Village of Port Jefferson Mill Creek Watershed Management Plan

Village of Port Jefferson
Mill Creek
Watershed Management Plan
parks, which are predominately developed for active recreational use, there are no large
public preserved parcels within the Mill Creek watershed. Municipal Lands are shown
on Map 4.
2.2.8 NATURAL RESOURCES
The natural resources section of this report includes descriptions of the wetland habitats,
living resources, and endangered species within the watershed and the land use
impairments, habitat losses, and invasive species that affect natural resources.
2.2.8.1 Wetland Habitats
Wetlands can be considered a transitional habitat that occurs between upland and
aquatic environments where water is the primary controlling factor of the
associated plant and wildlife. According to the National Wetlands Inventory
(NWI), one segment of Mill Creek is classified as a wetland. The pond, located on
the east side of Brook Road, is classified as belonging to the Palustrine System,
having an unconsolidated bottom, and remaining semi-permanently flooded.
Table 2-1 Creek Corridor Plant Species Inventory includes the wetland species
identified.
Freshwater Wetlands
The Palustrine System consists of non-tidal wetlands dominated by trees, shrubs
and persistent emergents, and all wetlands where salinity due to ocean-derived
salts is below 0.5%. The system groups together vegetated wetlands traditionally
called marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, or prairies; it also includes small, shallow,
permanent or intermittent water bodies often referred to as ponds. Palustrine
wetlands are typically situated along the shore of lakes, creek channels, or
estuaries; on creek floodplains; or on slopes.
Wetlands designated as having an unconsolidated bottom contain at least 25%
cover of particles smaller than stones (less than 6-7 cm), and a vegetative cover
2-14 November 2010 2 ND Draft