THE GRASMERE AND CAMERON LAKES BLUEBELT CONSERVANCY,INC......
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 WELCOME  2023..... HOPES ARE HIGH FOR A GOOD YEAR!!

PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE CONSERVANCY
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​ June 21, 2019 .........BUBBLE BRUNCH on the Beach
Sponsored by the Conservancy and the Cameron Club, guests celebrated our new Full Lake Aeration system with delicious brunch and raffle on the Beach.
Beautiful weather and a beautiful event.
Bubbles Everywhere! 

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Our fund raising campaign continues....
We were  awarded a NYC Parks Equity Initiative Grant  2020 and 2021.
 Our thanks to City Councilman Steve Matteo.

 City Councilman David Carr continues to support us
​with a Parks Equity Grant for 2022 and for 2023.


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WON'T YOU CONSIDER MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUTURE OF BRADY'S POND?
 Contributions are tax deductible.We are a 501c3.
MAIL to : Grasmere and Cameron Lakes Bluebelt Conservancy, Inc.
                  38 Delphine Terrace
​                  Staten Island, NY 10305
  

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VISIT OUR WEBSITE      http://
thebluebeltconservancy.weebly.com
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BORN OF A NEED TO PROTECT ....

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The Grasmere and Cameron Lakes Bluebelt  Conservancy, Inc. was established in 2011 by concerned members of the Staten Island community whose love for the lakes and ponds of Grasmere  compelled them to form this  not- for-profit,tax-free organization,a  501(c)(3).  


The mission of the the Grasmere and Cameron Lakes Bluebelt Concervancy ( GCLBC) is protect the natural ecosystem, maintain the  water and to educate the  public about Brady's Pond.

Why Brady's Pond? 

Brady's Pond is a  special pond in a special place,
Located in the heart of Grasmere on Staten Island...the" forgotten "borough of New York City.

Believed to be the  only naturally swimmable pond on Staten Island, it's quiet solitude lies  only a short distance from the  busy Verrazano Bridge.
 Brady's Pond is a hidden treasure in the midst of encroaching civilization.

It is a home to an mature and thriving  fresh-water ecosystem  that has  survived gentrification and development.
 In Brady's Pond there exists a special  harmony,a balance between the needs of nature and the needs of man. 

 Approximately 30% of the shoreline of Brady's Pond is a New York City Park area. Rustic and rugged the shores of Brady's Pond Park are open to the public. It is not unusual to see a  quiet fisherman sitting on the shore  casting out into the water. He might be lucky and catch a largemouth bass.... but he'd probably be just as happy with a sunfish.
 




What does it do for us?
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Brady's Pond serves an important public function.
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What can we do to preserve this unusual 
 place?

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With the changing seasons,Brady's Pond experiences a change in wildlife . Spring, the time of rebirth ,fills the pond with new families and new hope for the future. These three cygnets were hatched this May, 2014 and are growing by leaps and bounds.
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By October 2014 the two remaining young swans were headed into adulthood.. trading their grey plumage and black beaks for the adult white feathers and orange beaks.Parents still remain with them and will teach then to fly... By December 2014, there was one young swan left. Almost all white and looking like its parents who continue to guide it. It will fly alway and hopefully begin its own "lake " legacy.
First and Foremost...



Brady's Pond
is a natural
protected wetland area

Hidden in plain site in the heart of a busy residential area lies Brady's Pond.

Naturally spring fed, Brady's Pond had long been home to fish,ducks, muskrats, birds,salamanders ,turtles as well as being a unspoiled haven to enjoy the  natural flora of a lake.. lily pads, flag  iris, wild blackberries and willow trees encircle it's perimeter.

Preserves habitats for indigenous species of plants and animal

This 12 acre shallow pond  provides  a haven for both animals,plants and humans alike. A thriving  freshwater ecosystem and habitat for many resident and migrant species, Brady's Pond is brimming with life  and activity year round.


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Acts as a reservoir
Brady's Pond is the largest and northern most reservoir for the South Beach Bluebelt. Designated by the Department of Conservation ( DEC) as the uppermost link in the South Beach Bluebelt. 

Accepting  storm water from  23 acres of the adjacent Staten Island Expressway  as well as  approximately  10 acres of adjoining streets adjacent to it's eastern shoreline, Brady's Pond  is the first line of defense against flooding by acting as a gigantic storm basin.
As we have seen in the past few years, significant rain and storm events have  hit Staten Island causing considerable damage and destruction.Without the help of Brady's Pond and other naturally occuring storm basins flooding could be catastrophic.


Protects homes,highways and streets from flooding

Brady's Pond accepts this storm water from runoff of the 33 acres of highway, streets and park as well as from surrounding homes. Storing it and releasing it gradually via a "weir". A mechanism that allows the water level in the lake to be controlled .This  excess water   flows  via an undergound pipe under West Fingerboard Road to Cameron  Lake. As part of the South Beach Bluebelt system, from there the water journeys  naturally via underground streams  traveling down and out into the Raritan Bay.

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