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Bill

S 9311

Directs the department of environmental conservation to conduct a study of ecological restoration needs of Jamaica Bay

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Chan and 3 co-sponsors

DEC must study Jamaica Bay’s ecological restoration needs, map borrow pits, assess their ecological value and heat absorption, and publish policy recommendations by 2031.

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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Bill Summary · S 9311

Summary of Bill S.9311 (2025-2026) — Jamaica Bay Ecological Restoration Study

Bill overview

  • Jurisdiction: New York
  • Senate: S.9311
  • Introduced by: Sens. Persaud, Cooney, Webb
  • Committee: Environmental Conservation
  • Purpose: Directs the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a comprehensive study on the ecological restoration needs of Jamaica Bay and to report findings with policy recommendations. A temporary halt on sediment or fill placement into Jamaica Bay borrow pits is included.

Key provisions

Section 1: Mandatory beneficial-use study

DEC must conduct a study to determine ecological restoration needs in Jamaica Bay, focusing on:
1. Bathymetry description and borrow pits mapping
- Detailed description of the underwater topography in target Jamaica Bay areas.
- Creation of a map identifying the locations of borrow pits.

  1. Ecological service quality of borrow pits across seasons and depths

    • Assess how borrow pits provide ecological services (habitat, water quality, etc.) over multiple weather seasons and at multiple depths.
    • In-depth analysis of fish populations (fin fish species) that utilize borrow pits during different seasons.

  2. Geotechnical conditions of pit bottoms

    • Evaluation of soil/ground conditions at the bottoms of the borrow pits.

  3. Role in heat absorption during summer

    • Assessment of how borrow pits contribute to absorbing heat, particularly when adjacent shallow areas experience Ulva (green macroalgae) sulfide conditions.

  4. Policy recommendations

    • Any additional policy recommendations related to ecological restoration efforts for Jamaica Bay.

Section 1(b): Reporting requirements

  • Delivery timeline: DEC must issue a report detailing findings to:
    • Governor
    • Temporary President of the Senate
    • Speaker of the Assembly
    • Deadline: No later than March 30, 2031
  • Public access: The report must be published on the DEC website.

Section 1(c): Moratorium on sediment/fill placements

  • Moratorium period: Five years on any placement of sediment or fill into the borrow pits in Jamaica Bay.
  • Trigger for moratorium: Begins on the act’s effective date and lasts either for five years or until the study is completed and published, whichever is later.

Effective date

  • The act takes effect immediately.

Who/what is affected

  • Primary regulatory body: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
  • Jamaica Bay borrow pits: Areas designated as borrow pits within Jamaica Bay undergoing assessment and potential future restoration actions
  • Public stakeholders: Governor, leaders of the Senate and Assembly, local communities, environmental groups, and sectors involved in coastal restoration and fisheries.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Study initiation: As soon as the act becomes law (immediately upon enactment).
  • Final report due: On or before March 30, 2031.
  • Moratorium on deposits: In place for five years from the act’s effective date or until the study is completed and published, whichever is later.
  • Public disclosure: DEC must publish the study findings online.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • The five-year moratorium provides a regulatory pause on new sediment or fill work in the Jamaica Bay borrow pits, potentially affecting ongoing or planned sediment management or restoration projects in the near term.
  • The study’s outcomes could influence future restoration strategies, prioritization of sites, and policy frameworks for habitat restoration, flood risk management, and coastal resilience in Jamaica Bay.
  • The focus on fish populations and seasonal ecology aims to inform ecologically sound restoration that supports biodiversity and fisheries.
  • The emphasis on heat absorption and Ulva sulfide conditions addresses climate-related stresses and water quality concerns in coastal Bay ecosystems.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language plain-English version or a side-by-side comparison with related Jamaica Bay restoration initiatives.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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