News Releases

Army Corps of Engineers continues vegetation management on Staten Island's East Shore for the Coastal Risk Management Project

USACE New York District
Published July 9, 2020

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) South Shore of Staten Island (SSSI) Coastal Storm Risk Management Project encompasses an area of approximately 5.3 miles long from Fort Wadsworth to Oakwood Beach on the eastern side of the south shoreline of Staten Island, N.Y.

Construction activities for the project commenced in December 2019 with the mowing of existing common reed, the invasive Phragmites australis, prevalent within project area wetlands.

In preparation for upcoming construction, USACE, in conjunction with New York State and City of New York, will be applying aquatic herbicide Clearcast® (U.S. EPA Registration Number 241-437-67) to minimize Phragmites. This will get growth out of the way to prepare the area for project construction.

Clearcast® was selected because it binds with an enzyme found only in plants, and not found in humans, mammals, birds, fish or insects, making it practically nontoxic to animal life.  Because of this, there are no restrictions on swimming, fishing or fish consumption from the use of Clearcast®.

Clearcast® will be applied to areas of common reed by backpack applicators and tracked amphibious vehicle at the below areas and dates: 

• Oakwood Beach and New Dorp Beach areas between July 6 and July 31, 2020. 

• Midland Beach between August 3 and August 17, 2020. 

• South Beach area between August 20 and August 31, 2020. 

Hours of application will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday (with no weekend work anticipated). 

Notification of the exact dates of herbicide application will be provided 48 hours prior to commencement of treatment by posting signs within the affected areas.

Construction of the coastal risk management project will begin with the first contract expected to start in early 2021.

-30-


Contact
Public Affairs
917-790-8007
cenan-pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 20-038