Task Force Activities

Introduction

The Jamaica Bay Task Force (JBTF) is a body of private citizens, scientists, and federal, state, regional, and local agency representatives that share a common interest in the Bay. The Task Force has been congregating for more than 20 years in an attempt to understand the problems and propose solutions for maintaining the health of the Bay. It has transformed itself from a decision-making body to a forum for issues and concerns to be raised and discussed. Quarterly meetings are held, usually at Floyd Bennett Field or the Salt Marsh Nature Center and are open to any group or individual with an interest in the Bay and its surrounding communities. For more background, visit the Friends of Gateway JBTF page. Interested parties can also stay abreast of Jamaica Bay issues by subscribing to the Jamaica Bay listserve, administered by the Friends of Gateway (FoG) /Neighborhood Open Space Coalition (NOSC). The Task Force seeks to continue its existence as a public forum for information exchange, and to play a major role in impacting decisions on the Bay. At recent meetings, participants have raised concerns on a number of issues. For more information, visit the Issues of Concerns section of this website.

The members of the Task Force include officials from such federal agencies as the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); state agencies as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Department of State (DOS); regional and local agencies as the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). Several Community groups and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) including the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers (JBE), Tree Branch Network, American Littoral Society (ALS), and the New York City Audubon Society are very active participants, along with universities such as the State University of New York (SUNY) @ Stonybrook, City University of New York (CUNY) @ Brooklyn College, and Columbia University. View a list of participants.

Meetings