§ 77-3. Qualifications for nature preserves.  


Latest version.
  • To be considered for inclusion as a Town nature preserve, a parcel of real property must meet one or more of the following criteria:
    A. 
    It provides habitat for endangered, threatened or special concern wildlife species, as listed in the New York State Environmental Conservation Law § 11-0535 or the Federal Endangered Species Act.
    B. 
    It provides habitat for wildlife which are of special concern to the Town of Brookhaven or those that are of special or unique local importance.
    C. 
    It contains habitats that contain or support occurrences of rare plant or wildlife species or ecological communities identified by the New York State Natural Heritage Program, which are ranked S1, S2, G1 or G2.
    D. 
    It contains habitat that provides breeding, feeding, nesting or resting areas for significant concentrations or populations of wildlife or is a locally important haven for wildlife.
    E. 
    It contains freshwater or tidal wetlands.
    F. 
    It contains tree specimens listed on the state or national tree size records list: large, old growth forest stands or vegetational communities which are unusual in the Town or significant populations of protected plants as defined in the New York State Environmental Conservation Law § 9-1503.
    G. 
    It contains examples of forests or other vegetational communities that were, but are no longer, common on Long Island, or contains outstanding examples of such which are unique to Long Island.
    H. 
    It contains unique geological features such as kettleholes, drumlins, kames, or swales or those geological formations which are vulnerable to human disturbance, such as bluffs and dunes.
    I. 
    It contains significant prehistoric, aboriginal or historic cultural resources or is adjacent to sites containing significant cultural resources.
    J. 
    It lies over and protects sensitive deep-recharge or shallow-recharge aquifers, lies within core watershed areas, lies within special groundwater protection areas, lies within the zone of influence of public water supply well, or lies in areas important for maintaining surface water quality.
    K. 
    It provides scenic views, natural beauty or important local visual buffers or noise buffers.
    L. 
    It provides an interconnection between two or more existing Town, county, state or federal nature preserves which are currently separate.
Amended 6-9-2005 by L.L. No. 23-2005, effective 9-12-2005