Black Pond Wildlife Management Area is a
New York State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) that lies on the eastern shore of
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York. The Canada–United States border sp ...
, and at the northern limit of an unusual region of sandy barrier beaches and lagoons. Much of the barrier beach in Black Pond WMA has forested sand dunes that are about high; these are the highest sand dunes in the northeast United States excepting
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer mont ...
. Immediately north of the WMA is the El Dorado Beach Preserve, which is a bird refuge owned by
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US.
Founded in 1951, The Natu ...
. North of the outlet from Black Pond to Lake Ontario, the shoreline is a weathered, flat bedrock shelf that is "
calcareous
Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.
In zoology
''Calcareous'' is used as an adje ...
" instead of sandy.
From the parking lot at road's end, the WMA has an
accessible
Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i.e ...
trail and boardwalk that reaches through the interior wetlands to the sandy beach on Lake Ontario. From the terminus of the boardwalk, it is possible to walk south along the beach for about without getting wet feet. This beach route passes out of the WMA, past the beachfront residences of Jefferson Park, through
Southwick Beach State Park
Southwick Beach State Park is a New York State park that lies along an unusual stretch of sandy beach on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. The park is in size with a length of beach, and is visited annually by about 100,000 people. Immedia ...
, and into the sizable
Lakeview Wildlife Management Area
Lakeview may refer to:
Australia
*Lakeview, South Australia
* Lakeview Homestead Complex, a homestead located in the Eurobodalla Shire
Canada
*Lakeview, Alberta
*Lakeview, Calgary, Alberta
*Lakeview Heights, British Columbia
* Lakeview, Manito ...
. Walking north along the beach leads onto the El Dorado Beach Preserve; a hiking trail and bird-watching blinds at the Beach Preserve are normally reached by Grandjean Road, which is north of Black Pond.
Black Pond WMA, with Lakeview WMA,
Deer Creek Marsh WMA, and the
Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area
Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area is a New York State conservation area located within the eastern Lake Ontario dunes. It lies at the north end of a spit of land dividing North Sandy Pond from Lake Ontario, and is about north of the developed portio ...
, comprise the Eastern Lake Ontario Marshes Bird Conservation Area. The Nature Conservancy's adjacent El Dorado Beach Preserve extends this bird conservation area.
Black Pond WMA,
Southwick Beach State Park
Southwick Beach State Park is a New York State park that lies along an unusual stretch of sandy beach on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. The park is in size with a length of beach, and is visited annually by about 100,000 people. Immedia ...
, Lakeview WMA,
Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area, and Deer Creek Marsh WMA have been included in a New York Natural Heritage Area, the "Eastern Lake Ontario Barrier Beach and Wetland Complex".
The WMA and the Beach Preserve are in the
Town of Ellisburg in
Jefferson County.
See also
*
List of New York state wildlife management areas
New York State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are conservation areas managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) primarily for the benefit of wildlife, and used extensively by the public for hunting, fishing ...
*
Southwick Beach State Park
Southwick Beach State Park is a New York State park that lies along an unusual stretch of sandy beach on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. The park is in size with a length of beach, and is visited annually by about 100,000 people. Immedia ...
References
External links (including access information)
*
{{Protected areas of New York
Wildlife management areas of New York (state)
New York State Natural Heritage Areas
Protected areas of Jefferson County, New York