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Office of Ecology
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Program Overview
The Office of Ecology conducts extensive monitoring programs along the county’s 990 miles of marine coastline in support of various environmental management programs, including the Peconic Estuary Program, Long Island Sound Study, South Shore Estuary Reserve, and the Vector Control and Wetlands Management Long Term Plan. Potentially harmful algal blooms are also monitored, including the Brown Tide (Aureococcus anophagefferens), Cochlodinium polykrikoides (a form of red tide), and Cyanobacteria (a potentially toxic blue-green algae).
There are 159 bathing beaches under permit to the department where Sanitary Code regulations regarding safety equipment, adequate lifeguard protection, water quality, and general sanitation are enforced. During 2007, water quality monitoring was performed at 200 beaches in the county, including those public beaches under permit as well as a number of exempt homeowners associations, to insure that bathers are not subject to adverse water quality conditions.
The Peconic Bay is designated as one of only 28 estuaries in the National Estuary Program. Since 1993, the Office of Ecology has served as the program office for the federally funded Peconic Estuary Program (PEP).
The Office of Ecology supported the development and implementation of the $4 million Suffolk County Vector Control and Wetlands Management Long Term Plan addressing issues including, mosquito control, disease prevention, the implications of pesticide use, pesticide reduction, alternatives to chemical controls, wetland restoration techniques and the effects of marsh ditching on the county’s 17,000 acres of tidal wetlands. The management plan and environmental impact statement were completed in 2007 and a new Wetlands Stewardship initiative is being developed to restore the county’s marshlands in conjunction with the Departments of Environment and Energy and Public Works.
Bureau of Environmental Management
The Bureau of Environmental Management’s primary goals are protecting the environment and ecological resources of the county including groundwater, marine and fresh waters, natural habitats, other natural resources through participation in programs that develop, oversee or review environmental studies, implementation programs, land use plans, and impact statements to safeguard the quality of Suffolk’s groundwater and surface water resources, by preventing or mitigating activities that may degrade the environment, and to conduct outreach programs to educate the public.
The Bureau is responsible for the administration and technical aspects of the Peconic Estuary Program, coordination of the Long Island Sound Study and South Shore Estuary Reserve activities, county reviews under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), administration and oversight of the Vector Control and Wetlands Management Long Term Plan and Wetlands Stewardship Committee, participation on the county’s Aquaculture Lease Program and Agricultural Environmental Management committees, initiation and oversight of Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program projects (Suffolk County’s 1/4% Sales Tax Program), and participation with various advisory committees dealing with environmental issues.
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Peconic Estuary Program (PEP)
Funded by the USEPA under the Clean Water Act, the Peconic is one of 28 estuaries in the National Estuary Program (NEP). The PEP Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP) was approved by the USEPA in 2001. As the Program Office for the PEP, the Office of Ecology provides administration and data management, and conducts a comprehensive water quality monitoring program throughout the estuary. In 2005 the program produced an Environmental Indicators Report detailing the relative health and stresses on the water body. The report focused on key parameters including Brown Tide, nutrients, habitat and living resources, pathogens, toxic substances and land management issues. The report concluded that overall the estuary is in good condition although significantly impacted in the more densely developed western bays and tributaries. To increase public education and outreach a website www.peconicestuary.org has been established , and a newsletter "PEP Talk" is issued periodically providing updates on current topics affecting the estuary. A PEP State of the Bays Science Conference was held in April 2005 featuring presentations by 18 scientists.
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The PEP has received $6.7 million in baseline funding from the USEPA since 1993. Over $1.7 million has directly supported SCDHS programs and staff. Federal & State funds totaling over $20.2 million have been used for 120 priority demonstration and implementation projects.
Osprey nesting in the Peconic Estuary
peconicestuary.org |
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FAQs about the PEP can be found here >>
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Long Island Sound Study (LISS)
The LISS is also funded under the auspices of the NEP and is currently implementing its CCMP. Among the goals is improvement of oxygen levels in the sound through reduction of nitrogen input. As part of that effort, the Office was selected by the NYSDEC to conduct a study, the North Shore Embayment Watershed Management Plan. The report, which is now available, shows that groundwater is the largest contributor of nitrogen to the sound from our Management Zone. Nitrogen from groundwater in terms of magnitude is followed by atmospheric deposition, stream flow, sewage treatment plant discharges and stormwater. The relative nitrogen inputs create a significant challenge to achieving the goal of a 58.5% reduction in nitrogen.
