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Environment & Nature

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Duck Stamp 2024-2025
A Column Promoting a More Earth-Friendly Lifestyle

By John L. Turner

John Turner

I’m occasionally asked what are some of the things a person can do to protect wildlife. One of the suggestions I always recommend is the next time you go to the local post office, take the time to buy a federal duck stamp. You can also easily purchase duck stamps online and at sporting goods stores. A duck stamp can’t be used for postage but does allow you free access to any national wildlife refuge. I keep mine in my wallet at all times.

Ninety eight percent of the current $25 cost of a duck stamp goes directly toward buying wetland habitat that waterfowl and so many other species depend upon. Since the program began in 1934 conservationists have committed about $800 million resulting in nearly 6 million acres of land permanently protected as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. As these totals illustrate, this low profile program has been a remarkable success! 

Artists from around the country submit their paintings of various waterfowl species and one lucky contest winner is selected by a panel of judges. The duck stamp available through June 2025 by artist Chuck Black highlights a male pintail duck, a handsome and graceful duck that lives up to its name with a few long pointed feathers that form its tail.  The male’s chocolate brown head, cheek, and neck, the latter of which is pierced by an  upward pointing white dash, are diagnostic field marks of this species which overwinters on freshwater lakes and ponds on Long Island. 

So don’t forget to buy a duck stamp when you next visit your local post office.

A resident of Setauket, author John L. Turner is conservation chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, author of “Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Nature Guide to Long Island” and president of Alula Birding & Natural History Tours.

 

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Cleanup efforts are underway at the Stony Brook Mill Pond. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

By Toni-Elena Gallo

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, construction began on Mill Creek Rd. in Stony Brook Village, following August’s catastrophic flooding. The storm not only collapsed the road, but emptied Stony Brook’s Mill Pond, caused destruction to surrounding homes and displaced the area’s wildlife.

According to Gloria Rocchio, president of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization, it is a bit of poetic justice that construction began on Wednesday, as it was “exactly 90 days” since the flood hit. However, the rebuilding of Stony Brook is far from complete.

“The Town of Brookhaven will be doing the road and they’re in the design stage at this point. As for tomorrow, they’ll probably start taking down trees,” said Rocchio. “They’re going to start clearing what’s in the creek, because right now, there’s pieces of cesspool down by the grist mill. There’s also a white film on some of the muck, which I heard is detergent, meaning every time the tide goes in and out, the water is taking it to different places,” she continued. The Grist Mill, a Stony Brook staple since 1751, may have up to eight feet of “sand and muck” impacting its turning capabilities, Rocchio said.

Rocchio described the aftermath of August’s storm as “all-consuming” but said she is focused on rectifying the situation and restoring the Stony Brook Mill Pond to its former state.

The WMHO president also stressed the importance of avoiding the collapsed area on Harbor and Main streets as well as the drained Mill Pond itself. She explained that curious passersby have been found standing in the creek, Mill Pond and mud near Harbor Rd. “When we did a cleanup with volunteers, someone got very badly stuck in there. It is like quicksand,” Rocchio said.

In light of the federal government’s response to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday that Suffolk County’s flood damage is “not of the severity and magnitude to warrant the designation of Individual Assistance,” Rocchio said many homeowners, including Ron Borgese—a man who lost a portion of his home on the corner of Main St. and Harbor Rd.—have been left reeling.

“Apparently, the area is not devastated enough, but I don’t know how much more devastated you need to be,” Borgese said in a phone interview.

“The house is condemned and the property is shot. So far, I got nothing from anybody.”

Borgese is currently staying with family while awaiting word on assistance. He does not have flood insurance.

Rocchio said the community’s support during this time has deeply touched her, noting that people have donated amounts ranging from $50 to “thousands.”

In the coming weeks, WMHO will host a Christmas auction to raise money for storm damage relief.

For more information on FEMA’s decision, visit www.tbrnewsmedia.com.

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Young horseshoe crabs at West Meadow Beach, Stony Brook. File photo

By Mallie Jane Kim

Legendary conservationist Jane Goodall added her voice to those asking Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to sign a bill that would prevent the harvest of horseshoe crabs in New York waters for biomedical or commercial fishing purposes.

Dr. Jane Goodall Photo courtesy of National Geographic

“As leaders, we have the unique ability to ensure that vulnerable species like the horseshoe crab, which has been part of our planet’s history for over 350 million years, are protected for future generations,” Goodall wrote in her plea to Hochul.

The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act passed the New York State Assembly and Senate last June, but the governor has yet to sign or veto it. If she does not sign the bill by the end of 2024, the bill is essentially vetoed and would have to go through the legislative process again next year. 

Local advocates and environmental groups who sent letters and organized postcard campaigns to motivate Hochul to call up the bill welcomed Goodall bringing her influence to the cause.  

