Several years ago, the Trustees initiated the weekly surveying of the salt marsh at Accabonac Harbor, spearheaded by former Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, in conjunction with Suffolk County Vector Control, to determine where mosquito larvae were present each summer season. Instead of a helicopter that sprayed pesticide over the entire salt marsh, Trustees John Aldred and Susan McGraw-Keber coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy, and “citizen scientists” who volunteered to help survey the salt marsh to determine where mosquito larvae were located. The earlier the mosquito larvae are discovered in their growth, the better for
*Due to this week’s unsettled weather forecast, applications are starting today, July 23rd, at noon. *The Accabonac Harbor salt marsh will be surveyed for mosquito larvae locations tomorrow, Thursday, July 24th, by Deputy Clerk Trustee John Aldred and crew. As is standard procedure, the information will be sent to Vector Control. The treatment of pellets will be reported here as soon as the schedule is received. Osprey nest and runnel Accabonac salt marsh Photo Susan McGraw-Keber Suffolk County Department of Public Works – Division of Vector Control crews inspect marshlands that have historically produced large numbers of developing larval mosquitoes.
“Clam powering” or “churning” with a motorboat engine is a method used to harvest soft-shell clams by directing the outboard motor’s propeller towards the bottomland to loosen the soil and expose the clams. This technique is typically employed in shallower waters where clams burrow into the soft sediment. Here’s how it generally works: Engine positioning: The outboard motor is tilted to direct the propeller’s wash towards the seabed. Bottomland disturbance: The force of the propeller creates a powerful current that disrupts the sediment, exposing the buried clams. Clam retrieval: Once exposed, the clams can be easily collected from the seafloor. During last week’s
Please be advised, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Marine Resources, has designated THREE MILE HARBOR as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish, before, during and after the 2025 Clamshell Foundation Fireworks event. The closure will be effective at sunrise on Saturday, July 12, 2025 through Wednesday, July 16,, 2025 (inclusive of both dates). All of THREE MILE HARBOR and it’s tributaries are included in this closure. Please see the image below. The full closure announcement is also included below. CLOSURE ORDER 07-09-2025 SIGNED TMH FIreworksDownload
The Department of Environmental Conservation announced a Temporary Closure of Shellfish Harvest in Three Mile Harbor for the Annual Fireworks Show beginning on Saturday, July 12th. The harbor is expected to reopen on Thursday, July 17th. Fireworks on Three Mile Harbor East Hampton Photo: East Hampton Star The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the temporary closure of shellfish harvesting for Three Mile Harbor in the town of East Hampton, Suffolk County, during the upcoming Clamshell Foundation Fireworks event. The closure begins at sunrise on Saturday, July 12, and continues through Wednesday, July 16. During this time, no shellfish
The Trustees are pleased to announce that this year’s graduating senior recipient of The East Hampton Town Trustees Scholarship Fund is Jocelyn Garcia. Jocelyn will attend George Washington University in the Fall, where she will major in biology. We look forward to Jocelyn’s success in her studies and future endeavors. Presenting the scholarship award was Trustee David Cataletto, who serves on the Trustees’ Education Committee. The Trustees wish her all the best in the coming year…perhaps she’ll bring her knowledge back to East Hampton and join us in our effort to preserve and protect our environment one day! Congratulations, Jocelyn
Please be advised, The Suffolk County Department of Public Works’ Division of Vector Control will be treating marshes in the Town of East Hampton. The application will occur between June 25th – June 27th. A low altitude helicopter will make the applications between 7 :00 am – 6:00 pm over the following Marshes: Accabonac Harbor Beach Hampton Cedar Point Suffolk County Park Napeague Harbor Please note, if weather conditions prevent completion of the treatment, it will be continued on the next suitable day. Suffolk County Division of Vector Control can be reached at 631-852-4720. Further information may be found on
The New York State DEC has updated it’s policies to require that specifics about projects involving the harvesting/planting of seagrass and seagrass seeds be reported to the agency through the Seagrass Coordinator. This will help ensure proper tracking of seagrass transplanting efforts and adherence to best management practices in the Marine and Coastal District of New York. For more details on the policy, visit the DEC Seagrass Management Webpage under the section “Seagrass Restoration and Research”. If there are any questions, please reach out directly to Della Campbell, Seagrass Coordinator, Marine Habitat, Division of Marine Resources, NYSDEC, (della.campbell@dec.ny.gov). Please note
Please be advised that surface water samples taken by SUNY Stony Brook were positive for the presence of new Cyanobacteria Blooms, more commonly known as blue-green algae, in Wainscott Pond. As these bacterial blooms pose certain health risks, residents are advised to take precautions. Recreation in/around the pond is ill advised. Keep children and pets from contact with pond water. The presence of green, blue-green, yellow, brown or red tinges to the water body may indicate a bloom has occurred. Refrain from contact with water that appears in these tinges or water that has a scum-like film on the surface.
Mark your calendar! You’re invited! *** This is a FREE event! Keep scrolling! Check out additional information and videos about South Fork Sea Farmers! Water is Life Oyster gardening and reef construction enhance marine ecosystems and foster community engagement and conservation efforts. Join us in cultivating a healthier environment for everyone. Preservation starts with you. The East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery – History For more information, click on the tab below for the website. South Fork Sea Farmers
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of summer, which means boating, beach days, and swimming in the ocean. Here are important safety tips to help you in an emergency. As scuba divers remind themselves, “Plan your dive and dive your plan!” Having a plan is smart if you must act rapidly to save yourself or someone else! Fast Facts Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water prevalent along the East, Gulf, and West coasts of the U.S. and along the shores of the Great Lakes. Here on the East End, during the
Henry Cooper, an East Hampton High School student, outlined a plan to transplant 20 to 25 shovelfuls of eelgrass from Napeague Harbor to Accabonac Harbor adjacent to previously constructed oyster reefs. Photo: Christopher Walsh Henry Cooper of East Hampton High School introduced a plan to transplant eelgrass from Napeague Harbor to Accabonac Harbor, where they had previously built oyster reefs with the approval of the Trustees. Bob Tymann, head of the education committee for South Fork Sea Farmers, under whose guidance students have constructed the oyster reefs, introduced Henry Cooper. The plan calls for biodegradable, three-dimensional lattice sheets called BESE-elements
Statement from Orsted Regarding Mooring System in Use
“As part of the fish monitoring study outlined in the SFW Fisheries Study Work Plan, the Stony Brook University team is conducting a regular visit to the sensor array off Wainscott today to collect data from sensors, replace batteries, and deploy new retrievable moorings alongside the previous moorings. As the Stony Brook team is deploying new moorings alongside the existing moorings there’s no change to the mariners briefing, our standard method for updating mariners on the presence of equipment in navigational waters. Members of the fisheries outreach team, in collaboration with the research team, have worked with the fishing community to select an alternative mooring, one that is smaller, lightweight and retrievable, and is more compatible with commercial fishing in response to the feedback we’ve received from the community on original deployment of cement moorings.”
Images of the mooring system and a diagram are shown below.
