LONG ISLAND SOUTH SHORE
ESTUARY NEWS

summer 2000

             
 

DRAFT PLAN NEARS COMPLETION

The Department of State recently completed a series of workshops with representatives of Nassau and Suffolk counties and South Shore towns to discuss potential implementation actions for the South Shore Estuary Reserve's comprehensive management plan. The implementation actions are being formulated as a follow-up to the Department's integrative analysis of information that has been compiled on the Reserve and are an important milestone in readying the draft plan for completion this fall.

Development of the plan has been following a process in which many individuals have had opportunities to participate. In 1994, the Reserve Council held a series of scoping meetings during which public views and concerns about the estuary and its management were received. Monthly Council meetings, open to the public, have allowed interested parties to learn about and participate in Council activities and those of its Technical Advisory Committee, Citizens Advisory Committee, and topic-based subcommittees and workgroups.

Through its monthly meetings, displays of information at boat shows and festivals, and updates to the South Shore Estuary Reserve website, the Citizens Advisory Committee has kept the public informed about progress toward completion of the plan. Through its regular reports to the Council, the Citizens Advisory Committee also has provided the Council with public perspectives on issues being addressed in the plan. And through its regular meetings, the Technical Advisory Committee has been providing feedback to the Council regarding technical reports prepared by the Department of State and several consultants.

In support of the Council's efforts to develop the plan, the Department of State established formal agreements with the six South Shore towns, Suffolk and Nassau Counties, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey and several academic and private consultants. Through these Agreements, information was obtained on land and embayment uses, the estuarine economy, water quality, living resources, cultural and historic resources, and the many educational programs in the Reserve. This information was summarized in a series of technical reports that serve as the foundation for the topical chapters and associated natural resource and land use-based recommendations in the plan.

The culmination of this work is the implementation actions chapter in the upcoming draft comprehensive management plan. The implementation actions identified in this final chapter will provide the necessary "road map" to fulfilling recommendations in the preceding chapters.

The implementation actions are the results of the integrative analysis of the topic-based information and various Geographic Information System data sets. This information included documented use impairments of Reserve tributaries and bays, the responsible pollutants and their sources; the extent of permanent, seasonal and conditionally closed hard clam beds; periodic swimming beach closures due to water quality concerns; tributaries with important fisheries and intact riparian corridors; maritime centers and cultural and historic resources; and potential open space. Analysis of this information resulted in actions to control polluted stormwater runoff, enhance hard clam populations, preserve open space and improve access to the estuary, just a few of the outcomes that have been articulated in the draft plan.

Actions are being targeted where the greatest potential exists for improving and halting further degradation of the water and living resources of the Reserve and where multiple objectives are likely to be achieved. The actions are focussing attention where problems have been clearly identified and where the existence of motivated partners assures a greater likelihood of successful implementation.

For more information on the comprehensive management plan, or the activities of the Council and its committees, please contact the Council at 516-470-BAYS. The Council hopes to complete the draft plan within the next few months.

 

BOATING TIPS

Maintaining Your Boat

  • Use caution when fueling your boat - don't top-off your tank
    Consider using an overflow control device to keep gas in your tank and out of the water
  • When sanding near water, place a drop cloth under the boat
    Bag and dispose of waste in the proper receptacle so paint particles won't pollute our streams and bays,.
  • When painting your boat, use a brush instead of a sprayer
    Sprayers are high maintenance and require practices which are potentially harmful to the environment.
  • When cleaning your boat in the water, use a good brush
    Brushes and water, rather than harsh chemicals, are a more cost effective and environmentally sound way to periodically maintain the cleanliness of the hull.
  • Use absorbent pads under engines and in bilges
    This will aid in controlling leaks and spills that pollute our beautiful waters.

On the Water

  • Reduce your speed when near shorelines
    Boat wakes can cause shorelines and wetlands to erode, thus causing sedimentation and affecting the depth of navigation channels
  • Know your water depths and location of navigation channels
    Study depth charts before departure to avoid grounding, which can damage your boat and valuable eelgrass beds. Eelgrass is an important part of the bay ecosystem, providing shelter for many marine organisms.

Protecting the South Shore Estuary

  • Use available pump-out facilities or carry a port-a-potty
    Untreated hum    an waste should never be dumped into the water. It may contain viruses and bacteria which can negatively affect the bay ecosystem.
  • Dispose of all waste in the proper trash receptacles
    Carry small trash bags to ensure your garbage does not end up in the water.
  • Carry a net and boat hook to collect floating debris
    Do your part to protect the estuary! Pick up any floating debris to help make the estuary a pleasant and safe environment for all.

back to newsletter index

  
     
 


back home