SIGNIFICANT HABITATS AND HABITAT
COMPLEXES
OF THE NEW YORK BIGHT WATERSHED
Brigantine
Bay and Marsh Complex
COMPLEX #4
List of Species of Special Emphasis
I. SITE NAME: Brigantine Bay and Marsh Complex
II. SITE LOCATION: Brigantine Bay and marsh are located on the Atlantic coast of southern New Jersey just north and west of Atlantic City in Atlantic County, and 155 kilometers (96 miles) south of New York City.
TOWNS: Atlantic City, Egg Harbor, Galloway
COUNTY: Atlantic
STATE: New Jersey
USGS 7.5 MIN QUADS: Atlantic City, NJ (39074-34), Ocean City, NJ (39074-35), Brigantine Inlet, NJ (39074-43), Oceanville, NJ (39074-44), Pleasantville, NJ (39074-45)
USGS 30 x 60 MIN QUAD: Atlantic City, NJ (39074-A1).
III. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION: The Brigantine Bay and marsh complex includes the open water and tidal wetlands of, from north to south: Little Bay, Reed Bay, Somers Bay, Absecon Bay and Channel, Lakes Bay, and Scull Bay between the mainland coast of New Jersey and the barrier islands from Little Egg Inlet southwest to Great Egg Harbor Inlet. The complex includes the undeveloped segments of Little Beach and northern and southern Brigantine Island, but excludes the developed portions of the Brigantine and Atlantic City barrier islands. This portion of the New Jersey backbarrier lagoon estuarine system is very significant for migrating and wintering waterfowl, colonial nesting waterbirds, migratory shorebirds, and fisheries.
IV. OWNERSHIP/PROTECTION/RECOGNITION: The open water is state-owned, and much of the tidal marsh and barrier beach habitat is also publicly owned, especially in the northern part of this habitat complex. The salt marshes along the mainland and adjacent uplands in the northern part of this area are part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, including part of the Brigantine Wilderness, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Large areas of salt marsh adjacent to the Refuge are part of the Absecon Wildlife Management Area which, along with Pork Island Wildlife Management Area, a smaller area in the southern part of this complex, is managed by the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife. The northern part of Brigantine Island is designated as the North Brigantine Natural Area managed by the New Jersey Division of Lands and Forests. The New Jersey Natural Heritage Program recognizes several Priority Sites for Biodiversity within the Brigantine Bay and Marsh complex. These sites are listed here along with their biodiversity ranks: Brigantine Island (B2 - very high biodiversity significance), Little Beach Island (B2), Little Egg Inlet Macrosite (B2), Longport (B3 - high biodiversity significance), North Brigantine Island (B3), and Oceanville Bog (B4 - moderate biodiversity significance). The entire E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge has been designated as a Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The lower Mullica River and Great Bay, including Reeds, Somers, and Little Bays, Little Beach Island, and North Brigantine Island, have been designated a National Estuarine Research Reserve for research and education to be managed by the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife and Rutgers University. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the Brigantine Bay wetlands as a priority wetland site under the federal Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. Brigantine has been designated and mapped as an otherwise protected beach unit pursuant to the federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act, prohibiting incompatible federal financial assistance or flood insurance within the unit. Wetlands are regulated in New Jersey under several state laws, including the Wetlands Act of 1970, the Freshwater Wetland Protection Act, and the New Jersey State Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA); these statutes are in addition to federal regulation under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977, and various Executive Orders.
V. GENERAL AREA DESCRIPTION: The barrier beach/backbarrier lagoon system extends for 154 kilometers (95 miles) along the New Jersey coastline from Point Pleasant south to Cape May. The Brigantine Bay Marsh complex as defined here includes 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) of this system from Great Bay south to Great Egg Harbor. This part of the New Jersey backbarrier system is characterized by its extensive network of protected shallow bays and numerous salt marsh islands that are connected by a network of channels and tidal creeks. Based on National Wetlands Inventory data, there are 9,726 hectares (24,033 acres) of salt marsh within this complex, which represents about 53% of the total estuarine system. There is a higher percentage of salt marsh in this complex than in the Barnegat Bay system to the north, but a lesser percentage than in the Cape May marshes to the south. The Brigantine Bay/Marsh complex has a drainage area of 340 square kilometers (131 square miles) and a surface area of 167 square kilometers (64 square miles). This small watershed has only a few sizable tributaries, including Doughty Creek and Absecon Creek. While the northern part of the watershed is sparsely developed, the southern part of the bay is lined with residential and commercial development along both the mainland and barrier beach shorelines.
