HomeMy WebLinkAboutLong Island's Last Stand Status Report 2013 TheNature
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www.nature.org/longisland July 2014
UPLANDS FARM SANCTUARY - JUL
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Cold Spring Harbor,NY 11724
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Fax(631)367-4715 Town CleftT
,Outholr!
CENTER FOR CONSERVATION 1
Post Office Box 5125 Town Board
East Hampton,NY 11937 Town of Southold
Tel(631)329-7689
Fax(631)329-0215 P.O. Box 1179
MASHOMACK PRESERVE Southold, NY 11971
Post Office Box 850
Shelter Island,NY 11964
Tel(631)749-1001
Fax(631)749-1480 Dear Town Board Members,
WORLDWIDE OFFICE
Suite o`h Fairfax St. Enclosed is our Long Island's Last Stand Year in Review. This report highlights
Arlington,VA 22203 recent environmental accomplishments and challenges for the calendar year 2013.
Tel(703)841-5300
www.nature.org During the last year we emphasized progress and next steps needed to protect and
restore Long Island's water quality. Nitrogen has been identified as one of the
main pollutants threatening our water. Excess nitrogen from aging and outdated
septic systems enters our bays and harbors through groundwater and threatens
Long Island's health and quality of life. But we can fix it if we all work together on
the problem.
On behalf of our 2o,000 members Island-wide, we look forward to continuing
our work with you to protect our natural environment and quality of life. We
know that it is only with the support of our public partners that future
generations will know nature's treasures and the inspiration they bear.
We are confident that your leadership and vision, together with the support of
conservation-minded organizations and citizens,will forge the partnerships
needed to meet the challenge to restore and protect Long Island's waters for our
children and grandchildren to enjoy.
Most sincerely,
Nancy Nagle ley
Executive Director
The Nature Conservancy on Long Island
�s
tjPrinted on 100%post-consumer paper
YEAR IN 013
1/ AND ' S
A, If IF
1
Elul
�g t rG t a
C
an action plan to
Save the Most Signi cant Remaining Open Spaces and Farmland
and to
Restore and Protect our Harbors, Bays and Public Parklands.
Year in Review — 2013 Focus On Water Quality
o • • I • • • �
i
1
Concern over declining water quality in Long Island's aquifers, our bays and harbors increased
significantly in 2013. Specifically, nitrogen pollution in our water threatens our health, economy
and way of life. As a result, the Long Island Clean Water Partnership, a coalition of businesses, citizens, and
conservation organizations, helped raise awareness about the steady decline in the quality of our water
resources, and Long Island decision-makers are taking notice. ... continued on page 2
Nitrogen Pollution from Sewage Declared Public Water Enemy
Number One by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone ... continuedfrom page 1 Water Quality Outline for Success
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone entered the discussion as a major leader in the battle to reverse The Long Island Clean Water
decades of damage to water quality. Early in 2014, Bellone joined scientists and conservation organizations to
declare that nitrogen pollution from septic systems and fertilizer use is "public water enemy number one in Partnership supports a comprehensive
Suffolk County." solution that protects and restores wa-
ter quality to promote public and envi-
While land protection is still a key strategy to prevent future degradation of our ground and surface water, ronmental health. Three key
buying undeveloped lands cannot reverse damage caused by past patterns of development. About 70% of
Suffolk County and 30% of Nassau County remain unsewered,which points to the degree of difficulty Long ;. steps are needed to set this solution
Island faces as steps are taken to reverse water pollution. Efforts to expand and improve sewer districts and in motion:
sewage treatment plants figure prominently in proposals promoted by Suffolk County Executive Bellone and
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano but sewering new areas will not be enough. New on-site residential 1. New York State, Suffolk and Nassau
waste water treatment technologies must be part of the solution to our water quality issues. Counties should cooperatively create a Long
Island Water Resources Strategic Action
Nitrogen pollution can be reversed. Scientists and engineers have identified the causes of this pollution and
g p g p ►" Y Plan that protects, restores and manages
have developed proven solutions. Stronger water quality standards that protect both human and environmental cc
our water resources to promote public and
health will help make a difference. And,we need a clean water action plan, created and implemented by a 12;
overnment enti to better rotect the Lon Island wa of life for our children and randchildren. ,, r` environmental health.
