Saving The Great South Bay

From 1976

Nitrogen impacts on shellfish• Landings of clams and scallops have declined 99% since 1980.

• Linkages to nitrogen driven HABs, habitat loss, and water quality degradation.

Hard clam landings (bushels) in Great South Bay

What Happened To Our Bay?

Brown Tide, Moriches Bay

Brown Tide in The Great South Bay

Nitrogen budget for Great South Bay

Kinney and Valiela, 2011

•~70% of N entering Moriches and Shinnecock Bay is from wastewater (Gobler et al, in progress for NYSDOS).

Peconic nitrogen loading budgets

Groundwater Nitrogen

1947 2007

Open Space Preservation

NYS seagrass, 1930 - 2030

NYSDEC Seagrass Taskforce Final Report, 2010; Suffolk County assessment, 2014

Extinction in NY

90% loss$200,000,000 lost annually (Johnston et al 2002).$10,000,000,000 lost since 1975.

CAT scans of marsh roots

Nitrogen loading as a driver of salt marsh loss on Long Island, Deegan et al 2012, Nature

Collapsing salt marsh

Western Bays, Nassau CountyWestern Bays, Nassau County

Preparing For The Future – Modeling It For People

Organic Lawn Care

Zero Pesticides

On-Site DiNitrification

Installation and Testing

Modern Drain Field

The Rally4ThePipe

Paddle Boarders to The Rescue!

Clam Power

Oystering

The Hatchery

Oyster Gardening Program

What Shall We Call This?

Brown Tide in Bellport Bay

The Breach …

Bellport Inlet (Courtesy Thomas Schultz)

Osprey at The New Inlet

Seal at The New Inlet

Piping Plover at The New Inlet

Water Matters

Thank You and Questions