The Brigantine estuarine system is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by three barrier islands: Little Beach, Brigantine, and Atlantic City. The tidal inlets that separate these barrier islands from one another and allow the exchange of waters between the ocean and back bays are Little Egg Inlet, Brigantine Inlet, Absecon Inlet, and Great Egg Harbor Inlet. Little Egg Inlet has the greatest current velocity, 1.5 to 1.6 meters per second (5.0 to 5.5 feet per second), while the other inlets show average velocities of 0.6 to 1.2 meters per second (2 to 4 feet per second). Tides are semidiurnal (twice-daily) and their ranges are generally less than that of the ocean on the open coast. Most of the bays are shallow; 86% of the bays are less than 2 meters (6.4 feet) in depth, and much of that percentage is less than 1 meter (3 feet). There are a few areas of deeper water (down to 12 meters [40 feet]), especially near the inlets. Salinity in the bays ranges from 0.2 to 31.4 parts per thousand, depending on location and time of year. Temperature ranges from -1 to 28.5°C (30 to 84°F), dissolved oxygen from 0.4 to 10.4 milligrams per liter, and pH from 4.9 to 9.3.
This shallow-water estuary supports a variety of benthic macroalgae (seaweeds). Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is abundant in all areas; rockweed (Fucus sp.), is also common, and hollow green weed (Entermorpha sp.) is the common intertidal green alga in all locations. The extensive salt marsh islands along the mainland shoreline and salt marsh islands in the bay are predominantly high marsh, with salt-meadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) being the dominant species. Along the mainland shoreline in areas influenced by fresh water, common reed (Phragmites australis), narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia), and bulrushes (Scirpus spp.) occur. Low marsh, dominated by smooth cordgrass (Spartina alternifora), occurs in intertidal areas, especially along the extensive tidal creeks and channels. The Brigantine Unit of E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge maintains a 364-hectare (900-acre) freshwater impoundment (West Pool) and a 283-hectare (700-acre) brackish impoundment (East Pool) that are managed on a seasonal basis to support a diversity of waterfowl, waterbirds, and shorebirds. The west pool is maintained to produce abundant wildlife food plants such as spikerush (Eleocharis spp.) and to provide resting, bathing, and drinking habitat for migratory waterbirds. The west pool has recently been divided in half to allow for additional habitat diversification. The east pool is maintained as a brackish area to support shorebirds and other species, with upland islands maintained for nesting by American black duck (Anas rubripes) and other birds.
The natural barrier beaches at Little Beach Island and North Brigantine Island have a sand and gravel barrier beach with primary and secondary dune systems, and salt marsh and tidal flats on the back side of the barrier. The beach and dunes currently are undergoing severe erosion. Ninety-six taxa of vascular plants have been identified as occurring on Little Beach Island. A large drift and overwash area on the northern end of Little Beach Island is sparsely vegetated by seabeach sandwort (Honckenya peploides) and seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens), as well as salt-tolerant annuals such as saltwort (Sasola kali), sea rocket (Cakile edentula), seabeach purslane (Susuvium maritimum), seabeach orache (Atriplex arenaria), and seaside spurge (Euphorbia polygonifolia). The primary dune, or foredune, is dominated by American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligata), pinweed (Lechea maritima), and seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens), and the sheltered back side of the dunes has poison ivy (Toxidendron radicans), bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica), and black cherry (Prunus serotina). Sheltered dunes in the northeast portion of the island support a small beach heather (Hudsonia tomentosa) community. Farther inland, older dunes support a small, coastal dune shrubland/woodland that is an almost pure stand of black cherry with a few serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) and red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). The near absence of American holly (Ilex opaca) is apparently due to the young age of the forest relative to others (Island Beach, Sandy Hook, and Fire Island) in the region.