“It’s a rare and special event when Dr. Goodall reaches out and requests New York help her in saving our planet’s endangered species,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Farmingdale-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “Governor Hochul should heed the wisdom and vision that Dr. Goodall provides and immediately sign this important legislation.”

The pioneering primatologist, who has dedicated her life and career to protecting wildlife and the environment, pointed out in her letter the role horseshoe crabs play in coastal ecosystems as well as the food chain for migratory birds such as red knots.

Horseshoe crabs are considered “living fossils” since they have been around an estimated 450 million years, and they are more closely related to scorpions and spiders than to crustaceans. The species, which is monitored and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, has seen a steady decline in recent decades.

Environmental advocates worry that since Connecticut and Massachusetts recently enacted stronger protections for horseshoe crabs and other neighboring states are considering rule changes, biomedical agencies may draw their attention to New York waters.

Currently the main harvesters of horseshoe crabs in New York waters are commercial fishermen, who use the animals as bait for eel and conch. 

Long Island fisheries and the Long Island Farm Bureau have asked the governor not to sign the bill as written, saying efforts in recent years to sustain the species — including limiting the annual total harvest of horseshoe crabs to 150,000 — need a chance to make a difference. They say the legislation is based on emotion rather than science.

“If [the agencies] felt that the horseshoe crab stock was in danger, we would hear about it first,” said Bonnie Brady, executive director of Montauk-based Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, in a previous conversation with TBR [“The bill has passed in Albany, but awaits governor’s signature,” Sept. 20, 2024]. “To use a law to regulate a fishery, when they are already regulated by appropriate bodies that have the science to back it, is just not the way to allow fisheries to survive.”

Goodall specifically addressed preventing the biomedical uses of horseshoe crabs’ blue blood and asserted that synthetic alternatives mean harvesting the animals is not as necessary for research and vaccine development. 

In her letter to Hochul, she appealed to a “shared sense of responsibility” for the natural world.

“I have devoted my life to preserving the planet,” Goodall wrote. “I hope together, we can make a lasting difference in this important corner of the world.”

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Storm damage at Blydenburgh County Park. Photo courtesy Sebastian Artusa

8-month process to redesign Stump Pond spillway and dam underway

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine today announced that the Suffolk County Department of Public Works (DPW) has sent out a request for proposal (RFP) for the redesign of the Stump Pond dam and spillway that were destroyed by record rainfalls caused by a historic August storm that caused up to 11-inches of rain to fall in some areas.

“After the destruction of historic Stump Pond, our engineering team began working on a pathway forward for this area,” said Romaine. “It was decided immediately to rebuild this culturally and environmentally important pond for the residents of this county.”

The new proposal is for a reinforced earthen dam that will contain a culver and spillway in the same location as that was lost during the storm. Given the circumstances, it is anticipated that the dam’s classification will be upgraded by the State to Class B from Class A – Class B requiring more frequent inspections and higher standards of durability.

In addition to an increase in safety standards, vendors are also asked to design an alternative with a fish ladder.

Proposals from consultants must conform to a myriad of local, state and federal guidelines regarding the safety, hydrology and ecology of the project.

The deadline for proposals is Monday, November 25.

A tentative schedule of the design phase is as follows:

  • Complete project scoping within two months after contract award.
  • Complete preliminary design three months after scoping documents are approved.
  • Complete final design three months after approval of preliminary plans.

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Trees, bushes and grass are dying from lack of rainfall on Long Island including this dogwood tree in a Farmingville backyard. Photo by Heidi Sutton

A fall drought has driven Suffolk County water demand to record-breaking levels, typically seen only during peak summer months. The Suffolk County Water Authority reports that it pumped approximately 7 billion gallons of water in October, about 1.5 billion gallons more than usual for the month, following one of the driest months of September and October on record.

While SCWA’s system is currently meeting demand, the prolonged high-water usage is complicating routine seasonal shutdowns of certain wells. These wells are typically taken offline in colder months to prevent freeze-related damage, as they lack winterized structures. If they must remain operational into the winter, this could present infrastructure risks and potential costs for repairs.

“This fall surge in water demand is certainly concerning,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz in a press release. “It isn’t putting immediate strain on the system as a summer drought might, but it does complicate our winter preparations. Demand levels are resembling those seen in late spring and early summer.”

SCWA attributes the higher water usage to increased outdoor irrigation, with customers running sprinklers later into the season to maintain lawns during the dry spell. SCWA has long promoted an odd/even lawn watering schedule as an effective measure for managing demand. Under this schedule, homes with odd-numbered addresses water on odd-numbered days, while even-numbered addresses water on even days.

This conservation measure has successfully reduced strain on SCWA’s systems over the summer and is part of SCWA’s broader strategy to ensure the reliability of Suffolk County’s water infrastructure.

