Marshlands Conservancy

Marshlands Conservancy is a 147-acre nature preserve in the city of Rye, New York, that is fully owned and operated by Westchester County Parks.[3] It has numerous wildlife habitats from ponds to creeks to a large meadow area, succession forest, freshwater wetlands and the only extensive salt marsh in Westchester.[4] It borders Long Island Sound and can be entered via an easement on the historic Boston Post Road. It is one of 5 properties that together constitute the Boston Post Road Historic District. It has high archaeological sensitivity. The conservancy has also been designated an Important Bird Area.

Marshlands Conservancy
Location220 Boston Post Road, Rye, New York
Coordinates40°57′13″N 73°42′08″W
Area147 acres
Websitewww.marshlandsconservancy.org
Part ofBoston Post Road Historic District (Rye, New York) (ID82001275[1])
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 29, 1982[1]
Designated NHLDCPAugust 30, 1993[2]

Early history

Archaeology supports the presence of a vibrant Indigenous peoples population for thousands of years at the location. Findings include identification of pre-contact deposits from the Archaic and Woodland periods.[5][6] Elements of the land like the field were regularly cleared in the 1600s by colonial residents. Previous to that, it is believed that Indigenous stewards cleared brush to prevent reforestation and facilitate hunting and agriculture.[7]

Immediately prior to its 20th century partitioning, the Conservancy land was part of two neighboring estates: the Jay Estate, owned by Founding Father John Jay and his descendants between 1745 and 1905; this parcel was 400 acres in size.[8] Another portion of the conservancy was originally part of neighboring Lounsbury owned by the Parsons family as far back as the early 1800s.

Map of Boston Post Road Historic District including watercourses
Map of Boston Post Road Historic District including watercourses

Modern history (1966–present)

The nature preserve, first named the Devereux Reservation or Conservancy,[9] came into being through two separate real estate donations in 1966 and again in 1977.

The initial gift was one of 120 acres from Zilph Palmer Devereux to Westchester County[10] made on November 9, 1966 and formally accepted by the Westchester County Board of Supervisors on November 21, 1966.[11] The land was planned to be kept as a completely natural park.[12]

A small shelter was built in 1972 and the property re-opened as Marshlands Park on June 7, 1972 during the dedication of the preserve.[9] A special volunteer Advisory Board was created to ensure continued oversight of the County's management of the land.

Another donation of 17 acres was contributed by Fanny Wickes Parsons in 1977 with the caveat "that no garages or maintenance buildings be erected and that no marinas be built on or near the shorefront of the tract."[13]

The ensuing property of 147 acres [59 ha] (which includes tidal lands) was rededicated in 1997 as passive parkland by the Board of Legislators of Westchester County "The natural area and wildlife sanctuary will be protected, preserved and regulated as a nature and wildlife preserve to be used only for passive recreation." That same year, a Friends group was organized to help staff the shelter and provide tours as well as raise additional funds to supplement the maintenance and mowing of the meadow.[14]

Features

Archaeological sensitivities

A 1985 report confirmed the importance of Rye Marshlands as one of two sites in Rye with high archaeological significance, the other being an area in the Blind Brook watershed.[5] The discovery of 88 stone fishtail points and fragments, 31 of which were collected between 1981 and 1987 by Stuart Fiedel, further suggests encampments of what is known as an Orient phase or culture at the site. Additional artifacts were found by Wilbur Clark.[15]

Salt marsh and tidal flats

The preserve's salt marsh was recognized in 1987 as a rare ecosystem and tidal flats community by the N.Y.S. Department of State Division of Coastal Resources & Waterfront Revitalization.[16]

Salt marsh in early autumn.
Salt marsh in winter with Canada Geese in the water.

Woodland trails and ruins

There are two trail loops. One is 2.8 miles long.[17] Passive recreation only is permitted at Marshlands Conservancy including walking, hiking and birdwatching. Dogs and bikes are strictly forbidden according to regulations adopted on December 31, 1975.[18][19] Ruins of a summer home built on the property by 20th century owners can be found on the trail alongside the water. All that remains is a chimney and stone foundation.

Watercourses

The East Stream and West Creek are two watercourses that run through the Marshlands Conservancy.

Fauna

Marshlands Conservancy is home to many creatures from horseshoe crabs to coyotes. Visitors can see foxes, herons, egrets and more.[20] Nature study is especially focused on salt water life.

Birds

The Conservancy land was donated with the goal of creating a wildlife sanctuary especially for waterfowl and migratory birds. Over 230 species of birds have been spotted[21] from Black rail to American Avocet.

Fish and shellfish

Marine life at Marshlands include pipefish, small crabs (often hidden in rocky structures off of the water), and killifish.[22]

Mammals

Deer,[23] fox, coyotes, rabbits and groundhogs are among the mammals that have habitats at the conservancy.