VI. ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE/UNIQUENESS OF SITE: The complex of shallow bays, salt marsh, channels, inlets, and barrier island habitat provides shelter, nesting habitat, and a rich food resource that supports regionally significant fish and wildlife populations, especially migratory and wintering waterfowl, nesting waterbirds, and migratory shorebirds. There are 121 species of special emphasis in the Brigantine Bay habitat complex, incorporating 14 species of fish and 86 species of birds, and including the following federally and state-listed species. (Living resources and their habitats are dynamic; therefore, the ecological significance and species information presented here may not be complete or up-to-date. State and federal environmental agencies [see Appendix III for office contacts] should be consulted for additional information.)
Federally listed endangered
peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Federally listed threatened
piping plover (Charadrius melodus)
Federal species of concern(1)
northern pine snake (Pituophis m. melanoleucus)
northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys t. terrapin)
black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis)
1Species of special concern listed here include former Category 2 candidates.
State-listed endangered
black skimmer (Rhynchops niger)
least tern (Sterna antillarum)
seaside evening primrose (Oenothera humifusa)
seabeach milkwort (Glaux maritima)
State-listed threatened
pine barrens treefrog (Hyla andersonii)
little blue heron (Egretta caerulea)
yellow-crowned night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
barred owl (Strix varia)
grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
Fifty-nine species of fish that inhabit the bays and tidal creeks of this region were collected in a one-year New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy study. Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia) was the most abundant species in the study, representing 52% of the total catch, with bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) second in abundance, making up 36% of the total catch. Other relatively abundant species were spot (Leiostomas xanthurus) at 4% of the total, mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) at 3%, and striped killifish (Fundulus majalis), American sandlance (Ammodytes americanus), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), white mullet (Mugil curema), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus), smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis), windowpane (Scophthalmus aquosus), Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), and northern pipefish (Syngnathus fuscus). Shellfish beds are found sporadically in this area, with limited quantities of northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria), softshell clam (Mya arenaria), and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are found, but not in commercial quantities, in the numerous lower-salinity creeks and bays.
Total mid-winter aerial waterfowl counts in this portion of the bay average over 70,000 birds, including significant concentrations, in descending order of average winter abundance, of: brant (Branta bernicla), American black duck, snow goose (Chen caerulescens), greater and lesser scaup (Aythya marila and A. affinis), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), scoters (Melanitta spp.), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), American green-winged teal (Anas crecca), northern pintail (Anas acuta), red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator), American wigeon (Anas americana), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis), and gadwall (Anas strepera). The concentrations of brant (averaging over 27,000 birds) and American black duck (averaging over 21,000 birds) represent an important part of the Atlantic Flyway population for both these species. Waterfowl are not evenly distributed over the bay, but are often rafted in significant and discrete concentration areas. The brant distribute themselves among the shallow bays, where they feed mostly on sea lettuce and other submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). November waterfowl counts show similar total numbers to the mid-winter counts, though there are generally more dabblers and snow geese and fewer divers and sea ducks during the late fall than in the winter. This is a particularly important fall migratory stopover area for snow geese (over 20,000 from aerial surveys, on average). Breeding waterfowl include mallard, American black duck, Canada goose, gadwall, blue-winged teal (Anas discors), green-winged teal, northern pintail, northern shoveler, ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), and wood duck (Aix sponsa).
At least 16 species of colonial waterbirds utilize the Brigantine Bay/Marsh/Beach complex for nesting and feeding. The majority of the waterbird colonies occur on the salt marsh islands in the middle of the bay. Gulls and terns are the most numerous of these species; over 12,250 gulls, predominantly laughing gull (Larus atricilla) with some herring gull (L. argentatus) and a few great black-backed gull (L. marinus), nested in this complex in 1995. Terns are also abundant; during 1995, there were more than 2,400 terns, mostly common tern (Sterna hirundo) with lesser numbers of Forster's tern (S. forsteri) and gull-billed tern (S. nilotica). This area is near the northern end of the breeding range for gull-billed tern. Most of the salt marsh and dredged material islands have nesting gulls and/or terns on them. For example, common tern was spread out over 14 colonies and laughing gull over 40 colonies in 1995. There are also eight species of long-legged waders nesting in the area including, in declining order of abundance: snowy egret (Egretta thula), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), great egret (Casmerodius albus), black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), little blue heron, and yellow-crowned night-heron. There was a total of over 1,100 herons, egrets, and ibises in 1989, and over 570 in 1995. These heronries occurred on almost any of the islands that had appropriate upland vegetation for nesting (10 sites in 1989 and 13 sites in 1995). The location of these heronries shifts from year to year. Black skimmer and least tern also occasionally nest on dredged material islands or other sandy habitat in the islands. Least tern have used a total of 14 known sites since 1976, but presently use only one site (Brigantine Beach).