About SCWA:

The Suffolk County Water Authority is an independent public-benefit corporation operating under the authority of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York. Serving approximately 1.2 million Suffolk County residents, the Authority operates without taxing power on a not-for-profit basis.

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METRO photo

By Nancy Marr

We frequently hear the mandate “Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle,” but is that really the answer to our waste problem?  

Yes, recycling can work, but it’s not perfect. A recycling business can refurbish and recycle goods or can even create new products from recycled materials. It reduces  the amount of waste sent to landfills, and conserves resources like water, minerals, and timber by reducing the need to collect new raw materials. 

Local government must provide incentives for businesses to invest in research to develop ways to recycle and reproduce products that can be sold. Modern urban recycling, which began with the passage of New Jersey’s mandatory recycling law in 1984, has successfully created a tremendous supply of recycled newspapers, glass bottles, office paper, and other materials. But when it comes to creating markets to meet consumer and business demand for the products made from these materials, the economics of recycling falls apart.

The U.S. has a national recycling goal to increase the recycling rate to 50% by 2030, from a rate of 7% in 1960 and 32% in 1923. Between 70% and 90% of all items that could be recycled now end up in the landfill.  An important success has been the Better Bottle Bill that was passed originally in New York State in 1983. 

Purchasers of bottled water, beer, wine coolers or soda are charged a fee, and are reimbursed when they return them to be re-produced. Returned bottles are sorted based on the type of material (glass, plastic, aluminum), and cleaned. The plastics are then shredded into small flakes and melted down into small pellets which can be used for new bottles. 

To make it more effective, the New York Legislature has written a Bigger, Better Bottle Bill, which would add glass bottles with non-carbonated liquids and iced tea, and increase the deposit price and the reimbursement price to ten cents. It  did not pass in this year’s Albany Legislature, although it will surely be legislated again, or re-written into a bill that mandates the return of bottles.

In fact, as David Biddle, Executive Director of the Public Recycling Officials of Pennsylvania, points out in the Harvard Business Review, recycling is not just a matter of recovering recyclable material; it’s a total economic system. Few people realize that their local curbside collection program is only the beginning of a recycling loop. Unless consumers want to buy the recycled products, the markets for the material they put out at the curb will remain depressed.

While public policymakers are still trying to improve their recycling programs, large corporations and small entrepreneurs alike are in the best position to take the lead. Top managers of companies like American Airlines, Bell Atlantic, and Coca-Cola have made buying recycled products and investing in green R&D part of their overall business strategies, which has allowed them to cut down on waste, increase profit  margins, and, in some cases, truly close the recycling loop. The success of recycling—indeed, its true value in the long term—won’t depend on how much landfill space is saved but on whether or not recycling makes economic sense. 

U.S. manufacturers haven’t always been so slow to invest. For decades, the steel and aluminum industries have successfully developed their respective technologies to incorporate large quantities of post-consumer recycled materials. Aluminum cans all contain a high percentage of recycled content, and virtually all products made with steel contain at least 25% reclaimed steel. In general, these two industries couldn’t survive without the heavy input of recycled material; and in this, they are models for the lagging paper and plastics industries. The universal recycle icon (three arrows in a Mobius loop) shows whether the item can be recycled, or may have been recycled.

Government also needs to enlist university scientists and train students to find additional ways to process glass, plastics, fabrics, and other items that now end up in the landfill. Local governments need to provide education about the importance of recycling and the materials consumers place in their curbside recycle bins. 

By mandating recycling and setting extremely high recovery goals for both paper and plastics, government has challenged U.S. industry to develop the necessary infrastructure for incorporating these materials into manufacturing processes. Yet for this challenge to be met, local government needs to find ways to involve business and industry in using and creating recycled products. 

Nancy Marr  is first vice-president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.  For more information, visit www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org or call 631-862-6860. 

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A costumed child and father cleaning up debris. Photo courtesy Rose Weldon/New York Sea Grant
A costumed child and father cleaning up debris. Photo courtesy Rose Weldon/New York Sea Grant
Hart Nguyen of East Setauket with part of a shopping cart, found during his trash search. Photo courtesy Rose Weldon/New York Sea Grant
A costumed child takes part in the the cleanup. Photo courtesy Rose Weldon/New York Sea Grant

Over 20 local volunteers, many dressed in Halloween costumes, gathered on Oct. 28 at West Meadow Beach in Stony Brook to participate in the third annual Halloween Coastal Cleanup event led by Jimena Perez-Viscasillas, New York Sea Grant’s (NYSG) Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinator.

The event, part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, saw families and community members of all ages collect trash along the beach for two hours, all while raising awareness for ocean conservation. Volunteers were encouraged to wear costumes, adding a festive touch to the community-driven event.

