Spring Returns to Jamaica Bay
Abundant Wildlife (but also Debris) Inundates
New York’s Most Important Estuary
By Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy
Spring is nearly here, and with warmer temperatures Jamaica Bay will welcome new life. Plankton and algae will emerge, salt marshes will be teeming with grass shrimp, the primary food source for small fish like the Atlantic menhaden, globally known as the “most important fish in the sea.” These filter feeders will in turn attract larger fish and the iconic birds of the bay, including the osprey, with their startling yellow eyes, always searching for an opportunity to fold their wings and dive-bomb swimming schools of prey. This abundance of life comes each year to one of the most vital urban estuaries in the world, fed with nutrients in water flowing from the northern extents of Brooklyn and Queens, and the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean.
With three million residents in the neighborhoods surrounding Jamaica Bay, plenty of human visitors will flow to its shores as well. The estuary sits inside Gateway National Recreation Area — our country’s first recreation area within a major metropolis, and currently the fourth most visited National Park unit in the country with nearly nine million visits in 2024.
However, Jamaica Bay attracts another (unwanted) visitor — massive amounts of litter and debris transported by stormwater runoff and wind. Keeping bay parklands and beaches clean is crucial not just for wildlife, but also for the people who enjoy them. Jamaica Bay is in need of a spring cleaning before the busy season returns.
In 2024, the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy team, along with 1,000 volunteers, removed more than 13 tons of debris from our shorelines. Rubbish can be big and heavy — a disused boat anchor, or an abandoned shopping cart — or it can be small but infinitely more harmful due to its prevalence — a bottle cap, shopping bag, or other plastic packaging. Small plastics are the most common kind of debris found by volunteers, in Jamaica Bay and most other shoreline settings. This pollution can harm wildlife and make its way insidiously into our food and water.
This is why we’re so grateful to our steady and committed teams of volunteers that return each year in spring, summer and fall. Without them, Jamaica Bay would not be as healthy and beautiful as it is. Friends and neighbors of all ages and backgrounds join us to do good and feel good in the parklands. Even the schoolchildren chip in, through our Habitat Heroes program. Last year, students from local public schools in Brooklyn and Queens removed more than 2,500 pounds of debris, while learning about the important co-dependence between wild spaces and our neighborhoods.
Removing trash from vital habitats and shared parklands builds community and gives back a healthy dose of fresh air and exercise, all with the backdrop of sweeping watery vistas. Maybe even a terrapin turtle sighting, a close encounter with an egret, or a harbor seal, or dolphin. Dozens of volunteers have already joined us this year for February and March cleanups, removing over 1,000 pounds of debris.
There are two more cleanups quickly approaching — on Saturday, March 22 at Canarsie Pier, and Saturday, April 19 at Broad Channel American Park, in honor of Earth Day. Beyond the benefit of warmer temperatures, volunteers can expect to experience the springing of spring firsthand, while enhancing the experience of many parkgoers that frequent these picturesque shorelines. All volunteers at our cleanups are provided with gloves, trash pickers and bags, along with safety guidance from our staff. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes, bring water and sunscreen, and be prepared to get a little dirty.
In addition to cleanups, there are many other opportunities to get involved around Jamaica Bay parks in the coming weeks. Our friends at the National Park Service are hosting a Sunset Wellness Walk on Saturday, March 29 and a Junior Ranger Birding Walk for kids on March 30, both at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. At Floyd Bennett Field, Surf Skate Fitness is running a free (indoor) stand-up paddleboarding for beginners coaching session on Sunday, March 30, and the Amateur Astronomers Association is facilitating a stargazing session on April 4. Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy is hosting another “Park Pals” wildlife exploration session for young children (ages 0-6) on Saturday, April 12, at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The organization also teamed with Amateur Astronomers Association for a solar observing session on April 18 at the Arverne East Nature Preserve. More details on all these happenings and more are available at JBRPC.org/events.
The jewel of New York City, Jamaica Bay, is surrounded by 25 parks, and limitless possibilities to experience them. We hope to see you out there soon, for a cleanup or one of the many other events arriving with warmer weather.