Piping plover and least tern nest or have nested on the beaches at Little Beach Island, North Brigantine, and South Brigantine (Absecon Inlet). Plovers nesting on Little Beach Island have averaged nearly 10 pairs from 1985 to 1995, mostly on the northern end, with 15 pairs in 1995. Two sites at the southern end of Brigantine Island are also important nesting sites for piping plover, with an average of nearly 12 pairs from 1985 to 1995 and six pairs in 1995. The fledging rates at South Brigantine have generally been much lower than at Little Beach. Least tern also nest at Brigantine Beach, with 20 adults surveyed in 1995, down from a high of 750 at this site in 1984.
The entire New Jersey barrier beach/backbarrier lagoon system is extremely important for shorebirds during spring and, especially, fall migration. Shorebirds consistently recorded at E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge include dunlin (Calidris alpina), semipalmated sandpiper (C. pusilla), short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), western sandpiper (C. mauri), semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanolueca), black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatorola), ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus), lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), lesser golden plover (Pluvialis dominica), marbled godwit (Lemosa fedoa), piping plover, white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicolis), Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica), and spotted sandpiper (Actitus macularia). The Brigantine Unit of E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and Brigantine Beach are considered to be two of the top 20 shorebird migration sites in the eastern United States during the entire fall migration period (July to September), with a peak migration in mid to late August. The Brigantine Unit of E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is also an important wintering shorebird site, especially for dunlin. Great Egg Harbor and the islands and flats within this habitat complex north of Great Egg Harbor and west of Longport are considered one of the top 20 sites for spring migration in the eastern United States. Willet and spotted sandpiper also breed in the area.
At least 289 species of birds have been observed at E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, including 106 species observed as breeding in the past few years. Osprey nest on platforms throughout the salt marshes of this complex. Peregrine falcon nest on a hacking tower at E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and also on a casino building in Atlantic City. Bald eagle have recently begun to next along the Mullica River and just inland (west) of the E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Smithville, and eagles are occasionally seen feeding in the Brigantine marshes. Common marsh-nesting birds include clapper rail (Rallus longirostrus), marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris), sharp-tailed sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus), and seaside sparrow (A. maritimus). Grassland birds utilize the adjacent uplands, including nesting by grasshopper sparrow. More than 30 species of small mammals and at least 18 species of reptiles and amphibians have also been recorded in the wetlands and adjacent uplands of E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
Oceanville Bog is part of the Doughty Creek watershed draining into E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The wetlands include an Atlantic white cedar swamp (Chamaecyparis thyiodes), as well as a borrow pit and dammed pond. Rare species found here are typical of Pinelands wetlands, including curly-grass fern in the cedar swamp, orchids such as swamp pink (Arethusa bulbosa) and crested yellow orchid (Plantanthera cristata), and fragrant ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes odorata), red milkweed (Asclepias rubra), and purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea), an aquatic species. Northern pine snake and pine barrens treefrog are also found in or adjacent to these wetlands. Barred owl have nested in the forested wetlands.
The undeveloped barrier beaches support several rare plant species, including seabeach sandwort and seabeach purslane at the northern end of Little Beach Island, and a regionally rare northern species, sea-side plantain (Plantago maritima), in the salt marsh on the back side of Little Beach Island. One of the few remaining coastal dune shrublands in the region occurs at Little Beach Island. On the developed barrier at the southern end of the complex at Longport is an occurrence of seaside evening-primrose. Northern diamondback terrapin feed throughout the estuary and nest on the back side of the barrier beaches and other appropriate sandy shoreline habitat, including several of the causeways that cross the bays. Terrapin also nest on the ocean side of North Brigantine Island.
