Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
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South-facing view of the dunes along the Lake Ontario shore at Sandy Pond Beach in spring 2009.
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 Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area
Location in New York
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| Location | Oswego County, New York, USA |
| Nearest city | Oswego, New York |
| Area | 76 acres (31 ha) |
| Established | 1994 |
| Visitors | 18,874 (in 2009) |
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The Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area is a special natural spot in New York State. It covers about 76-acre (31 ha) of land. This area is part of the sandy dunes found along the eastern side of Lake Ontario.
You can find it at the northern tip of a narrow strip of land. This land separates North Sandy Pond from Lake Ontario. The area is about two miles (3.2 km) north of Sandy Island Beach State Park. There are no roads leading directly to this area. Because of this, most people get there by boat. Local people often call it "Boaters' Beach." Since 2011, it has been managed as part of Sandy Island Beach State Park.
Contents
History of Sandy Pond Beach
This section explains how Sandy Pond Beach became a protected area.
Protecting the Land
In 1994, a group called The Nature Conservancy bought this land. They bought it from two private owners. These owners wanted to make sure the land would be protected. The cost to buy the land was about $300,000. After the purchase, the area was named the Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area.
Restoration Efforts
After buying the land, efforts were made to restore it. Workers planted special grass called beachgrass. They also built boardwalks. These boardwalks help protect the beachgrass from people walking on it.
State Ownership and Management
Later, the State of New York bought these properties from The Nature Conservancy. This is how the Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area was created. For a while, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation managed it. It was part of the New York State Forest system.
In 2011, the management of Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area changed. It was given to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Now, it is part of the nearby Sandy Island Beach State Park.
Nature and Wildlife at Sandy Pond
Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area is very important for nature. It provides a home for many animals and plants.
Bird Sanctuary
There is a special bird sanctuary at the northernmost part of this area. Many shorebirds stop here during their long migration journeys. This Unique Area is part of a larger bird protection zone. This zone is called the Eastern Lake Ontario Marshes Bird Conservation Area. Other areas in this zone include Deer Creek Marsh and Black Pond. To protect the birds, visitors and pets are not allowed in the bird sanctuary.
Important Natural Area
In 2007, the Unique Area was given another special title. It became part of the "Eastern Lake Ontario Barrier Beach and Wetland Complex." This is a New York Natural Heritage Area. This title shows how important the area is for its unique natural features.
