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The panelists discussed short term solutions to improve the health of Hampton Bays' impaired waterways. They debated whether a controlled breach of the Shinnecock Canal would help flush the system. Most panelists felt the focus should instead be on upgrading septic systems, which are leaching harmful nutrients into the bays. Recommendations included passing laws requiring advanced septic systems, educating homeowners, and seeding shellfish to filter the water. While flushing could provide temporary relief, the root causes of pollution needed to be addressed through regulatory changes and restoration efforts.
The panelists discussed short term solutions to improve the health of Hampton Bays' impaired waterways. They debated whether a controlled breach of the Shinnecock Canal would help flush the system. Most panelists felt the focus should instead be on upgrading septic systems, which are leaching harmful nutrients into the bays. Recommendations included passing laws requiring advanced septic systems, educating homeowners, and seeding shellfish to filter the water. While flushing could provide temporary relief, the root causes of pollution needed to be addressed through regulatory changes and restoration efforts.
The panelists discussed short term solutions to improve the health of Hampton Bays' impaired waterways. They debated whether a controlled breach of the Shinnecock Canal would help flush the system. Most panelists felt the focus should instead be on upgrading septic systems, which are leaching harmful nutrients into the bays. Recommendations included passing laws requiring advanced septic systems, educating homeowners, and seeding shellfish to filter the water. While flushing could provide temporary relief, the root causes of pollution needed to be addressed through regulatory changes and restoration efforts.
Topic: Troubled Waters: Urgent Care for our Bays and
Aquifer Speakers: Scott Carlin, moderator, John Bouvier, Ed Warner Jr., Scott Horowitz, Alex Gregor, Kevin McAllister, Marty Shea, Chris Gobler, and Bill Hillman Town Officials: Brad Bender, Janice Shearer The format included an introduction to each of the panelists by Scott, followed by each panelist providing their perspective on how best to do an immediate fix to the poor health of our bays. They addressed the question, Is a controlled breach the best short term fix for Western Shinnecock Bay? Scott began with stating that we are not making investments in our estuaries and bays, which hurts our economic health, jobs, sense of community and resiliency. Chris Gobler Professor Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University Our bays are experiencing significant decline in shell fish (70%-99%), salt marshes (20%-80%), reoccurring red, brown and rust tides. Greatest impairment is in western Shinnecock Bay, declared impaired in 2010 by the DEC. Natural flushing in eastern Shinnecock keeps the bay in good health and the breach in Great South Bay was very helpful to the bays health in area where flushing took effect. Remediation currently includes 5 million clams and 40,000 oysters in western Shinnecock Cited Brookhavens legislating advanced septic for large flow facilities. Advocated that SH town do the same. Alex Gregor Highway Superintendent Concern for polluted groundwater, and septic systems are seeping into the bays and oceans. Citizens must drive robust changes. He advocated the installation of a pipe that would cross Dune Road at Quantatuck and down Dolphin lane. An 8-foot pipe could deliver 13 million gallons in 46 hours pushed with tides from the ocean to the bay. Pipe may also be installed under the road. He urged that we continue the practices in place that are assisting the health of the bays and ocean. Kevin McAllister President Defend H2O Clear benefit to flushing. A key factor in bay degradation is the amount of time water remains without being turned over. It is however, a complex issue.
We must move away from conventional septic systems with phased in
local laws. By the turn of the century, there will be a 6-foot rise in sea level radically effecting roads and development as well as septic systems in place now. Ed Warner Town Trustee Provided historical perspective. The turning point for the increase in algae bloom was 1985. In 1890 the western Shinnecock waters were a poor quality, which was aided by the Shinnecock canal. The Trustees believe a controlled breach is a short-term solution. The issue must be resolved at the source. Concerns about development. Urged all to closely review all PDDs. The solution to pollution is not additional pollution. We must have a working plan. Marty Shea Chief Environmental Analyst for Southampton We must tackle the problem from the mainland side of the issue by educating the public one homeowner at a time, urging them to restore the natural systems. Much of our lost shoreline must be resorted to its natural ecosystem. He voiced concerns about a controlled break and fears unintended consequences. Inlets cause erosion and pipes are not usually large enough to do required flushing. Scott Horowitz - Trustee We are victims of poor land use, citizens that dont follow regulations and lack of enforcement of these regulations. We need to: Upgrade septic systems with incentive, identify ways to restore wetlands and restore shellfish and buffers, and make smart land use decisions. Bill Hillman - Chief Engineer Suffolk County Department of Public Works He had reservations about the ability of the piping systems to perform the hydraulic exchanges and would be very expensive to maintain. The bureaucratic energy needed to create this break would take too much time and feared there would be no substantial impact. In addition, we do not have the proper dredging equipment and doubts the feasibility of a long term effect. The emphasis should be on revising septic protocols and town enforcement. John Bouvier Town Conservation Board Member Opening and closing inlets wont solve the problem. It would be a very difficult task that is not feasible. We must go to the source of the problem septic systems which leach many harmful elements in addition to nitrogen. The Health Department presents problems. The vision for Hampton Bays addressed in recent HBCA meetings provided a clear sense and vision of where we need to go.
Questions and Answers:
We are best expending our efforts and money to clean up the bays in populated areas close to the water and in older areas where septic systems have degraded over time. The thought of leaving the Shinnecock locks open in winter to provide for a greater water exchange presents problems. The water would move much faster and have a scouring effect undermining the roadways, bridges and the bottoms. There is also concern for greater pollution in the Peconic Bay. What laws and septic improvement would you put into the community? An effective denitrification system. 90% of our nitrogen comes from urine. Suffolk County has been managing nitrogen levels for drinking water, not for the marine environment, which is far more sensitive. Brookhavens new local water pollution law shows that municipal government can lead. (K.McAllistr) A million clams for western Shinnecock Bay would break down the brown tide density. Community must force the County Health Department and the DEC to commit to meet higher standards and monitor progress. Other communities have been successful i.e. Forge River. County Execs have taken ownership. New septic systems are already approved and can be used now. (Chris Gobler) Keep pressure on the County Health Department to set different standards. (Bill Hillman) Have your own septic systems pumped, add 10 million clams, require septic upgrades, use some type of flushing mechanism, do navigational dredging to improve water circulation, put stringent local laws in place and force the county to adhere to them, offer tax rebates on new and upgraded septic within 500 feet of the water, provide public environmental education, restore natural wetlands along the shoreline, create a shoreline overlay zoning district that prohibits the use of fertilizer and pesticides. Enforce the regulations already in place; provide a seeding program, septic rebates, wetland restoration and advocate strongly for water protection with the County Health Department. (Scott Horowitz) Is mosquito spraying harmful to the environment? All herbicides are harmful to shellfish and eel grass as well as pesticides and household cleaners. Reject mosquito spraying. A final tally was taken on the question of a controlled break There were six No votes recorded.