Marshlands Conservancy

The park is a "rare expanse of undeveloped land along the Sound" "dedicated to providing undisturbed habitat for wildlife and a peaceful oasis for people to discover and understand the their natural environment."{{cite book|title=Marshlands Conservancy|author=Stephen L. Elkins, Commissioner, Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Westchester County}}

Archaeological evidence supports the presence of a vibrant Indigenous peoples population at the location for thousands of years. Findings include the identification of pre-contact deposits from the Archaic and Woodland periods.{{cite journal|url=https://nysarchaeology.org/download/nysaa/bulletin/number_091.pdf|title=Ceramic Assemblages From the Rye Marshland Area of Southern New York|journal=The Bulletin and Journal of Archaeology for New York State|publisher=New York State Archaeological Association|date=Fall 1985|number=91|author1=Lucianne Lavin |author2=Birgit Morse |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Portals/74/docs/topics/LISDMMP/CulturalInventoryVolIIAppD.pdf|title=Cultural Resources Inventory Long Island Sound – Dredged Material Management Plan, Long Island Sound, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, Volume I, Contract #W921WJ-08-R-002, WHG #PAL0002|publisher=PAL Publications|pages=103–105|date=August 2010|accessdate=May 18, 2020}} Elements of the land, such as the field, were regularly cleared in the 1600s by colonial residents. Prior to that, it is believed that Indigenous stewards cleared brush to prevent reforestation and facilitate hunting and agriculture.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/03/nyregion/wanted-nature-lovers-for-clearing-marshlands.html|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 1991|title=Wanted: Nature Lovers For Clearing Marshlands|author=Felice Buckvar|access-date=February 26, 2022|page=8}}

Immediately prior to its 20th century partitioning, the Conservancy land was part of two neighboring estates: the Jay Estate, owned by Founding Father John Jay and his descendants between 1745 and 1905; this parcel was 400 acres in size.{{cite web|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/life/2020/05/28/back-day-jay-estate-rye-has-expansive-history/5268999002|title=Back in the Day: Jay Estate in Rye has expansive history with some yet to be discovered|date=May 28, 2020|access-date=February 26, 2022|author=Heather Clark|publisher=LoHud}} Another portion of the conservancy was originally part of neighboring Lounsbury owned by the Parsons family as far back as the early 1800s.

File:Boston Post Road Historic District - East Stream and West Creek.jpg

The nature preserve, initially named the Devereux Reservation or Conservancy,{{cite news|title=County's New Park Dedicated|date=June 8, 1972|publisher=The Herald Statesman|place=Yonkers, New York}} came into being through two separate real estate donations in 1966 and again in 1977.

The initial gift consisted of 120 acres from Zilph Palmer Devereux to Westchester County,{{cite news|title=Remainder of Devereux Estate, 120 Acres of Rye Property to Be Given to Westchester|publisher=The Daily News|place=Tarrytown, New York |date=November 14, 1966}} made on November 9, 1966, and formally accepted by the Westchester County Board of Supervisors on November 21, 1966. {{cite news|title=Devereux Gift Of Land To County Accepted By Board|publisher=The Rye Chronicle|place=Rye, New York|date=November 24, 1966}} The land was intended to be kept as a completely natural park.{{Cite news|publisher=The Rye Chronicle|date=July 16, 1970|page=4|title=Park Land}}

A small shelter was built in 1972, and the property reopened as Marshlands Park on June 7, 1972, during the dedication of the preserve. A special volunteer Advisory Board was created to ensure continued oversight of the County's management of the land.

Another donation of 17 acres was contributed by Fanny Wickes Parsons in 1977 with the caveat "that no garages or maintenance buildings be erected and that no marinas be built on or near the shorefront of the

tract."{{cite news|title=County Had Bid It Can't Refuse|publisher=The Daily News|place=Tarrytown, New York |date=May 7, 1977}}

The ensuing property of 147 acres [59 ha] (which includes tidal lands) was rededicated in 1997 as passive parkland by the Board of Legislators of Westchester County "The natural area and wildlife sanctuary will be protected, preserved and regulated as a nature and wildlife preserve to be used only for passive recreation." That same year, a Friends group was organized to help staff the shelter and provide tours as well as raise additional funds to supplement the maintenance and mowing of the meadow.{{cite news|title=Group Seeking to Raise Money for Marshlands|publisher=The Herald Statesman|place=Yonkers, New York|date=December 12, 1977}}

File:Rye Marshlands Conservancy - pottery fragments from archaeology 1969.jpg

A 1985 report confirmed the importance of Rye Marshlands as one of two sites in Rye with high archaeological significance, the other being an area in the Blind Brook watershed. The discovery of 88 stone fishtail points and fragments, 31 of which were collected between 1981 and 1987 by Stuart Fiedel, further suggests encampments of what is known as an Orient phase or culture at the site. Additional artifacts were found by Wilbur Clark.{{cite web|url=https://www.connarchaeology.org/ASC51.pdf|title=Orient Fishtail Points from the Rye Marshlands Conservancy|author=Stuart J. Fiedel|publisher=Archaeology Society of Connecticut|date=1988|pages=111–124|accessdate=June 7, 2020}}

The preserve's salt marsh was recognized in 1987 as a rare ecosystem and tidal flats community by the N.Y.S. Department of State Division of Coastal Resources & Waterfront Revitalization.{{cite web|url=https://www.dos.ny.gov/opd/programs/consistency/Habitats/LongIsland/Marshlands_Conservancy.pdf|title=Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat Rating Form |publisher=N.Y.S. Department of State Division of Coastal Resources & Waterfront Revitalization|date=November 15, 1987|accessdate=May 21, 2020}}