2. A responsible government entity or partnership should be placed in charge of creating
and implementing the Water Resources Action Plan.
3. State and County officials should develop surface and groundwater criteria and
standards that integrate ecological and biological metrics to protect aquatic life and
r
human health.
LONG ISLAND'S LAST STAND STATUS REPORT 2013 3.
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II
LONG ISLAND'I
Land Protection Accomplishments
1
. - Land Preservation Outline For Success
: 1A
-- A. New York State should continue to make restorations to the open space
�... , _._ � ", � - protection category in the EPF.
`'+. �". ti t�t� _.tea°• A` '.� � _R _
X �; � � a;�_ _ � _, '_ B. Suffolk County must identify and tap into new resources to regain momentum
-� '"'' � -s,x�� and leadershi in its land rotection ro ram.
�"•` _ "� �' � "�►„ � •�*��� � �-.. '"'- :-� i. Suffolk County Conservation Bond for$6o million .
- `: . at*• � --��'*,,- ii. Reconfiguring the 1�4 Percent Drinking Water Protection
x' 00Fund to place more money into land protection and water quality
-�. a .. restoration and protection programs.
Ilf
� � �' � - ._- C. Nassau County Conservation Bond Act worth $4o million for land protection.
D. Brookhaven Town Conservation Bond Act worth $4o million for land protection.
Thanks to a robust real estate market in 2013, the five East End towns collected a total of$95.4
million in Community Preservation Funds (CPF). Total CPF revenue since the program's
inception in 1999 exceeds $884 million — quite a benchmark for land preservation. That said,
however, land protection dipped in 2013 compared to the two most recent years, with 68o acres of Ir, r
open space and 91 acres of farmland preserved in 2013, down nearly 50% from 2012.
Despite a small budget for land protection, the Town of Brookhaven led the pack by protecting 245
acres, thanks to a substantial gift from the Holiday Organization of property formerly managed as
The Links at Shirley golf course. Land protection numbers otherwise decreased across the Island,
with Suffolk County, for example, protecting barely a third of its tally from 2012. Suffolk has now
tapped out its dedicated land protection funding stream, the I/4 Percent Drinking Water Protection
Fund. This key source of Suffolk matching funds to towns and villages is now "pay as you go" — in
any given year, the county can only spend as much as it takes in through the sales tax. Furthermore,
past aggressive borrowing needed to buy land before it was lost to development means that future
land purchases can be made only after the debt servicing has been accounted for, leaving still
less for Suffolk to spend on land protection. New York State made a significant increase to its
Environmental Protection Fund in 2013 — though this did not lead to an increase in its land
protection activity on Long Island. Kenton
Post-Sandy neveo Udlment in Action: Horton Avenue - Riverhead
�
Voluntary Buy--Out at Sheep Pen Creek Peninsula Getting development
out of harm's way
In 2010, torrential rains flooded a small,
low-lying residential neighborhood along
Riverhead's Horton Avenue. The flood waters
did not recede for several weeks, resulting in
irreversible damage to about a dozen homes.
Rather than rebuild, the affected residents,
working with Town, County, State and federal
officials, agreed to relocate and to sell their
homes in this flood-prone area of the town.
