Montauk Point Targeted For Golf Course:
Groundwater And Rare Species At Stake

by Mike Bottini, Environmental Planner

In October, Group for the South Fork learned that New York State was looking into the possibility of putting a golf course at the 400-acre Camp Hero site in Montauk Point State Park. After extensive field investigations and research this fall and winter, Group staff has concluded that the golf course idea is ill-conceived. Although large areas of this site contain roads, buildings and cleared areas, we determined that this only amounted to approximately 50 acres - far short of what is needed for an 18-hole golf course.

Much of the site contains important wildlife habitat that is unique to Long Island and New York State. For example, it is an important Atlantic Flyway resting and feeding area for a wide variety of migrating songbirds. Although no extensive wild-life inventory has been done on this site in recent years, species currently listed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) as "endangered" and "special concern" have been documented here.

Camp Hero also contains several areas of maritime oak-holly forest, a plant community listed by the New York State Natural Heritage Program, and red maple/tupelo swamps, which are protected by NYSDEC. In addition, there are records of rare orchids found on the site, specifically arethusa and cranefly.

Other constraints to golf course layout are wetlands and groundwater supply. This site is chock full of freshwater wetlands, which are breeding grounds for rare salamander species. In addition, Montauk's freshwater supply is precarious. Salt water intrusion is not an uncommon problem for Montauk's private residential and public wells, and has been a problem at this very site.

The use of hazardous turf chemicals in this environmentally-sensitive area would also create serious problems. Although "Integrated Pest Management" and careful turfgrass selection can reduce pesticide, fertilizer and herbicide use, as well as irrigation needs, we are not aware of any golf course that has completely eliminated these items from its maintenance regime.

Even the federal government opposes a golf course at Camp Hero. A recent letter (2/8/96) from the National Park Service backs up our concerns by specifically mentioning the area's unique scenic and environmental qualities, and the fragility of its wetlands and aquifer. The letter points out that a golf course at Camp Hero is not consistent with the reasons that the federal government transferred the Camp Hero property to New York State. It concludes that the site's outstanding recreational, scenic, cultural and natural resources should be utilized by the state to satisfy the public's growing demand for opportunities to picnic, hike, bicycle, camp and enjoy the park as originally intended.