Throughout the morning, participants collected 13 buckets of debris including microplastics and larger items like a shopping cart part. The cleanup, organized by NYSG and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), is aimed at not only clearing the beach but also documenting the types of trash found. Attendees counted pieces of glass, wood, paper and plastic to contribute to the global data on coastal pollution.

Partnering with the Town of Brookhaven, Avalon Nature Preserve’s Nature Initiative and Friends of Flax Pond, the cleanup event is part of a broader mission to protect and restore the Long Island Sound and its surrounding ecosystems.

The Long Island Sound Study, an estuary program dedicated to the conservation of the Sound, is currently updating its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to guide environmental efforts over the next decade. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft plan at LISstudy.net/plan by Nov. 22.

For more information on New York Sea Grant’s marine debris initiatives, visit nyseagrant.org/marinedebris.

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A scene from a previous Polar Plunge at Mt. Sinai’s Cedar Beach. Bill Landon photo

Hundreds of brave Special Olympics New York supporters are expected to participate in the Polar Plunge Saturday, November 23, running into the freezing waters of the Long Island Sound to raise funds and awareness for local Special Olympics athletes and programming.

The Polar Plunge is one of the most popular, profitable, and exciting fundraisers for Special Olympics New York. Participants raise money by asking friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances for donations. Event details are as follows.

When: Saturday, November 23, 2024
            9:30 a.m. – Registration
11:30 a.m. – Polar Plunge

Where: Cedar Beach, Mount Sinai
             244 Harbor Beach Rd, Mt Sinai, NY 11766

Link: Donate or Support the Plunge Here.

For additional information, please contact Alexis Dawson at [email protected] or 631-386-8038.

About Special Olympics New York

Special Olympics New York is one of the largest state chapters in the country, serving more than 45,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 300 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.

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Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine

On Election Day, voters will cast their votes for president, U.S. Senate, Congress and state legislators. In Suffolk County, voters also have a once-in-a-generation chance to safeguard the future of Suffolk County’s surface and groundwater in Proposition 2.

The proposition allows Suffolk County to begin the process of updating our wastewater infrastructure for the 21st century. Whether it is sewering our downtowns or supporting neighbors installing I/A systems to combat nitrogen pollution, the successful passage of Proposition 2 gives us the tools we need.

Passage of Prop 2 establishes Suffolk’s eligibility for state and federal funding. Recouping as many tax dollars from New York state is important to operate Suffolk County.

Proposition 2 also continues the highly successful Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program (SCDWPP), which has preserved thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land, stabilized sewer rates and supported clean water efforts.

We don’t have to look far to see the need for improved wastewater infrastructure. Harmful algal blooms, brown tides, rust tides, mahogany tides and hypoxia fill our summer headlines and cause many beach closures each season.

We know, though, that with sewers, smart zoning and open space preservation, the damage is reversible. The obstacles we face are steep but not insurmountable.

Building sewage infrastructure creates jobs and helps small businesses and downtowns flourish. Advancing our downtowns creates permanent jobs in our communities and expands housing options for young people starting out and older folks looking to downsize. Our legacy fishing industry and emerging aquaculture industry will be able to expand employment and production as the environment improves.

It’s no exaggeration to say that passage of Proposition 2 is the most important measure voters have had on the ballot in generations. Its passage will strengthen our environment and protect the way of life that is a cornerstone of Suffolk County. This is not a political issue; it affects every present—and future—resident of Suffolk County and beyond.

Remember to vote on Nov. 5 or take advantage of early voting. For more information on voting, please visit: https://suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/BOE.

Ed Romaine

Suffolk County Executive

 

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Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner and volunteer Brian McCaffrey. Photo from Councilwoman Bonner's office

On October 26, Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Coastal Steward Long Island volunteer Brian McCaffery attended the Shellfish Restoration Project event at Mt. Sinai Harbor. The organization and volunteers placed 50,000 oysters in both the Mt. Sinai and Port Jefferson Harbor sites. It was the final Shellfish Restoration Project oyster release of 2024. They were raised at the Town of Brookhaven Mariculture Facility at Mt Sinai Harbor until May and June 2024. 

The 20 mm oysters were donated to the Coastal Steward, a not-for-profit group that volunteers for the Town of Brookhaven. The Coastal Steward then grows the oysters as part of their Mariculture Restoration Program until they plant them in October on a Town Management Area in Port Jefferson Harbor.

Coastal Steward Long Island received 75,000 small Eastern oysters, raised at the Town of Brookhaven Mariculture facility at Mt. Sinai Harbor and divided into 75 bags. With the help of volunteers, the bags were placed in large growing cages and submerged. Throughout the summer and fall, their health and growth were monitored. In addition, every two weeks the oysters are removed from their cages and cleaned to prevent overgrowth of algae and other organisms that may inhibit their growth. For more information about the Coastal Steward Shellfish Restoration Project, go to www.coastalsteward.org.

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