The federal government through its FEMA
flood programs provided $3 million to
A new frontier in land protection is the concept of"undevelopment,"that is, returning developed land to its natural state in priority places such as low-lying coastal areas.This was recently
accomplished in Mastic where a house built on a marsh was demolished in order to restore wetland health and functionality. compensate the homeowners, demolish the
Mastic Beach is one of several places on the south shore where residents are increasingly vulnerable to rises in both sea level and ground damaged homes and eventually build artificial
water resulting in more frequent flooding. In some cases, residents are unable to flush their toilets during storms, or even at high tides. This wetlands in the area to prevent or slow
isn't good for homeowners and it's not good for our environment and water quality of the bay. One solution in action: government funding
for voluntary buy-outs. future flooding. Work was finally completed
on the purchase and demolition of the houses
In the long run, voluntary buy-out programs save taxpayers a great deal of money on emergency response, insurance claims, loss of life and
property, construction, repair and maintenance of roads and utilities. That's before factoring in the environmental benefits of cleaner water, in 2013 — restoring the area as Town open
more wildlife habitat and scenic open spaces. space. While still unusual for Long Island, this
Restoring the wetlands in this area has been a priority for over a decade, but became even more urgent'after Superstorm Sandy. model of federal support for undevelopment
could provide critical matching funds and
In 2013, Suffolk County allocated funds to purchase a half-acre developed parcel in Mastic Beach and authorized demolition and
restoration costs for the site. Financial support and staff time from The Nature Conservancy is helping restore this land to its natural state. momentum to reverse unwise development
The demolition of the house and restoration of the wetland to its natural state set a strong precedent for voluntary undevelopment that can decisions made decades ago.
be followed in sensitive areas across Suffolk County.
6 A . . � .
A Blue Plan for Blue Water 2013 Land Preservation
Open Space P� A Farmland Total Dollarsa�.£rye .
Acreage 4~ AcreageTW Spent
East Hampton 24.02 4,967,920.00 4.56 575,000.00 5,542,920.00 28.6
Southampton 125.4 23,361,804.00 16.4 2,249,624.00 25,611,428.00 141.8
Southold 3.6 12,537.00 57 3,025,810.00 3,038,347.00 60.8
Riverhead 2.8 i - 0.0 g - 2.8
Brookhaven 244.62 4,613,041.00 0.0 �� 4,613,041.00 244.6
Shelter Island 0.0 - 0.0 0.0
Huntington 23.2 4,030,000.00 12.4 2,683,630.00 6,713,630.00 35.6
Total TOWNS: 423.7 1 36,985,302.0 90.5 8,534,064.00 45,519,366.00 514.2
Suffolk County 160.8 15,063,337.00 0.0 - 15,063,337.00 160.8
Nassau County 0.0 - 0.0 - 0.0
" Bachand State 0.0 - 0.0 0.0
From oysters and clams to herring and bass,to the people who live along its shore, Long Island Sound is a hub of life. Its NYS DEC 0.0 - 0.0 - 0.0
underwater terrain and marine life are remarkably varied and complex. Currently,decisions- like shipping routes and laying
underground cables-are made without a full picture of how they will impact the Sound. New information and a better NYS OPRHP 5.2 475,000.00 0.0 - 475,000.00 5.2
spatial understanding of the Sound through the Long Island Sound Ecological Assessment(LISEA)are being shared with Total State: 5.2 475,000.00 0.0 - 475,000.00 5.2
decision-makers in the hopes that future actions will take into account the best interests of both people and nature.
GRAND TOTAL 589.7 $52,523,639.00 90.5 $8,534,064.00 $61,057,703.00 680.2
Long Island Sound, the Northeast's largest estuary, contains some of the country's most productive
natural habitats and is home to hundreds of species of marine life. More than 21 million people live Total Acres Protected on
within 50 miles of the Sound's shores, generating billions of dollars annually for our local economy
LI in 2013: 680.2
through activities such as recreation, tourism, and fishing.
