Management

The 400-acre area consisting of Strawberry Island, Motor Island, and adjacent shallow water habitats is designated as a New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat and is the largest shoreline habitat zone on the Niagara River. Strawberry Island is key to the survival of this habitat complex, because loss of the island would speed the current and could severely damage the aquatic ecosystem of the entire Upper Niagara River, while shifting sediments could fill the nearby navigation channel and make shipping more difficult. Continued cooperation among government agencies, the business community, private interest groups, and the public is critical to protecting the Strawberry-Motor Island complex. Newly formed emergent wetland areas provide resting places for migratory waterfowl, enhance fish spawning, and provide habitat for nesting birds. The restoration effort includes planting thousands of native wetland plants, which are critical to stabilizing the island's shoreline because plant roots help hold the island together, emergent wetland plants dissipate waves, shoreline plants block waves and hold soil, and tree and shrub roots reinforce soil far below the surface. Sand and gravel soil will break down quickly if not held together, and wind and waves will break apart the shoreline. Visitors also play an important role, because preserving this fragile land requires great care, including staying in designated visitor zones, avoiding excessive foot traffic in sensitive areas that can kill plants and compact soil around roots, removing no plant material, and carrying out trash.

Grand Island, New York · United States