LI Shellfish Restoration Project - Volunteer!
As we make our way into 2019, the Long Island Shellfish Restoration Project - run by the Cornell Cooperative Extension - will soon pick back up again.
Many Floating Upwelling Systems, or FLUPSYs, were installed across Long Island last year. The systems are designed to promote the rapid growth of shellfish, such as clams, oysters, and scallops, which will eventually be seeded into the local harbors and bays to restore the dwindling natural populations. Shellfish beds filter the water and are necessary to maintain clean and algae-bloom-free waters.
The shellfish were removed from the systems over the winter to protect them from freezing temperatures. However, as the warmer months roll around, the shellfish will soon be reinstalled into their FLUPSYs. The Cornell Cooperative Extension depends on volunteers to help monitor these systems. I, myself, and the two other people who maintain this website, are all volunteers who help with the FLUPSYs, and we know that any help is greatly appreciated.
If you would like to volunteer with the Cornell Cooperative Extension to help protect your local waters, please visit their website at the link below:
Volunteer for the Cornell Cooperative Extension LI Shellfish Restoration Project
If you would like to read more about the FLUPSYs or the restoration project, please visit the following links:
Moriches Inlet Dredging Completed
Dredging of the dangerously shoaled Moriches Inlet has just been completed. 70,000 cubic yards of sand were removed from the essential waterway, which has now been placed at local beaches to combat erosion.
The channel now has a restored 6-foot depth, ensuring the safety of the Coast Guard and other boaters, which will also help the local boating economy. The dredged sand is further benefiting the community by being used to build up local beaches in order to combat erosion and to protect against flooding.
To read more and watch Lee Zeldin's news conference about the success of this project, visit the link below:
Waterway dredging completed, sand moved to Moriches beaches, Zeldin says
Suffolk County Begins $7M Dredging Project
Suffolk County has spent $7 Million to dredge 16 priority water ways. The end-of-the-year dredging projects will clear channels and build up beaches, benefiting both boaters and homeowners. The projects were chosen based on the depths of waterways, sandbars, and other hazards.
The 16 projects are:
East Hampton - Northwest Harbor and Three Mile Harbor
Islip Town - Center Bay Canal
Riverhead Town - Hawks Creek
Shelter Island - Coecles Harbor
Southold - Brushes Creek, Deephole Creek, Gull Pond, James Creek, Little Creek, Mill Creek, Mudd Creek, and Richmond Creek
Southampton - Cold Spring Pond, Fresh Pond, and Sebonac Creek
Please read more at the link below:
Suffolk County spends $7M to dredge 16 waterways, half in Southold Town
Emergency Dredging of Moriches Inlet Has Begun
Congressman Lee Zeldin announced in July that a contract has been awarded to dredge the dangerously shoaled Moriches Inlet. This is fantastic news for boaters who were previously put in harm's way when navigating the channel. This also will be very beneficial to the environment, as the increased flushing of Moriches Bay will help decrease harmful algae blooms.
The dredging is expected to remove approximately 158,000 cubic yards of sand, restoring the channel to the federally authorized depth of 10 feet deep. It is expected to be completed by mid-October later this fall.
To read further, please visit the links below:
Long Island Water Pollution
Long Island is facing a water pollution crisis. Nitrate pollution in our water is very likely due to overuse of fertilizers and sub-par wastewater treatment. If you live on Long Island, this problem will affect you.
Drinking water is a big concern. Most of Long Island's drinking water comes from underground reservoirs, not rivers, which makes our water source much more susceptible to pollution from fertilizers and septic systems. Too much nitrate in drinking water poses issues for the human body, making it harder for the blood to carry oxygen. This is extremely dangerous for infants, but can also cause issues for adults.