VII. THREATS AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS: An increasing population of gulls is competing for nest sites with terns that currently nest and historically nested on the salt marsh islands. There has been a marked decline in beach-nesting least terns over the past ten years in both this complex and in the state as a whole. This is likely due to a number of factors: habitat loss due to beach erosion and succession of sparsely vegetated dredged material islands and other sites in the bay that were once used for nesting; human disturbance, including vehicles on the beach; predation by small mammals, especially red fox, and, possibly, gulls and crows. Predation of diamondback terrapin nests by raccoons, foxes, gulls, and other predators at North Brigantine Island and other locations is a major threat to the species. Tire tracks left by off-road vehicles can trap terrapin hatchlings, making them vulnerable to predation or dessication. Continued development of remaining open space along the shoreline of the estuary results in the direct loss of upland habitat and increased nutrient loading, especially from golf courses, into the wetlands and estuary. The remaining coastal forests along the upland edge of the salt marsh are rapidly being developed for residential and commercial uses.
VIII. CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS: Disturbances to wintering and nesting bird populations need to be minimized or eliminated entirely, particularly for colonial beach-nesting birds such as least terns and piping plovers. Human intrusions into beach nesting areas during the critical nesting season (April to August) should be prevented using a variety of methods, including protective fencing, posting, warden patrols, and public education. Public education and cooperative approaches with landowners are essential to successful protection of beach species in this area. When determined to be a problem, as it is at most mainland-connected nesting beaches, predator control and/or removal should be instituted. Those tasks and objectives of the piping plover recovery plan that are applicable to this area should be undertaken, including restoration or enhancement of degraded sites where appropriate.
Important diamondback terrapin nesting sites and foraging areas should be determined and protected through public education and enforcement, and public outreach used to eliminate collection. The use of crab traps in areas of the bay known to support concentrations of diamondback terrapin should be limited. Traps that are used should have terrapin excluder devices on them. The use of off-road vehicles should be limited in diamondback terrapin nesting areas. Predator control should be investigated in terrapin nesting sites.
Little Beach Island is one of the few remaining completely undeveloped barrier islands in the study area and should be maintained as a wilderness area. The remaining undeveloped coastal forests along the marshes of the E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and other marsh areas are extremely important for breeding and migratory birds and as a buffer between the wetlands and inland developed areas. These coastal forests should be acquired or protected through easements or other means. The impoundments at the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge should continue to be managed for a variety of shorebirds, waterbirds, and waterfowl. Efforts to restore salt marshes in the area through open marsh water management (OMWM) should be designed to benefit a variety of wildlife, including shorebirds.
IX. REFERENCES:
Breden, T. 1989. A preliminary natural community classification for New Jersey. In E.F. Karlin (ed.) New Jersey's rare and endangered plants and animals, pp. 157-191. Institute for Environmental Studies, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ.
Castelli, P. 1994. Personal communication. New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, Port Republic, NJ.
Harrington, B.A. and J.L. Lyons. 1990. On the importance of wildlife areas in the United States to shorebirds migrating east of the 105th longitude line. Draft report prepared for the Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Washington, D.C.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 1996. Unpublished 1995 colonial waterbird survey data. Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Trenton, NJ.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish, Game and Shellfish. 1979. Studies of the back bays systems in Atlantic County. 2 vols.
New Jersey Natural Heritage Program. 1993. Site reports for Brigantine Island, Little Beach Island, Little Egg Inlet Macrosite, Longport, North Brigantine Island, and Oceanville Bog.
Statler, R. Undated. The vegetation of Little Beach Island, New Jersey. St. John's University.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) Atlantic coast population revised recovery plan, technical/agency draft. Region 5, Hadley, MA.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. U.S. wetland of international importance, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge reptiles and amphibians. Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Oceanville, NJ.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1978. Annotated list of mammals of Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge, Oceanville, NJ.
List of Species of Special Emphasis
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