Location: Peconic Estuary, Long Island, New York

A Bright Future for Peconic Estuary

A restoration plan for Peconic Bay and nearby marine and freshwater habitats is on schedule. The future of the region has been enhanced by a number of crucial steps taken by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is in sharp contrast to just 15 years ago when the estuary of more than 110,000 acres of land and 121,000 acres of water, and its watershed encompassing both surface water and groundwater contributing areas, was threatened by pollution, overdevelopment, and overuse.

In recent years, much attention has been centered on the severe environmental degradation of the bays and waterways on the east end of Long Island, New York. One of the last great natural treasurers, Peconic Estuary and its surrounding habitats, has survived the onslaught of many years of groundwater contamination and surface and storm water runoff. Laden with pathogens, toxic chemicals, and excessive nutrients, this contamination threatened extensive damage to the region. Until February 1987, when the National Estuary Program (NEP) came into existence, east-end residents and commercial fisherman thought there was little hope for these habitats, living resources, water and sediment quality, and land use. For example, the brown tide had nearly destroyed the entire scallop industry, seriously impacting the economy of the region.

In September 1992, the EPA designated the Peconic Estuary as an "Estuary of National Significance." This action paved the way and was vital for federal funding of a study to plan for the implementation of the Peconic Estuary Program. Current plans are to release a comprehensive conservation and management plan for the region by August 2000. Implementation will start soon thereafter.

The Peconic Estuary Program has been the result of a vision of many various stakeholders: citizens and environmental groups; businesses and industries; academic institutions; and local, state, and federal governments. Its aim is to upgrade the estuary's water quality and habitats; increase the productivity of endangered, threatened or economically important species; and restore the diversity and quality of ecological communities of the Peconic Estuary.

The management plan focuses on six aspects of the study. They are: (a) brown tide, (b) nutrients, (c) habitat and living resources, (d) pathogens, (e) toxic chemicals, and (f) public education and outreach. Brown tide is the most prominent of these. This issue prompted the establishment of study groups, the emergence of business and citizens groups, and, most significantly, a reaction from the commercial shellfishing industry. Brown tide blooms started appearing in the summer of 1985 in the Peconic Bay. The presence of the bloom, caused by the marine phytoplankton (microalgae) Aureoccus anophagefferens, is a serious problem for bay scallops, and to a lesser degree, hardshell clams, finfish, and eel grass. Blooms of microorganisms are not new to scientists, but the brown tide is unlike other algae blooms. This phytoplankton has an accelerated reproductive cycle that results in dense cell concentrations and its blooms persist longer than usual. The reason for its sudden appearance was unclear. The research focused on various aspects of the brown tide to unlock its mysteries. National media attention triggered and funded other studies on many fronts, resulting in the discovery of other problems threatening the region, such as the Pine Barrens development and land use resulting in the conservation movement.

The development and establishment of the National Estuary Program is considered to be a more significant result of these studies. National media attention and the concerns raised by local congressional representatives and government officials prompted Congress to recognize the importance of preserving estuaries such as Peconic and to amend the Clean Water Act, establishing the NEP in 1987. The purpose of the amendment was to develop a watershed-based comprehensive management plan for national estuaries that are threatened by pollution. Currently there are 28 estuaries in the program. The Peconic Estuary Management Program will serve as a model for future studies. If you are interested in learning more about the Peconic Estuary Management Program and future plans, contact the Public Participation Office at (516) 765-1766.

Author:

Tom O'Brien, Ed. D.