State preserves 750 acres around Shoreham nuclear plant
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation acquired nearly 750 acres of open space surrounding the former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant in Suffolk County. The acquisition permanently secures one of the largest remaining undeveloped coastal parcels in the Long Island Sound Estuary, protecting globally rare pine barrens ecosystems and Long Island’s sole source aquifer.
DEC purchased the property for $28.25 million that included contributions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound Partnership Program, the New York State Clean Water Infrastructure Act, and the 1996 Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act.
Located in the hamlets of Shoreham and Wading River, the property was originally slated for the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant. Following the plant’s abandonment in 1989 and decommissioning in 1994, the surrounding land remained undeveloped.
“Protecting the North Shore’s coastal beauty is more important than ever, and this historic acquisition integrates the ecological benefits of the Long Island Sound Estuary, Pine Barrens and other critical habitat to provide lasting benefits for the region,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul. “For decades, the permanent protection of the unique land surrounding the former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant has been an aspiration, and together with our many partners, New York State has succeeded in ensuring this open space is preserved for generations to come.”
The parcel spans diverse ecological habitats, including sand and gravel beaches, 100-foot-high bluffs, maritime shrublands, coastal oak-heath forests, rare pine barrens, and more than 40 acres of tidal marshes and shrub swamps. It hosts critical bird habitats for species such as osprey and the endangered piping plover, rare native plants, and diverse maritime life.