File:Salt marsh in autumn.jpg

File:Salt marsh in winter.jpg

There are two trail loops. One is 2.8 miles long.{{cite web|url=https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-york/marshlands-conservancy-loop|title=Marshlands Conservancy|publisher=All Trails|accessdate=May 20, 2020}} Passive recreation only is permitted at Marshlands Conservancy including walking, hiking and birdwatching. Dogs and bikes are strictly forbidden according to regulations adopted on December 31, 1975.{{cite web|url=https://myrye.com/my_weblog/2020/04/keep-bikes-dogs-out-of-edith-read-sanctuary-rye-mayor.html|title=Keep Bikes & Dogs Out of Edith read Sanctuary - Rye Mayor|date=27 April 2020 |publisher=MyRye|accessdate= May 20, 2020}}{{cite news|title=Legal Notices|publisher=The Herald Statesman|place=Yonkers, New York|date=December 10, 1975}}

Ruins of a summer home built on the property by 20th century owners can be found on the trail alongside the water. All that remains is a chimney and stone foundation.

The East Stream and West Creek are two fresh watercourses that run through the Marshlands Conservancy. They are both referenced by Westchester County in 1997 legislation (see map inset). They are habitat for American mink, snapping turtles and box turtles.

File:White-tailed deer Marshlands Conservancy (21537).jpg

Marshlands Conservancy is home to many creatures from horseshoe crabs to coyotes. Visitors can see foxes, herons, egrets and more.{{cite web|url=https://www.fieldtrip.com/ny/48354466.htm|title=Marshlands Conservancy|publisher=Are We There Yet?|accessdate=May 20, 2020}} Nature study is especially focused on salt water life.

The Conservancy land was donated with the goal of creating a wildlife sanctuary especially for waterfowl and migratory birds. Over 230 species of birds have been spotted{{cite web|url=https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109149|publisher=E-bird|title=Marshlands Conservancy|accessdate=May 20, 2020}} from Black rail to American Avocet.

Marine life at Marshlands include pipefish, small crabs (often hidden in rocky structures off of the water), and killifish.{{cite news|title=Learn the Long Lost Art of Pitching Hay|publisher=Yonkers Herald Statesman|date=July 15, 1983}}

Deer,{{cite web|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2015/10/01/no-deer-hunting-rye-marshlands-yet/73140266|title=No deer hunting in the Rye Marshlands yet|author=Mark Lungiarello|publisher=The Journal News|date=October 1, 2015|accessdate=May 20, 2020}} fox, coyotes, rabbits and groundhogs are among the mammals that have habitats at the conservancy.

A trail guide published in the 1980s under the auspices of then Westchester County Executive Alfred DelBello and Parks Commissioner Joseph M. Claverly noted the location of both native and invasive species along pathways, in the woods, next to bridges and by the beach and marsh.{{cite book|title=Marshlands Conservancy - Trail Guide|author=Ruth Rogers Clausen|publisher=Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation}}

The biodiversity of the Marshlands Conservancy has changed since its creation as a preserve. Native plants found at the Conservancy once included:

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• Black birch
• Bladderwrack
• Butterfly weed
• Christmas fern
• Dogtooth violet
• False Solomon's seal
• Giant sunflower
• Glasswort
• Groundsel tree
• Heath aster
• Jewelweed
• Lopseed
• Marsh elder
• Marsh mallow
• New York aster
• Poison ivy
• Post oak
• Sassafras
• Seaside goldenrod
• Skunk cabbage
• Spartina
• Spicebush
• Sweet gum
• Trillium
• Tulip tree
• White ash
• White oak
• Wild geranium
• Wild strawberry

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File:Marshlands Conservancy Meadow in Autumn.jpg

Like many other sanctuaries that are impacted by climate change, the ecology of Marshlands is changing due to the aggressive pressure of invasive species. Disturbed waste areas at the conservancy include a refuse dump next to the long meadow where Tree of Heaven can be found. According to the Audubon, invasive plants like Tatarian honeysuckle and Norway maples cause harm to native plants and the local ecosystem.{{Cite web|url=https://www.audubon.org/news/what-difference-between-native-non-native-and-invasive-plants|title=What is the Difference Between Native, Non-native, and Invasive Plants?|author=Gabriella Sotello|publisher=Audubon|date=February 25, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2022}} Other invasive species identified include:

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• Common burdock
• Crabapple
• Creeping bellflower
• Curly dock
• Deptford pink
• Everlasting pea
• Garlic mustard
• Japanese barberry
• Japanese knotweed
• Japanese stiltgrass
• Jetbead
• Mugwort
• Multiflora rose
• Norway maples
• Oriental bittersweet
• Phragmites
• Porcelainberry
• Privet
• Tatarian honeysuckle
• Tree of heaven
• Wineberry
• Wrinkled rose

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Asian shore crabs have been implicated in the decline of the common periwinkle at Marshlands.{{cite web|url=https://www.esa.org/midatlantic-preprod/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2013/02/Abstracts08.pdf|title=Intertidal crabs may influence periwinkle shell morphology and population size in Western Long Island Sound(abstract)|author=W. J. McFarlane|date=2008|accessdate=May 24, 2020}}

{{reflist}}

Category:National Historic Landmarks in New York (state)

Category:U.S. Route 1

Category:African-American history of New York (state)

Category:John Jay

Category:Historic district contributing properties in New York (state)

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Westchester County, New York

Category:Parks in Westchester County, New York

Category:Rye, New York

Category:Important Bird Areas of New York (state)

Category:Nature reserves in New York (state)