Jamaica Bay is bounded by Rockaway Peninsula, a barrier beach, on the south and by the Hempsetad Outwash Plain on the north. Therefore, it is a large pocket marsh, with a single large inlet. Jamaica Bay has experienced a great deal of human modification during the past few decades.
In 1880 a railroad was built at Jamaica Bay. At that time, Idlewild was a dry spot along the fringing marsh that surrounded the Bay.
Flatbush was an area of pine barrens in what is now Kings County. The type specimen of the Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia) was found there.
Jamaica was named after a group of Native Americans.
The Dutch settled in the area in 1636.
At Barren Island, dead horses were dumped in the Bay, in an early example of abuse of the environment.
In 1936, the Belt Parkway was built, destroying the environment around the perimeter of the Bay. Cross Bay Boulevear was built through the interior of the Bay during the same year.
A more recent example is the development of common sewer lines, where both sewage and storm water are carried to the bay by the same system. During a storm when runoff is rapid, the sewer plant is bypassed, and sewage pours into the marine environment.
By 1947, salt water intrusion was severe in Brooklyn and Queens, two miles into central Brooklyn. That year, the wells were capped and the aquifer was abandoned. The water table began to rise, and subways became wet.
In 1972, Kimmel of the USGS opened some of the wells and found fresh water, but it was contaminated with nitrates (30 ppm). This is because of a leaky sewer system. Obviously, adding sewers is not a good way to restore an aquifer.
Last modified December 4, 1997