Today there are mounting demands for use of the Sound, from energy development and Total Dollars Spent on all Lands
Alk
proposed underwater tunnels to new forms of aquaculture. Currently, there is no way to plan Protected on Ll in 2013: $61,057,703.00
comprehensively for multiple uses of marine resources and places in the Sound. Yet planning is
essential to avoid future conflicts that could deprive us of the Sound's important benefits. *
p p Open Space: 589.7
The Nature Conservancy is collaborating with New York and Connecticut Sea Grant (a partner- Open Space Dollars: $52,523,639.00
ship between universities and the federal government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration), to bring together citizens and public officials and create a comprehensive
plan to allow various uses of the Sound while protecting its natural resources. For example, Farmlan .res: 90.5
collaborative marine planning can result in navigational shipping lanes that don't interfere with
sea mammal migration routes. Farmland Dollars: $8,534,064.00
Rowe
LONG ISLANDSr STATUS REPORT
0 11111111111• . . • .
Waterfront Communities Plan for the Future
Superstorm Sandy exposed the vulnerability of Long Island's low lying coastal areas like no other
event in modern history. Citizens, business owners, and community leaders, many still struggling Waterfront Communities
to recover, are working to increase their communities' resilience — using nature to help. Plan for the Future ... continued from page io
Although low elevation and proximity to Great South Bay come with risk, the area's many And there are future opportunities: acquiring open
water-related features make Oakdale and West Sayville desirable places to live and own space in vulnerable areas; restoring tidal wetlands
businesses. If well-managed, these features — the Connetquot River, the bay, the shoreline, the and historic natural flows of water; improving water
canals and creeks — can retain current residents and attract new ones. Community leaders are quality through modernizing wastewater and storm
identifying steps to realize the full value of these assets by advancing projects that achieve the water management while simultaneously elevating
triple bottom line of benefiting people, nature, and the local economy. chronically flooding roadways.
In Oakdale and West Sayville, the community's longstanding appreciation of its maritime history The issues faced by Oakdale and West Sayville, such as
has resulted in smart decisions that reduced the risk to life and property during storms. For reliance on antiquated septic systems in the face of high
example, creating a waterfront park rather than a condominium complex reduced property groundwater tables, are emblematic of many bayside
damage and perhaps even saved lives during Superstorm Sandy. ... continued on page 11 neighborhoods. The viability of Long Island's fishing
and boating communities hinges on healthy bays and
harbors, and the future of the bays and harbors
depends on community redevelopment decisions
being made today. Not all the decisions will be easy or
straightforward, but Oakdale and West Sayville are
models for community-based planning that benefits
x� both people and nature.
6Af�
-- -ter
• LON A L ND A UEP 2013
Conclusions:
Protecting Long Island's critical lands at the right scale requires a renewed commitment to funding.
While New York State has invested in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) over the last two
years, a significant addition to the land protection line of the EPF at the scale needed to make a
difference on Long Island has not yet occurred. Similarly, Suffolk County, a major land-protection
player for decades, has essentially reached the end of current funding programs. As the 2013 County
tally suggests, Suffolk will have to step up with new funds to continue at land protection scales seen
even two years ago. Significant land protection needs remain in Brookhaven. For example, the approval
of the Carmans River Protection Plan will require land purchases for which the town has not yet
budgeted. A one-time bond would help make those protection promises a reality.
While funding to acquire land remains a high priority for Long Island conservation, the need to protect
and restore our water quality has risen to the top over the last two years. To be sure, land protection is a
meaningful way to protect water quality from further degradation as a result of development. But land
protection alone cannot mitigate the damage already done. Going forward, New York State, Suffolk
and Nassau Counties and the 13 towns of Long Island will need to take actions that truly reverse the
nitrogen pollution in our water. Coupled with increased funding for land protection at the State,
county and town levels, new funds to protect and restore water quality must be programmed, guided
by a new action plan for clean water.
For more information, contact Kevin McDonald at
The Nature Conservancy Center for Conservation
P.O. Box 5125 . East Hampton, NY 11937
Email: kmcdonald@tnc.org • Web: www.nature.org/longisland • Phone: 631-329-7689