Peconic Baykeeper | Protecting Long Island's Waters

A beautiful frosty morning for our first round of Blue Water Task Force 2021 water quality monitoring. Stay tuned for this week’s results! @preservemontauk @surfridereasternlongisland

Winter is a great time to enjoy our waterways with activities ranging from shellfishing to birding and even winter paddling. On that note, We were saddened to learn of the recent passing of a local teen kayaker who although experienced and fairly well prepared, ended up succumbing to frigid waters of the Peconics. If your adventure might get you wet, stay safe and always travel with a buddy.

The roots of American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) demonstrate how adapted native species work to stabilize our shorelines and improve coastal resiliency. Protecting natural living shorelines around our waterways is vital to the health of our aquatic ecosystems.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a complete Trident underwater drone bundle from the Wildlife Conservation Society! This technology will be a great asset to biological monitoring projects, education, and investigating underwater pollution. Can’t wait to try it out and share footage of our amazing marine ecosystems! @thewcs @sofarocean

Happy New Year from PBK! The year may be different, but our mission to protect your right to clean water remains. Thank you for all of your support in 2020!

As a proud member of the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, we are thrilled at the announcement that Plum Island will no longer be sold to the highest bidder. This opens up opportunities to preserve this ecological and historic treasure for the future! While best known to most for its animal disease research laboratory, the island is host a diverse array of wildlife, rare and endangered plants, and a rich history of human occupation. Hats off to our friends at Save the Sound for spearheading this effort! https://www.savethesound.org//press-release-plum-island-/

What exactly is a Baykeeper and more importantly, why is one in my classroom? All these questions and more were answered during our career day visit at Little Flower UFSD yesterday. Great to share our work and passion for water quality with the students!

Battle of the bivalves on Great Peconic Bay! Peconic Baykeeper is proud to support sustainable local fisheries through our Commercial Oyster Aquaculture Program. As filter feeders, oysters improve water quality while the gear used to grow them provides habitat for juvenile fin fish. Consider adding locally grown oysters to your sustainable seafood New Year’s resolution. -Pictured: - -Happy Oyster Company and Sebonac Inlet Oyster Company prepare for a day of work on our ...oyster plot. - -Grilled oysters with pesto See more

Bayberry is a native coastal shrub found around Long Island. Historically, the waxy fruit was gathered and boiled to separate the wax to make candles. The gathering of the berries was often a children’s chore. This fragrance is still popular with today’s candlemakers.

Water Quality Report 12-14-20 For all you polar bear plungers, cold water paddlers, shellfish gatherers, and salty surfers, the Blue Water Task Force partnership continues to conduct monthly sampling throughout the winter months to keep you informed. Please scroll through for the latest and we’ll be back at your favorite East End sites in the New Year. @preservemontauk @surfridereasternlongisland

Wondering if Mother Nature is going to decorate our boat again this year?

Wherever we go on our beaches, bays, and wetlands, plastic pollution is an all too common reality. In the environment, this plastic breaks down into microplastics, concentrating other pollutants and impacting even the lowest levels of the marine food web. Much of this waste comes from single use items such as water bottles and straws. Please join us and other organizations across the country to fight for change with the incoming administration. Link to action below: https://www.plasticfreepresident.org/

Decorating for the Holidays? Our beaches offer plenty of treasures that will keep plastic out of our landfills and waters! Love this blue mussel ornament created by @anneemersongreene You can even double your efforts by picking up and disposing of any trash you do find along the way!

A huge thank you from the PBK team to all who supported our clean water mission on #GivingTuesday! We were honored to receive so much support from those who value our bays, creeks, and beaches as much as we do! If you missed us the first time around, please consider supporting our Annual Appeal so that we can maintain our course in 2021. Link to our latest newsletter below. https://conta.cc/3qelAC5

On this #GivingTuesday, we invite your support in joining our fight for your right to clean water. From our smallest creeks to our largest bays, our mission is to protect and restore the waterways we love. Please take a stand for your right to clean water and donate today!

We are thankful for all of you who support us in our mission to preserve and protect our amazing waterways. Happy Thanksgiving!

A great time of year to do some pre-holiday stretching when spending time outdoors. Our environment will thank you!

Save the date and please help support Peconic Baykeeper on #GivingTuesday. Your support will help Peconic Baykeeper continue our mission to protect the waterways we love! Link in bio to donate.

Our Peconic Baykeeper patrol boat allows us to be the eyes and ears on our local waterways. From educational outreach, to pollution patrols, water sampling, and responding to citizen complaints, 2020 has been a busy year! Thanks to @eclectic__wanderer for capturing this shot as we prepare to haul her out for a well deserved winter rest.

