Governor George E. Pataki today announced the award of more than $4.2 million from the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act and the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to local governments in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The awards will fund 11 water quality improvement projects in the Peconic and South Shore estuaries, including pollution prevention measures that will protect and improve aquatic habitats.

"We're proud of our efforts to protect our natural resources and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for our children and generations to come," Governor Pataki said. "This funding will allow Long Island communities to implement important projects throughout the South Shore and Peconic estuaries that will protect fragile aquatic resources, improve drinking water quality and enhance the quality of life for local residents."

The funding announced today includes $3,152,450 for six projects to improve the water quality of the Peconic Estuary and $1,085,859 for five projects for protection and improvement of the South Shore Estuary. The projects address priorities identified in management plans developed for these estuaries.

State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty said, "With the leadership of Governor Pataki, we are making important and sustainable environmental improvements that help protect the Peconic and South Shore estuaries. Through this funding stormwater runoff and nitrogen pollution will be reduced and important aquatic habitats will be restored."

Secretary of State Randy A. Daniels said, "Governor Pataki today demonstrates his abiding commitment to providing the resources necessary to protect and restore Long Island's coastal waters. These local projects complement the Department of State's coastal protection and waterfront revitalization programs."

The 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act authorized $30 million for water quality improvement projects specifically for the Peconic and South Shore estuaries. With today's announcement, Governor Pataki has committed $22.3 million from the Bond Act for 79 projects to clean up and protect these estuaries. Under the $1.75 billion Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, more than $1.5 billion has been committed to fund more than 2,100 important environmental projects across New York State, including 289 projects on Long Island totaling $178 million.

Since its inception, more than $1 billion from the EPF has been appropriated to fund more than 3,900 projects, including 285 EPF-funded projects on Long Island, totaling $104.7 million.

The National Estuary Program was established by Congress in the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act. There are 28 estuaries in the program, including Long Island Sound, New York - New Jersey Harbor and the Peconic Estuary.

The objective of the Peconic Estuary plan is to protect and improve the Peconic Estuary system's water quality to ensure a healthy and diverse marine community. The Plan was drafted in order to preserve and enhance the integrity of the ecosystems and natural resources present in the study area, to optimize opportunities for water recreation, to promote the social and economic benefits of a clean estuary system, and to promote public awareness and involvement in estuary management issues.

The Comprehensive Management Plan for the South Shore Estuary was completed in 2002. The objectives of the plan are to improve and maintain water quality, protect and restore living resources, expand public use and enjoyment of the estuary, sustain and expand the estuary-related economy, and increase education, outreach, and stewardship programs within the Estuary community.

The 11 projects that will be awarded funding are as follows:

Town of Southampton, Suffolk County- $377,000
Funding will be used to finish a comprehensive stormwater plan and correct road runoff at several sites in the watersheds of the Peconic Estuary and South Shore Estuary. The project will restore aquatic habitats in Aspatuck Creek, Quantuck Creek, Tiana Bay, Weesuck Creek, Shinnecock Bay, and Quantuck Bay.

Town of Southampton, Suffolk County- $54,500
Funding will be used to restore eelgrass and initiate bay scallop restoration in Sag Harbor Cove in the Peconic Estuary.

Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County- $2,500,000
Funding will be used to upgrade the existing sewage treatment plant in the Calverton Sewer District by installing nitrogen removal controls.

Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County- $148,750
Funding will be used to divert effluent from its wastewater treatment plant outfall to irrigate a pilot-scale golf course. The project is expected to decrease the plant's nitrogen discharge in the Peconic Bay by 25%.

Town of Shelter Island, Suffolk County- $38,250
Funding will be used to construct storm drains to minimize runoff that presently flows into tributaries of the Peconic Estuary System. The project will reduce the amount of nitrogen and road contaminants that enter the creeks, which are spawning grounds for fish and shellfish.

Town of Islip, Suffolk County- $125,000
Funding will be used to install devices that will control and treat stormwater runoff in Bay Shore along Watchogue and Penataquit Creeks. These devices will help restore use of bathing beaches and shellfish beds in Great South Bay.

State University of New York at Stony Brook, Suffolk County- $33,95
Funding will be used for the Quahog Parasite Project, which will study the extent of this parasite in the Peconic Estuary and its impact on different strains of the hard clam. Results of this study will help restore the hard clam population.

Nassau County- $600,000
Funding will be used to remove sediment from Pine Brook, Tanglewood Pond and basins in the Tanglewood Preserve in Lakeview to extend the functional life of the pond, create a warm-water fishery, and reduce sediment and pollutants from stormwater runoff.

Nassau County- $102,609
Funding will be used to restore Milburn Creek by removing sediment, installing sediment traps and stabilizing stream banks.

Town of Hempstead, Nassau County- $135,600
Funding will be used to install hydrodynamic separators on stormwater discharge systems. The separators will reduce total suspended solids discharged into Hempstead Bay and Reynold's Channel by 80%.

Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County- $122,650
Funding will be used to restore shoreline along the Unqua River in Marjorie Post Park and establish a vegetative filter strip and physical barriers to reduce habitat and water quality impairments caused by large goose populations. This will reduce nutrient and pathogen discharges that enter the South Shore Estuary. ###

Return to the 2004 Press Releases
Return to the Office of the Governor