Flora

A trail guide published in the 1980s under the auspices of then Westchester County Executive Alfred DelBello and Parks Commissioner Joseph M. Claverly noted the location of both native and invasive species along pathways, in the woods, next to bridges and by the beach and marsh.[24]

Native plants and trees

The biodiversity of the Marshlands Conservancy has changed since its creation as a preserve. Native plants found at the Conservancy once included:[22][24]

  • Black birch
  • Bladderwrack
  • Butterfly weed
  • Christmas fern
  • Dogtooth violet
  • False Solomon's seal
  • Giant sunflower
  • Glasswort
  • Groundsel tree
  • Heath aster
  • Jewelweed
  • Lopseed
  • Marsh elder
  • Marsh mallow
  • New York aster
  • Poison ivy
  • Post oak
  • Sassafras
  • Seaside goldenrod
  • Skunk cabbage
  • Spartina
  • Spicebush
  • Sweet gum
  • Trillium
  • Tulip tree
  • White ash
  • White oak
  • Wild geranium
  • Wild strawberry
Long meadow in early autumn.

Invasive species

Like many other sanctuaries that are impacted by climate change, the ecology of Marshlands is changing due to the aggressive pressure of invasive species. Disturbed waste areas at the conservancy include a refuse dump next to the long meadow where Tree of Heaven can be found.[24] According to the Audubon, invasive plants like Tatarian honeysuckle and Norway maples cause harm to native plants and the local ecosystem.[25] Other invasive species identified include:

  • Common burdock
  • Crabapple
  • Creeping bellflower
  • Curly dock
  • Deptford pink
  • Everlasting pea
  • Garlic mustard
  • Japanese barberry
  • Japanese knotweed
  • Japanese stiltgrass
  • Jetbead
  • Mugwort
  • Multiflora rose
  • Norway maples
  • Oriental bittersweet
  • Phragmites
  • Porcelainberry
  • Privet
  • Tatarian honeysuckle
  • Tree of heaven
  • Wineberry
  • Wrinkled rose

Asian shore crabs have been implicated in the decline of the common periwinkle at Marshlands.[26]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Boston Post Road Historic District". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007.
  3. "Marshlands Conservancy". Westchester County. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  4. "Marshlands Conservancy". Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  5. Lucianne Lavin; Birgit Morse (1985). "Ceramic Assemblages From the Rye Marshland Area of Southern New York" (PDF). The Bulletin and Journal of Archaeology for New York State. Retrieved June 7, 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "Cultural Resources Inventory Long Island Sound – Dredged Material Management Plan, Long Island Sound, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, Volume I, Contract #W921WJ-08-R-002, WHG #PAL0002" (PDF). PAL Publications. August 2010. pp. 103–105. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  7. Felice Buckvar (November 3, 1991). "Wanted: Nature Lovers For Clearing Marshlands". The New York Times. p. 8. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  8. Heather Clark (May 28, 2020). "Back in the Day: Jay Estate in Rye has expansive history with some yet to be discovered". LoHud. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  9. "County's New Park Dedicated". Yonker, New York: The Herald Statesman. June 8, 1972.
  10. "Remainder of Devereux Estate, 120 Acres of Rye Property to Be Given to Westchester". Tarrytown, New York: The Daily News. November 14, 1966.
  11. "Devereux Gift Of Land To County Accepted By Board". Rye, New York: The Rye Chronicle. November 24, 1966.
  12. "Park Land". The Rye Chronicle. July 16, 1970. p. 4.
  13. "County Had Bid It Can't Refuse". Tarrytown, New York: The Daily News. May 7, 1977.
  14. "Group Seeking to Raise Money for Marshlands". Yonkers, New York: The Herald Statesman. December 12, 1977.
  15. Stuart J. Fiedel (1988). "Orient Fishtail Points from the Rye Marshlands Conservancy" (PDF). Archaeology Society of Connecticut. pp. 111–124. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  16. "Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat Rating Form" (PDF). N.Y.S. Department of State Division of Coastal Resources & Waterfront Revitalization. November 15, 1987. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  17. "Marshlands Conservancy". All Trails. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  18. "Keep Bikes & Dogs Out of Edith read Sanctuary - Rye Mayor". MyRye. April 27, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  19. "Legal Notices". Yonkers, New York: The Herald Statesman. December 10, 1975.
  20. "Marshlands Conservancy". Are We There Yet?. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  21. "Marshlands Conservancy". E-bird. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  22. "Learn the Long Lost Art of Pitching Hay". Yonkers Herald Statesman. July 15, 1983.
  23. Mark Lungiarello (October 1, 2015). "No deer hunting in the Rye Marshlands yet". The Journal News. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  24. Ruth Rogers Clausen. Marshlands Conservancy - Trail Guide. Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.
  25. Gabriella Sotello (February 25, 2022). "What is the Difference Between Native, Non-native, and Invasive Plants?". Audubon. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  26. W. J. McFarlane (2008). "Intertidal crabs may influence periwinkle shell morphology and population size in Western Long Island Sound(abstract)" (PDF). Retrieved May 24, 2020.
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