of Delaware, 2001). The essential fish habitat for sand tiger sharks for neonate and early juveniles are the shallow coastal waters from Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey to Cape Canaveral, Florida to the 25-m isobath.


SANDBAR SHARK

The sandbar shark is cosmopolitan in subtropical and warm temperate waters. It is a common species found in many coastal habitats. It is a bottom-dwelling species most common in 20 to 55 meters (65.6 to 180 feet) of water, but occasionally found at depths of about 200 meters (656 feet). The East River, Harlem River, and Coney Island Creek are designated as EFH for sandbar shark larvae (neonates).

The sandbar shark is a slow growing species. Both sexes reach maturity at about 180 cm TL. Estimates of age of maturity range from 15 to 16 years to 29 to 30 years, although 15 to 16 years is the commonly accepted age of maturity. Young are born at about 60 cm TL (smaller in the northern parts of the North American range) from March to July. Litters consist of one to 14 pups, with nine being the average. The gestation period lasts about a year and reproduction is biennial. In the United States, the sandbar shark uses estuarine nurseries in shallow coastal waters from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to the northern extent of the range at Great Bay, New Jersey (Merson and Pratt, 1997). Bays from Delaware to North Carolina are important nursery areas (Knickle, 2001).

Neonates have been captured in Delaware Bay in late June. Young-of-the-year are present in Delaware Bay until early October when the temperature falls below 21°C (69.8°F). Sandbar sharks were captured in varying salinities but no specimens were caught at salinities below 22 ppt. The essential fish habitat for sandbar shark neonates and early juveniles are shallow coastal areas; nursery areas in shallow coastal waters from Great Bay, New Jersey to Cape Canaveral, Florida, especially Delaware and Chesapeake Bays (seasonal summer); also shallow coastal waters up to a depth of 50 meters (164 feet) on the west


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coast of Florida and the Florida Keys. Neonates and early juveniles require salinity greater than 22 ppt and temperatures greater than 21°C (69.8°F).



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Bigelow, H.B. ad W.C. Schroeder. 1953. Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service Volume 53.

Buckley, J. 1989. "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (mid-Atlantic): Winter Flounder." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 82(11.87). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers TR EL-82-4.

Chang, S., P.L. Berrien, D.L. Johnson, and W.W. Morse. 1999. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Windowpane, Scophthalmus aquosus, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE 137, http://www.nefsc.nmfs.gov/nefsc/habitat/efh/ - list

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Knickle, C. 2001. Description Dusky Shark-Carcharhimus obscurus. Florida Museum of Natural History. http//www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/duskyshark/duskyshark.html: May 21, 2001.

Knickle, C. 2001. Description Sandbar Shark-Carcharhimus plumbeus. Florida Museum of Natural History. http//www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/sandbarshark/sandbarshark.html, May 21, 2001.

Merson, R. and Pratt, H. 1997. Northern extent of the pupping grounds of the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, east coast. Abstract: ASIH/AES Meeting, Seattle, WA, June 26-July 2, 1997.


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Woodhead, P.M. and M. McEnroe. 1991. Habitat use by the fish community. A report on Task 5.1 of the new York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. Marine Services Research Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY. �