Rare Fen-Dependent Species and Habitat Surveys at Junius Ponds

Project Sponsor: NYS Department of Transportation
End Date: March 31, 2020

Summary

Junius Ponds contains a distinctive and irreplaceable constellation of rare habitats that support highly specialized communities of organisms including rare animals and plants. We are working collaboratively with SUNY Oswego and the Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation to evaluate the condition of Junius Ponds with special attention to rare species, habitat quality, and water quality. Our staff will map the current distribution of vegetation communities (i.e., native plant communities, rare plant occurrences and non-native invasive plant presence and abundance) and compare results to historical conditions and our own previous mapping. We will provided recommendations to our partners at SUNY Oswego who will then develop a site-specific habitat management plan with various BMP’s and provide critical data towards a Biological Assessment and Programmatic Agreement (BA/PA) with USFWS to address the needs of the New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of Transportation, and the NYS Transportation Administration.


Dec. 12, 2020