Conference Links
The Peconic Estuary Program Presents:
The 2010 Peconic Estuary Call to Action Conference
See links below for a summary of the conference and to access materials handed out to conference participants. Formal meeting proceedings, photos, and press coverage will be posted shortly, so please check back for updates!
2010 Peconic Estuary Call to Action Conference
Panel Information
Habitat Restoration
The Peconic Estuary is home to some of the most valuable and rare habitats in the world. Unfortunately development pressure, pollution, and other stressors have negatively impacted such habitats as diadromous fish access, eelgrass, and wetlands. The Habitat Restoration Panel will present and discuss an action agenda focused on increasing the number and effectiveness of habitat restoration and enhancement projects undertaken in the Peconics. This panel is moderated by Chris Pickerell (CCE) and panel members include Chart Guthrie (NYSDEC), Dawn McReynolds (NYSDEC), and Stephen Tettelbach (LIU). For more information on habitat restoration projects in the Peconics, the recently updated 2009 PEP Habitat Restoration Plan, and the Completed Project Inventory, please click here.
Eelgrass Management
Eelgrass is a rooted, underwater vascular plant which stabilizes bottom sediments, improves estuarine water quality, and provides critical habitat for many species in the Peconic Estuary. Once bountiful throughout the pristine waters of the Peconic Estuary, eelgrass has fell victim to a downward trend and populations have not rebounded. Since the 1930's the Peconics has lost over 80% of its eelgrass. The Eelgrass Management Panel will present and discuss an action agenda focused on supporting implementation and expansion of the 2009 PEP Eelgrass Management Plan and PEP's eelgrass monitoring, research, and management initiatives. This panel is moderated by James Dougherty (Supervisor, Town of Shelter Island) and panel members include Bradley Peterson (SBU), Chris Pickerell (CCE), and Ed Warner, Jr. (Trustee, Town of Southampton/Baymen). For more information on eelgrass management projects in the Peconics, the 2009 Eelgrass Management Plan for the Peconic Estuary, the 2010 Annual Implementation Progress Report for the Eelgrass Management Plan, and PEP's annual Eelgrass Monitoring Reports, please click here.
Stormwater Management
Stormwater, or water left behind from rains and snows, can run off of paved surfaces and other hard structures towards our local waterways. This water often picks up potentially harmful pollutants as it flows over land and deposits them in surface waters causing decreased water quality and harming the habitat and wildlife that make our bays so special. As development pressures in the Peconic watershed continue this issue becomes increasingly concerning. The Conference’s stormwater panel will present and discuss an action agenda focused on a variety of initiatives that could be put in place in the Peconic Watershed to improve stormwater runoff issues. The panel members include: Lorne Brousseau (Cornell Cooperative Extension), Eileen Keenan (NY Sea Grant), Mark Terry (Southold Town Planning Dept.), and Bob DeLuca (Group for the East End). For more information on stormwater runoff mitigation projects currently underway in Hashamouck Pond and Reeves Bay, please click here for more information.
Nitrogen Management
The relationship between excessive nitrogen and low dissolved oxygen levels in estuaries is well documented. When excessive loads of nitrogen are introduced to an estuary, nuisance algae are likely to result. Sources of nitrogen include fertilizer used for agriculture and on turf and landscaping, on-site disposal systems (septic systems or cesspools), atmospheric deposition, sewage treatment plants, stormwater runoff, and nutrient enriched bottom sediments. The Nitrogen Management Panel will present and discuss an action agenda focused on supporting implementation of the 2007 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Nitrogen in the Peconic Estuary. This panel is moderated by Brian Frank (Town of East Hampton) and panel members include Christopher Gobler (SBU), Becky Wiseman (CCE), Martin Trent (SCDHS) and Lisa Liquori (Fine Arts & Sciences, LLC). For more information on nitrogen management in the Peconics, including the TMDL and related documents, please click here: http://www.peconicestuary.org/News.TMDL.html