Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul and Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland joined members of the East Hampton Town Board and the East Hampton Town Trustees along with various members of the Southampton Town Board as the Governor announced that construction consisting of a 12-turbine, 132 megawatt wind farm, located 35 miles off Montauk Point, was recently completed and ready to be activated. The South Fork Wind project will provide clean, renewable electricity sufficient to power around 70,000 average-size houses. A first in New York, the project required in-depth planning, research, and a committed dedication to protecting our local community
The March 14th issue of the Express-News Group edition for 27 East – The Accidental Beekeeper: “New state legislation takes popular pesticide off shelves” The new law will phase out most neonics by 2027. This is great news for not only bees but also human beings. Neonicotinoid products (often referred to as “neonics”) are used in farming, creating toxic leaves, stems, pollen, nectar, and fruit. Landscapers use products containing toxic chemicals to repel insects that can damage lawns, ornamental plantings, bushes, and specimen trees. Even tick and flea collars (Seresto brand) for dogs contains the pesticide Imidacloprid. *In 2023 the
Sponsored by Friends of Georgica Pond and Surfrider Foundation / Eastern Long Island Saturday, March 30th 10AM – 11:30AM To sign up email: info@friendsofgeorgicapond.org Please state how many people will be joining the cleanup!
Conducted through Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan Explores Options to Improve Water Quality April 9 Webinar to Present Study Results – Tuesday, April 9, 2024 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released findings from a regional study of the impacts of exchanged sea water into Long Island embayments in an effort to improve water quality. The Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP) Embayment Water Exchange Study explored technologies to exchange more sea water into embayments, with results showing that impacts vary depending on the type of waterbody involved. The study shows
Robert (Rob) Vasiluth is an innovative crusader who believes he has just the right method to resurrect the growth and sustainability of eelgrass in the Peconic waterways – with the approval of the Trustees last year, Mr. Vasiluth is eager to expand the project and assess last year’s plantings. A few weeks ago, Mr.Vasiluth returned to the Trustees to present his plans for this year. His objective is to expand eelgrass growth in East Hampton waterways, specifically in Napeague Harbor, where he began his experiment last year. The Trustees were in favor of the continued project and asked that he
From East Coast Ocean News: Shellfish growers in Massachusetts recently planted more than 10,000 oysters on a one-acre site in Nasketucket Bay as part of the Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR) program. These oysters can help populations flourish and keep coastal habitats healthy. Working with The Nature Conservancy and Pew Charitable Trust Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR) program, ten thousand oysters were distributed from two oyster farms in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Nasketucket Bay Fairhaven Massachusetts Google map Tyler Lizotte and Cody Jardin of Blue Stream Shellfish dump oysters onto a one-acre oyster restoration site in Nasketucket Bay in Fairhaven.
Largest Clam Contest winner 2022 Mark your calendars now for the Trustees 33rd Annual Largest Clam Contest! After having to cancel two dates last year due to inclement weather, the Trustees have set the date for Sunday, September 29th from 12 Noon to 3PM. The annual event celebrates the Trustees historic jurisdiction of the town’s bottomlands of the waterways including the harbors and ponds, the beaches, and old roads since established in 1686. In addition to the Largest Clam Contest, there will be the Clam Chowder Contest, LIVE music from the band, “Hopefully Forgiven”, clams on the half-shell, prizes, and
Rob Vasiluth from the CCE Eelgrass Program holds up a bag of eelgrass seeds after the dive at Fisher’s Island. (Image: Emma DeLoughry) At the last Trustee meeting, Rob Vasiluth of SAVE Environmental was granted permission and a letter of support to seed Napeague Harbor with eelgrass. This will be the second season he will do this with the assistance of the Director of the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery, John “Barley” Dunne. Mr. Vasiluth anticipates a more robust planting of the eelgrass with the assistance of the Peconic Baykeeper, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Save the Sound. In addition, as he
NOAA Fisheries (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and partners convened an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the discovery of the Rice’s whale, and recent advancements in marine mammal research and conservation. NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service share responsibility for implementing the Endangered Species Act. We are responsible for most marine species, including whales, seals, sharks, and coral. We also implement measures to protect anadromous species—ones that migrate between fresh and saltwater. 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Under this law, NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the conservation and
Montauk School Photo Patch.com Here are the list of winners from this year: 8th Grade 1st Valentina Balducci 2nd Elle Reidlinger 3rd Augie Swain 7th Grade 1st Timmy Mullen, Cole Deland 2nd Sydney Powers, Alison Rade 3rd Rishi Ortiz, Francisco Estrella-Neat 6th Grade 1st Alex Uihlein 2nd Tomas Ramos, Tiberius Tyler 3rd William Hess, Harry Flight 5th Grade 1st Tippi Tyler, Maxwell Berrang 2nd Vera Ryan 3rd Antonella Rodriguez 4th Grade 1st Makenzie Taylor 2nd Conor McCann, Charlie LoCascio 3rd Gianny Matos, Harper Shahriari-Walter 3rd Grade 1st Hayes Watson, Jaden Ostroff 2nd Madeline Schroetter 3rd Maren Hammer
The annual Montauk School Science Fair is always an exciting event for students, teachers, parents, and judges alike. This year it was held on Friday, January 26th – from 10AM – 3PM in the school’s gymnasium. The participants included students in grades 4 – 8th. Montauk School photo Trustee Celia Josephson who serves on the Trustee’s Education committee, and former Trustee, Susan McGraw-Keber were judges along with a robust group of judges from various environmental organizations. The Executive Director of Concerned Citizens of Montauk (CCOM), Kay Tyler, served as a judge and the event’s co-chair with Joe Malave, the Earth
Georgica Pond Dredging January 2024 Photo Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation The East Hampton Town Trustees started the annual dredging of Georgica Pond a few days ago. Dredging helps to maintain the health of the pond by allowing it to flush into the ocean, taking with it an abundance of water that accumulated over the past months. The dredging project is permitted under a five-year permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as well as a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While the dredging is underway, the Trustees ask that for the safety
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.
