A Little Context
Gateway National Recreation Area spans 10,644 hectares divided across three distinct areas: Sandy Hook Unit in New Jersey, and Jamaica Bay and Staten Island Units in New York City. The park’s vibrant nature has earned its designation as a site of high biodiversity and a special natural waterfront area. It's the ocean’s gateway to New York Harbor, welcoming millions of visitors each year.
Gateway's dunes, beaches, and salt marshes are habitats for nesting gulls, waterfowl, herons, and rare plants. Grassland birds nest and forage in the park’s upland areas, and resident and migratory fish teem in its wetland channels. As an urban park, however, Gateway faces challenges with extensive pollution from residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Sewage treatment plants and nutrient runoff have led to turbid waters with excess nutrients. Additionally, increases in road kills, pet predation on native wildlife, habitat fragmentation, marsh loss, and general human disturbance all impact Gateway’s ecosystems.
Our Work with Gateway
Gateway is a critical breeding and nursing ground for hundreds of species of birds and fish, and a connection to nature for urban dwellers. To ensure its wildlife and habitats are well-protected into the future, the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, along with Gateway staff, collects ecological monitoring data for several ecosystem vital signs. Learn about our work below.
What We Monitor
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Salt MarshVegetationMonitoring plants can reveal signs of habitat change and overall salt marsh health
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Salt MarshTidal Wetland ElevationSalt marshes need to maintain their surface elevation above water, especially when sea levels are rising
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Salt MarshNektonNekton (free-swimming fishes and crustaceans) are abundant and key vital signs of estuarine health
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Coastal ShoresOcean Shoreline PositionShoreline changes affect wildlife behavior and the safety of coastal communities
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Coastal ShoresCoastal TopographyAs storms approach our shores, coastal landforms are our first lines of defense
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EstuariesEstuarine Water QualityNutrient enrichment along coastal shores is a worldwide consequence of human population growth
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What We MonitorWeather & ClimateUnderstanding patterns and trends in weather and climate means being prepared to better manage park natural resources.
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What We MonitorAir QualityClean air, the thing we can't see yet need. Monitoring it is essential to the health of our visitors and communities.
Science Stories & Multimedia
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Science StoriesPark History: Jamaica Bay, Gateway NRAJamaica Bay of New York City is an urban ecosystem, where salt marshes are the remaining oases for wildlife.
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Science StoriesIn the Field: Big Egg Marsh with GeorgeIn 2002, an experiment began to restore a salt marsh. 20 years later, scientists return to see how it's doing.
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Photos & MultimediaPhotos from Gateway NRASnapshots of fieldwork at Gateway National Recreation Area
Last updated: January 11, 2022