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The Office received a multi-year $465,000 grant from the NYSDEC to conduct a North Shore Embayments Watershed Management Plan.
During 2002-2007, the Office collected in excess of 15,000 water quality samples from six LI Sound harbors or embayments.
longislandsoundstudy.net |
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Click here to learn more about LISS >>
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National Trends Network
With support from the Peconic Estuary Program, and as a participant in the National Atmospheric Deposition Program’s (NADP) National Trends Network (NTN), the Office has operated a solar-powered rainfall/deposition monitoring station at Cedar Beach in Southold since 2003. The station gathers data on the concentration of contaminants including acid rain and nitrate-nitrogen, and provides valuable information regarding local environment impacts from atmospheric deposition.
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National Trends Network monitoring station at Cedar Beach, Southold
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YSI Automated Water Quality Monitors
The Office deploys several YSI automated water quality monitors (sondes) that are configured to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a, at 15-minute intervals. The data collected has been utilized in the development of a nitrogen/dissolved oxygen TMDL for the western Peconic Estuary, has provided valuable information on conditions in areas that were once hot-spots for "brown tide" (Flanders Bay and West Neck Bay), and has contributed to the LISS North Shore Watershed Management Plan and the Forge River Watershed Management Plan currently being developed.
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State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)
The Office conducts administrative and management activities, and provides expanded technical commentary as required by SEQRA and County mandate. Detailed technical comments are provided for major private and municipal development proposals including projects such as Broadwater Energy proposal for a re-gasification plant in LI Sound, the relicensing of the Millstone Nuclear Plants and Long Island Sound Dredge Material Disposal Sites, as well as for state and municipal planning studies (master plans, open space, Pine Barrens, etc.).
Click here for additional information about SEQRA >>
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Vector Control & Wetlands Management
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services and Suffolk County Department of Public Works have overseen the development and early implementation of a Suffolk County-wide long-term vector control and wetlands management plan. The overall goals are to: protect public health, while minimizing pesticide usage; and to develop a long-term plan to preserve and restore wetlands managed by Vector Control. The management plan and accompanying generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) have been developed by a consultant team, with support from other entities, including the County, at a contracted cost of approximately $4 million. Highlights include the elimination of routine ditch maintenance, a larvicide reduction goal of 75% and reductions in chemical adulticide usage, and restoration of 4,000 acres of ditched wetlands over the next 12 years. The risk assessment specifically evaluated human health and ecological risks associated with the pesticides considered for use and concluded that Ultra Low Volume (ULV) insecticide applications for mosquito control do not pose a significant threat to human health. In addition, no risks were found for mammalian, avian or reptilian wildlife. Potential ecological risks were limited to non-target terrestrial insects from adulticides which can be mitigated or eliminated by IPM strategies and possible short term impacts to some aquatic invertebrates if it becomes necessary to apply malathion. The success of Open Marsh Water Management (OMWM) practices was demonstrated at a 40-acre wetland on the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. The parcel was routinely subjected to larvicide applications, but none were needed in 2005 following OMWM implementation.
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Adulticide Test Spray at Cathedral Pines County Park ...
However, Suffolk County is home to several pesticide free golf courses.
Website
(Formally known as Suffolk County Mosquito Control & Wetlands Management Long Term Plan)
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Bureau of Marine Resources
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The Bureau of Marine Resources is responsible for the bathing beach sampling, inspection and permit program; water quality monitoring for the Peconic Estuary Program, South Shore Estuary Reserve and the Long Island Sound Study; monitoring and investigation of Harmful Algal Blooms, including the Brown Tide; and numerous special projects and investigations regarding surface waters in the county.
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Bathing Beach Program
The Office regulates all bathing beaches in the county under §6-2 of the NYS Sanitary Code to ensure compliance with water quality, safety and supervision standards. Each permitted beach facility is inspected annually with follow-up visits made as necessary. The federal Beaches Environmental Assessment & Coastal Health (BEACH) Act Grant provides $100,000 annually to directly support county staff and sampling supplies. Water quality monitoring to determine the presence of potentially pathogenic organisms was conducted at 200 beaches in 2007. Using a risk-based approach, more frequent sampling concentrated at those beaches with known poor water quality. In general, these beaches are proximate to pollution sources or are poorly flushed. Enterococci bacteria are utilized as the indicator organism for assessment of water quality at bathing beaches as required by the BEACH Act and incorporated into the Sanitary Code in June 2004. During 2007, temporary beach closures were ordered at 73 beaches located in areas heavily influenced by stormwater runoff following significant precipitation events, and at 24 beaches due to water quality violations. The frequency and extent of water quality monitoring has dramatically increased since 2002, reflecting implementation of the BEACH Act and the county’s commitment to public health by providing safe and clean recreational beaches. The expanded monitoring effort has also resulted in an increased number of bathing advisories and beach closures.
