Officials Celebrate Importance Of Peconic Estuary

RIVERHEAD, NY — Officials came together Wednesday to celebrate the rich marine life of the Peconic Estuary.

Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski and Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar joined with
representatives from the Peconic Estuary Protection Committee, Peconic Estuary Partnership, and the Long Island Aquarium to unveil a new sign focused on the estuary's critical importance.

"The Peconic Estuary is an invaluable environmental and economic resource. Estuaries are known as 'the nurseries of the ocean,'" Krupksi said:

Officials agreed that the sign would help educate the public about the "rich biodiversity of the Peconic Estuary system" and help to raise awareness about what can and must be done to protect the resource.

Patricia Aitken, coordinator of the Peconic Estuary Protection Committee emphasized how important it be mindful of how stormwater runoff can impact water quality.

The Peconic Estuary Protection Committee was formed in 2015 to achieve improvements in water quality and the habitats of the Peconic Estuary by leveraging the resources of municipalities and partner agencies on eastern Long Island, officials said.

Issues addressed include pollutant sources such as stormwater runoff, septic system discharge, agricultural and and residential fertilization, groundwater flows, illegal dumping, floatable debris and boat waste.

"The cooperation and involvement of the municipalities surrounding the estuary is critical to this effort, as water does not recognize geo-political boundaries," Aguiar said. "We are fortunate to have such dedicated people with one mission in mind — protect and preserve the habitat.”

The Long Island Aquarium was chosen as the site for the placement of the new sign because it has an exhibit showcasing the marine life of the estuary, and provides education to the visitors on a daily basis.

“The Peconic Estuary is one of the most important estuaries of eastern Long Island — its health is vital to the Peconic River, the bays and other waterways they feed into. The home it provides to wildlife and filtration for waterways make the estuary vital to our environment. Here at the Long Island Aquarium, we educate our guests about the local salt marshes in our backyard and show the important role these ecosystems play," Teddy Tilkin, senior aquarist and intern coordinator, said

Scott Curatolo-Wegeman of Cornell Cooperative Extension and Jim Colligan of the Town of Shelter Island also attended the event.