The Fire Island National Seashore

Seth Forman, Lee E. Koppelman

Description

This book provides a comprehensive account of the establishment of the Fire Island National Seashore and its management from 1964 to the present. Located off of Long Island's south shore, Fire Island is one of only five national seashores in the national parks system. Focusing on the major policy issues generated during the past forty years, Lee E. Koppelman and Seth Forman explore the tensions between local and national interests as well as the desire to conserve resources unimpaired for the benefit and use of future generations. The book includes a brief history of the island before its induction into the national parks system; a discussion of the battle to control erosion; the conflict between preservation and public access; the establishment and maintenance of many historical and cultural resources, including the William Floyd Estate, the Fire Island Lighthouse, Sailor's Haven/Sunken Forest, and High Dune Wilderness Area; and the Seashore's changing management and organizational structure.
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments

1. Fire Island—Historical Background

Brief Overview of Fire Island History 

2. Fire Island Erosion: Shifting Sands and Shoreline of a Barrier Island

Introduction
Causes of Erosion
Erosion Control—A Sorry Saga
Erosion Control Efforts
USCE Reformulation Plan
The New York Coastal Partnership
Hierarchy of Needs—Based on Costs

3. The Creation of the Fire Island National Seashore

Introduction
Evolution of National Park Service
Parks on Fire Island
The Moses Road Proposal
The Move for a National Seashore
The Legislative Process
General William Floyd

4. Historic and Cultural Resources

Threatened, Endangered, and Other Species

5. Seashore Management

The Formative Years: Creation of the Wilderness Area and Its Conflicts, 1964-1978
Management Issues
Draft Master Plan of 1975
Class I--Natural Zone
Class II--Historic Zone
Class III--Park Development Zone
Class IV--Special Use Zones
Land Use
The Squatters Controversy
Seashore Zoning
Mainland Terminal and Transportation
Mosquito and Vector Control
Off-Road Vehicle Management
Personal Watercraft
Management and Organizational Structure of the Seashore

Appendix A. Fire Island Superintendents
Appendix B. Timeline 1964 to present

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• USA
• United States of America
• Region
• 20th century
• History of the Americas
• Regional
• États-Unis

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 14 février 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791478899
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

The Fire Island National Seashore A History

Lee E . Koppelman & Seth Forman

The Fire Island National Seashore

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The Fire Island National Seashore

A History

Lee E. Koppelman and Seth Forman

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2008 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

Production by Judith Block and Eileen Meehan Marketing by Susan M. Petrie

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Koppelman, Lee E. The Fire Island National Seashore : a history / Lee E. Koppelman, Seth Forman. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-7914-7341-2 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-7914-7342-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Fire Island National Seashore (N.Y.)—History. I. Koppelman, Lee. II. Title.

SB482.N7F66 2008 333.91'70974725—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2007025000

In Memorium

David Spirtes April 15, 2004

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. To reach the Port of Heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. —Oliver Wendell Holmes

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List of Illustrations Acknowledgments

Contents

Chapter 1. Fire Island—Historical Background Brief Overview of Fire Island History

Chapter 2. Fire Island Erosion: Shifting Sands and Shoreline of a Barrier Island Introduction Causes of Erosion Erosion Control—A Sorry Saga Erosion Control Efforts USCE Reformulation Plan The New York Coastal Partnership Hierarchy of Needs—Based on Costs

Chapter 3. The Creation of the Fire Island National Seashore Introduction Evolution of National Park Service Parks on Fire Island The Moses Road Proposal The Move for a National Seashore The Legislative Process General William Floyd

Chapter 4. Historic and Cultural Resources Threatened, Endangered, and Other Species

ix xi

1 1

19 19 21 23 28 34 44 47

53 53 53 61 65 67 74 75

77 92

viii

The Fire Island National Seashore

Chapter 5. Seashore Management The Formative Years: Creation of the Wilderness Area and Its Conflicts, 1964–1978 Management Issues Draft Master Plan of 1975 Class I—Natural Zone Class II—Historic Zone Class III—Park Development Zone Class IV—Special Use Zones Land Use The Squatters Controversy Seashore Zoning Mainland Terminal and Transportation Mosquito and Vector Control Off-Road Vehicle Management Personal Watercraft Management and Organizational Structure of the Seashore

Appendix A. Fire Island Superintendents Appendix B. Timeline 1964 to present Notes Bibliography Index

99

99 114 117 122 123 123 123 126 127 132 136 140 141 144

144

151 153 173 189 199

1.1 2.1

5.1 5.2

5.3 5.4

5.5

1.1 2.1 3.1 4.1 5.1

5.2

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5

Acknowledgments

Illustrations

Tables

Fire Island Housing Units—2000 Preliminary Cost Estimates Over 10, 20, and 50 Year-Periods Seashore Holdings by Jurisdiction, June 1977 Maximum Daily Visitation Levels of Existing Federally Managed Activity Areas as of June 1976 Annual Ridership by Routes—2001 Fire Island National Seashore Organizational Chart and Budget Comparison Land Ownership—2004

Figures

Fire Island Communities and Parklands Fire Island Inlet Moses Road Proposal Number of Visitors Total Budget Fire Island National Seashore Unadjusted and Adjusted Total Staffing Fire Island National Seashore Full Time Equivalent Employees

Photographs

Fire Island Lighthouse The Club House circa 1870 Davis Park T-Dock, 1945 Davis Park Trustee’s Walk, 1945 Fire Island Lightship, 1932

i

x

ix

18

51 105

139 140

148 149

18 34 66 92

144

145

4 6 8 9 9