The Nature Conservancy on Long Island, Long Island University (LIU), Â Friends of the Bay and North Shore Land Alliance hosted a Water Quality Symposium on October 7th, 2014 at the Tilles Center on the LIU Post Campus.
The purpose of this Symposium was to present current research findings regarding local water quality to municipal and county officials. New findings were presented on the state of surface waters along the north shore of Long Island in Oyster Bay, Huntington Bayand Northport Harbor by experts in their respective fields. The presenters were:
- Dr. Christopher Gobler
SUNY Stony Brook, Department of Marine Sciences
Effects of Nitrogen Pollution on Our Bays and Harbors - Stephen Lloyd
Senior Analyst, The Nature Conservancy
Nitrogen Loading in Oyster Bay, Huntington Bay, and Northport Harbor - Chris Clapp
Marine Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
Alternative Technologies for Treating Residential Waste Water - Dr. Elizabeth Codner-Smith
Economist, The Nature Conservancy
Why Our Water Quality Matters –Economics and Public Perception
After the presentations, the audience broke into small groups to discuss the information that had been presented and to suggest and evaluate potential next steps that might contribute to clean water outcomes in the region.
Generally, participants were not aware of the growing levels of nitrogen that are polluting local water bodies, including our sole source aquifer. They were also not aware that steps currently taken to protect local waters are no longer adequate. Overwhelmingly, the group wanted to know more about what we as a community of citizens and appointed and elected officials can do to address this very serious problem. They also advocated for reconvening in the near future to plan a constructive process that will contribute to the restoration and protection of water quality in our bays, harbors and Long Island Sound.
We gratefully acknowledge New York Community Bank Foundation for helping to underwrite the costs associated with hosting this very worthwhile and productive meeting
