The North Fork Clean Water Action Group, formed in 2012 to incorporate local North Fork needs in addressing Long Island’s larger water crisis, will present a set of prudent and practical steps for the Town of Southold to prioritize as it continues work on its 2020 Comprehensive Plan and other community planning and water quality projects. These suggested plans of action, outlined in a letter from the group’s founding members with the support of others, will be presented at the Southold Town Board in a work session on April 22 at Town Hall.
“NFCWA is presenting these action steps to Southold today, but the broader goal is to have all five East End towns consider similar clean water action efforts and create a comprehensive East End water quality initiative for the region,” said Bill Toedter, president of the North Fork Environmental Council. “East Hampton is already moving in this direction with the development of a town-wide wastewater management plan and it’s important that all the pieces fit together,” he said.
NFCWA’s primary goals for Southold include:
• Establishing an overarching Water Quality Advisory Committee
• Establishing a town-wide and/or Watershed Protection Improvement District, and
• Adopting a town-wide wastewater management plan
NFCWA is bringing these recommendations forward as many local, county and state leaders have begun to focus attention on the need for water quality improvement across the region. Locally, the North Fork’s groundwater has some of the highest recorded levels of nitrogen compounds in the county, compounds which can significantly impact human and environmental health. On the county level, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has concluded that many of the North Fork’s wastewater disposal systems will become compromised by the effects of sea level rise and the related impacts of rising groundwater elevations, thus the need for planning and action in the near future. And on the state level, in August 2012, Governor Cuomo signed into law the Watershed Protection Improvement District bill which, when certain actions are undertaken on the local level, permits a town board to take certain actions for the protection and restoration of groundwater, surface waters and drinking water quality, as well as allow the town to create or tap into funding vehicles.
Bob DeLuca, Group for the East End president, said, “As a member of the Long Island Clean Water Partnership (a regional coalition of organizations working for clean water across Long Island), I have been examining Long Island’s water quality problems and solutions for the better part of two years. Based on this assessment, it’s very clear that we need strong local organization and leadership to achieve the goals and attract the resources associated with any state or regional clean water action plan that is being considered for Long Island. Most importantly, however, is the fact the North Fork has a unique set of water quality challenges, so the importance of local insight, expertise, organization and commitment will be invaluable in setting and reaching clean water priorities that truly reflect the needs of our community,” he said.
The need for regional solutions were echoed by Glynis Berry, Peconic Green Growth president. She said, “We need community involvement in the process as solutions to our water problems will vary from community to community and people must understand both the problems and the solutions as they pertain to their location.” Glynis added, “Next generation septic systems, both stand-alone and multi-family/community types, will play a part in solving our nitrogen pollution problems but they will only have an impact with continued cooperation between the county, the towns, and community groups.”
Source: Press release from North Fork Clean Water Action Group issued April 18, 2014
