The DEC closed shellfish harvesting areas in Southold and Shelter Island today after “extraordinarily heavy rainfall and stormwater runoff” from yesterday’s storm that could impact water quality.
All of Southold Bay, Pipes Cove and Shelter Island Sound lying north of a line from Paradise Point to Crab Creek Point and west of a line from Cleaves Point to Hay Beach Point, as well as Hog Neck Bay and its tributaries lying north of a line from Nassau Point to Cedar Beach Point are also closed effective immediately.
Shellfish is currently potentially “hazardous for use as food” according to a press release issued by the agency.
According to the DEC, rainfall exceeded three inches in the affected areas, a few locations reported more than four inches.
“Stormwater runoff caused by heavy rainfall carries bacteria and other pathogens into adjacent surface waters. When water quality in the enclosed creeks, coves, harbors and bays is adversely affected, shellfish in those areas have an increased potential to be hazardous for use as food,” the press release read.
The DEC says it will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of water quality testing to be conducted on samples that will be collected from the affected areas over the next several days.