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The BEACH Act grant has reimbursed the county approximately $100,000 annually in beach monitoring costs from 2004-2007.
During 2007, more than 4,900 bathing beach water quality samples for enterococci and E. coli bacteria were collected and analyzed.
Suffolk County contains nearly one-half of the permitted bathing beaches in New York State including:
47 Atlantic Ocean beaches
28 Long Island Sound beaches
20 Peconic Estuary beaches
19 Great South Bay beaches
19 North shore bay & harbor beaches
2 Freshwater lake beaches
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Click here for additional information about the Bathing Beach Program >>
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Marine Monitoring Program
The office conducts environmental and water quality monitoring along 990 miles of the county’s marine coastline in support of the Peconic Estuary Program, Long Island Sound Study, South Shore Estuary Reserve, the NTN/National Atmospheric Deposition Program, and the National Coastal Assessment Program. Parameters analyzed include total and fecal coliform bacteria, nitrate+nitrite-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, total and dissolved nitrogen, total and dissolved phosphorus, total suspended solids, and chlorophyll-a. Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and secchi depth measurements are also taken. Harmful algal bloom monitoring is performed for brown tide (Aureococcus anophagefferens), Cochlodinium polykrikoides (a form of red tide), and Cyanobacteria (a potentially toxic blue-green algae). These monitoring efforts and the extensive data gathered are the centerpiece of many technical investigations and studies performed by both government and university researchers concerning the health of our bays.
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YSI monitoring buoy deployed in West Neck Bay, Shelter Island
2006 Marine Monitoring
4,407 Peconic Estuary samples
3,899 South Shore Estuary Reserve samples
1,277 Long Island Sound Study samples
Water quality monitoring does not get the winter off. |
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Click here for more information about the Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program >>
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Special Monitoring
In response to requests from elected officials, agencies and complaints from citizens, events occurring in the marine environment are investigated and samples collected as required. Phenomena typically investigated include discolored waters, plankton blooms, fish kills, unusual odors, wash-ups of floatables, marina pump-outs, shellfish sanitation, wastewater discharges, and aquatic dermatitis.
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"Red Tide" Algal Bloom
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Forge River
The Office initiated water quality monitoring at 20 sites located from the fresh water reaches north of Sunrise Highway to the mouth of the Forge River where it enters Moriches Bay following complaints regarding a “sewage” or sulfur odor. Water quality monitoring in the Forge River initiated in the summer of 2005 in as part of a multi-agency effort to identify and evaluate pollution problems, has been completed. From 2005-2007, a total of 701 stations have been sampled. Analytes have included salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, secchi depth, coliform bacteria, ammonia, nitrite+nitrate, total and dissolved nitrogen, total and dissolved phosphorus, suspended solids, phytoplankton, and chlorophyll-a. The results of the tests showed extremely low levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the river. Causes of the eutrophic conditions are multiple nutrient sources including, duck farms, vegetable farms, residential on-site septic systems, fertilized lawns, and STP discharge, all contributing nitrogen to the upper reaches of the river. A Sediment Characterization study is being conducted by SUNY Stony Brook’s Marine Sciences Research Center, funded by the Water Quality Protection (1/4 %) program for studies of sediment physical properties and contaminants, measurements of benthic nutrient flux, and assessments of sediment oxygen demand.
Frederick Canal
A Frederick Canal Sediment and Water Quality Remediation Study is to be conducted by Cashin Associates beginning in late 2007. The bureau monitored physical conditions in the canal on a weekly basis throughout the summer of 2007 at a total of 48 stations at four locations in the canal. Measurements have included temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, secchi depth, eelgrass accumulation and odors.
National Coastal Assessment Program (NCAP)
Office staff annually participates in this EPA sponsored study. The program is designed to assess the condition of the nation's estuarine waters, and is being implemented in partnership with 24 coastal states. Intensive sampling of water, sediments, and benthic organisms is performed at randomly selected sites in various embayments.
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The Suffolk County Legislature, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Suffolk County Vector Control and Wetlands Management Long-Term Plan may have a significant effect on the environment, requiring the preparation of a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS).
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