Lawmakers Secure $200K in State Budget to Protect, Restore Peconic Estuary

NORTH FORK, NY - Efforts to preserve the Peconic Estuary continue as funds were secured in the New York State Budget to help protect the valuable resource.

On Monday, New York State Senator Ken LaValle and New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele announced that they'd worked to secure $200,0000 in the final enacted 2016-2017 New York State budget to be used toward Peconic Estuary preservation efforts.

Both Thiele and LaValle have worked with the Peconic Estuary Program for years, facing challenges including the brown tide in1985, a devastating algal bloom that dealt a harsh blow to the local scalloping industry.

After public outcry, the Peconic Estuary was inducted into the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program and was deemed an Estuary of National Significance.

Efforts have been ongoing to restore and protect the estuary, which is critical to East End tourism, the natural environment, and shellfishing industry.

But despite successes by the Peconic Estuary Program, lawmakers have long maintained that there's much work to be done to restore coastal habitats and shine a light on the escalating water quality crisis.

"Not only must we protect the scenic beauty and the ecological integrity of the Peconic Estuary, we must protect the
resource which drives the East End economy, pumping millions of dollars into our region. Directing these funds to the Peconic Estuary Program is a wise investment in our environment and our economy," Thiele said.

Added LaValle, "Throughout my career, I have made preserving our land, air and water major priorities for Long Island. These state funds will support the Peconic Estuary Program in its' core mission to protect and restore our water resources that are crucial for future generations."

Alison Branco, director of the Peconic Estuary Program, thanked the lawmakers. "Continued funding from New York State will ensure that we can continue to work with our partners to protect water quality in the Peconic Estuary and that the solutions to our regional nitrogen pollution crisis are tailored to the needs of East End
communities."

Recently, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone also announced a major initiative to protect the Peconic Estuary. With an eye toward addressing escalating water concerns, Bellone announced a new $1.4 million grant opportunity for mobile home communities looking to install an advanced wastewater treatment system.

The project would replace the existing septic systems at a mobile home community which, he said, "spew nitrogen and other pollution directly into the groundwater and Peconic Estuary", with an advanced treatment system which would removed harmful chemicals and dramatically reduces nitrogen pollution emissions.