Toxic algae that are fueled by excess nitrogen in the water can also affect people. Some studies have linked cyanobacteria that grow in nitrogen-polluted water to different health risks, from allergic symptoms to nausea and other bowel-related problems. Eating shellfish from waters that have been tainted can also cause disease. Other areas with nitrogen-polluted water have reported more serious health problems, even death, caused by cyanobacteria. No one on Long Island has died yet from cyanobacteria, but the problem does exist here, as a dog's death in East Hampton is said to have been caused by cyanobacteria. It is actually commonly acknowledged that dogs can and will die from swimming or playing in fresh water areas that have become toxic due to cyanobacteria growing in the water.
Even if you won't be directly affected, this issue could be very problematic for your neighbors, your town, your job, your children, or your pets.
In order to read further, see more facts, and examine sources, visit the link below:
NY Invests $2.5 Billion Into Clean Water
Last year, Governor Cuomo passed legislation to invest $2.5 billion into clean water infrastructure. Many of these funds will be directed towards Long Island: $388 million will be used in a sewage initiative in Suffolk County, $6 million will be used to fund a study of the groundwater resources across LI, and New York will be working with Nassau County about treated sewage coming from the Bay Park treatment plant that has been affecting local bays.
To read more on this topic, visit the link below:
NY Grants for LI Shellfish Restoration
Last year, Governor Cuomo announced a plan to help restore the shellfish populations across Long Island, investing $7.25 million into shellfish hatcheries. The hope is that by investing in hatcheries, this effort will strengthen the economy, create new jobs, and ensure cleaner waters. SUNY Stony Brook and the Cornell Cooperative Extension will be overseeing these hatcheries, while also preforming research in order to gather data for future restorations.
To read further, visit the link below:
NY Grants for LI Water Infrastructure Improvements
Last year Governor Cuomo announced a plan to improve New York's water infrastructure. What does this mean for Long Island? Nearly $27 million in grant funds will be directed to helping improve the water infrastructure in Suffolk and Nassau counties. Also, this project will create over a thousand new jobs across Long Island.
To read more, visit the link below:
Moriches Inlet - Dangerously Neglected
A dangerous situation has arisen at Moriches Inlet: an estimated 250,000 cubic yards of accumulated sand is causing issues for boaters trying to navigate this busy waterway. At times, the marked channel has only one foot of water. However, this seemingly emergency situation is receiving no emergency dredging. In fact, many other dredging projects are being prioritized over Moriches Inlet, as it carries less commercial tonnage than other channels.
This dire situation has already caused boaters many problems, from running aground to capsizing.
To read further, visit the link below:
Sea Grant Dredging Workshop Summary
The New York Sea Grant Institute has published an excellent summary of why and how dredging windows can and should be expanded.
See the full summary at the link below:
North Shore Boaters Call on Town to Dredge Waters
Members of Smithtown Bay Yacht Club and the Stony Brook Yacht Club are advocating for dredging where the Stony Brook and Porpoise Channels merge. Boaters are extremely concerned by the shallow waters in their waterways. During low tides the channel can get as shallow as one foot deep. The increasing concern for safety has prompted many locals to press for dredging in the local channels.
To read further, click on the following link:
Problems in Sea Dog Creek
Many boaters are concerned with the dangerously shallow waters of Sea Dog Creek.
Read their thoughts on the forum below:
Dredging in Accabonac Harbor
Local fishermen were extremely concerned for their own safety and the safety of other boaters as the channel leading from Accabonac Harbor to Gardiner's Bay increasingly became smaller and shallower as sediment built up from the lack of dredging. Their intense worries led to the East Hampton Town Trustees agreeing to dredge the channel in March of 2017. The dredging was a success and will hopefully lead to more dredging plans in the future.
To read the full articles, click the links below:
What is Dredging?
What is dredging? What does it mean for our waterways? Dredging is the removal of sediment from waterways to increase the safety of boaters and to help protect the environment.
To learn more, read the following article published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:
Plans for Dredging of Suffolk County Waters
Towards the end of 2016, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone approved a $2.1 million plan to fund dredging in county waterways. Read the full article below:
Bellone Announces Plans for Dredging of Suffolk County Waters
