Abstract
Deepwater Wind South Fork has collected extensive data to support the characterization of habitats within the South Fork Wind Farm and along the South Fork Export Cable route. These data were used to conduct detailed benthic habitat mapping and a crosswalk of delineated benthic habitat types to essential fish habitat. Habitats were described in terms of complexity, sediment composition, heterogeneity, bedforms, and observed/anticipated infaunal and epifaunal communities. The detailed mapping and characterization of benthic habitat types within the Project Area greatly improves the collective knowledge base about seafloor environments on Cox Ledge and the outer continental shelf between Cox Ledge and Long Island. Six benthic habitat types were mapped in the Project Area: 1) Glacial Moraine; 2) Coarse Sediment - 30 to 80% Cobble/Boulder; 3) Coarse Sediment - 5 to 30% Cobble/Boulder; 4) Coarse Sediment - <5% Cobble/Boulder; 5) Sand and Muddy Sand; and 6) Mud and Sandy Mud.