PEP will build scientific understanding and support decision-making to address threats to habitat and species.
The Peconic Estuary is home to some of the most valuable and rare habitats in the world. Physical alterations to the Peconic Estuary and its watershed such as navigational channel dredging, hardening of the shoreline with bulkheads and other erosion control structures, and clearing of land for roads and buildings all harm the habitats and living resources within and around the Estuary. At the headwaters of the Peconic River, the sensitive pine barrens ecosystem protects important drainage areas to the aquifer, which eventually outfall into the main estuary system. These alterations, along with pollution and warming waters, have led to the loss and degradation of critical habitats such as the pine barrens, eelgrass beds, marshes, and diadromous fish habitat.
The habitats of the Peconic Estuary face several key threats:
Peconic Estuary Partnership provides program and project updates!
Over the years, the Peconic Estuary Partnership has completed projects to restore a variety of habitat types. All information has been consolidated into the PEP Habitat’s Plan and PEP Habitat Project Mapper.
Seagrass habitat has steadily declined since the early 1900’s. Today, there is minimal acreage remaining in the Peconic Estuary. PEP has implemented a collaborative seagrass strategy to protect and conserve seagrass habitat throughout the estuary.
Diadromous fish are an important resource to the Peconic River system. Increased connectivity allows the passage for animals to reach hundreds of acres of spawning habitat. PEP facilitates both annual monitoring and infrastructure development to assist in the conservation of these diadromous fish species.
PEP has dedicated efforts to conserving and protecting sentinel species within the estuary including river otters, diamondback terrapins, and horseshoe crabs.
Loss of tidal wetland habitat threatens ecosystem services such as, habitat utilization, marsh migration, and reduction in nutrient cycling. Preservation of this critical habitat is a necessity for healthy ecosystems throughout the estuary.
PEP works with a number of partners to monitor the condition of essential habitats in the Peconic Estuary. Click here to learn more about our Ongoing Monitoring Program.