PSA for all of you beach walkers! Quick drops in water temperatures can spell disaster for sea turtles that have yet to migrate from our bays. If reported in time, some can be saved. Please do not attempt to move these animals yourself but do report any encounter to the marine stranding hotline at 631-369-9829

Blue Water Task Force sampling stations throughout the East End tested mostly clean this week and we we’re happy to see so many of you out enjoying some amazing fall weather on the water! . Visit bwtf.surfrider.org to see the latest results for your favorite East End sites

What an amazing morning to be out water sampling for the Blue Water Task Force! We hope all of you have been able to take advantage of the past few days to enjoy what we work so hard to protect and stay tuned for this week’s results. @surfridereasternlongisland @preservemontauk

And that’s a wrap! What a great first season at our Community Oyster Restoration Program in Southampton. A special thanks to our program sponsors at Advanced Wastewater Solutions, the Southampton Town Trustees for project permission, and to the many volunteers who joined in the fun! We were able to distribute over 20,000 beautiful oysters into our local creeks this year and have overwintered many more for next year with the goal of reaching 100,000. Sleep well little oysters! @advancedwastewatersolutions @southamptontowntrustees

Whether national or local, every election can have profound impacts on the future of our environment. Please make an effort for your voice to be heard!

Today marks the start of Bay Scallop season in New York State waters. Despite a robust set of juveniles spawned before last year’s major die-off, the majority of these scallops did not survive the summer and all signs point to another bleak year for commercial and recreational harvesters. Culprits include unusually high water temperatures, parasitic infection, rust tides, and even the increased presence of cow-nosed rays in our estuaries. The silver lining is that as with last year, this year’s adults spawned another bumper crop of young before the die-off occurred. These iconic shellfish are the canaries in the coal minefor our our bays and a reminder that we all must do our part to protect water quality! @fishguyphotos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLTbbXXgIrg Check out this video featuring Peconic Baykeeper and our partners bringing our marine environment into the classroom for the "Day in the Life of the Peconics" programming this year. The "Day in the Life of..." programs connect thousands of students with aquatic habitats around Long Island by bringing them into the field to work with experts to collect data they bring back to the classroom to analyze. Although we had a lot of fun as a production team, we can't wait to welcome the students back next year!

Suffolk County Action Alert! Please support the future of clean water for Suffolk County by voting NO to Proposition NO. 2. on your ballot! This proposition would allow for the raiding of excess funds from the Drinking Water Protection Program to go into a general fund while also forgiving the county from paying back 29.4 million dollars already raided from this fund! @lipinebarrens

On location at Squires Pond on this foggy Friday bringing A Day In The Life of The Peconic Estuary into the classroom! Hope we can bring the kids back next year!

Fall is a great time to enjoy our waters and the Blue Water Task Force is still testing your favorite spots! Check out this past week’s results!

Lone paddler on Shinnecock Bay

Great time on the water yesterday using our patrol boat as a research vessel for the day to assist @somas.sbu with a project to advance oyster aquaculture on Long Island. When the wind picked up, we headed to our state of the art dockside lab to assess samples.

Peconic Baykeeper is a strong supporter of sustainable shellfish oyster aquaculture in the Peconic and South Shore Estuaries. In addition to helping clean our water, providing habitat for juvenile finfish, and keeping our seafood local, our oyster farmers are some of the strongest advocates for clean water that you will find anywhere! PBK is proud to support this industry through our own Pilot Commercial Oyster Aquaculture Program in Great Peconic Bay. The Suffolk County Aquaculture Lease Program (SCALP) is currently completing its 10 year review. Check out this video put together by some of our friends at the Long Island Oyster Growers Association (LIOGA) sharing their side of the story to keep this industry alive and thriving.

Where do your Congressional candidates stand on the issue of Climate Change? Register and tune in at 7pm tonight!: bit.ly/LIClimateTownHall

Despite cooling temperatures, steady rains and runoff likely caused bacteria levels to spike in many of our testing sites earlier this week. Head to the link in bio for the latest readings on your favorite East End waterways.

Close to 10,000 beautiful oysters were planted in various waterways in the Peconic Estuary last week thanks to the help from our friends at Advanced Wastewater Solutions! In addition to sponsoring the gear needed to grow oysters for this program, they decided another great way to help would be to get out on the water with us. We will be seeding more oysters in the coming weeks while our smaller ones will be overwintered so they can grow out another season.

Few trees on the East End can compete with the natural beauty of our salt marshes in Autumn! Yet another reason to preserve and protect these amazing ecosystems essential to the health of our estuaries.

The Day in the Life of... programming has been an amazing way for PBK to connect students with the environment and this morning’s Day in the Life of Fire Island was no exception! What a great way to finish the week studying and exploring the South Shore Estuary!

Water Quality Results This weeks results are ready! Visit @surfridereasternlongisland to see the report on over 60 East End beaches and sites where the public recreates.

Education is a core part of PBK’s mission so when we were asked to give a virtual presentation about our amazing estuary ecosystem to a group of inquisitive 5th graders, we headed out in the field to bring the Peconic Estuary right into their classroom! Are you an educator in need of a virtual outing? Please reach out to see how PBK can be asset to you!

This photo sums up why Fall is one our favorite times to enjoy our amazing waterways! Happy to see so many of you out doing the same!

Early mornings at Esquire Pond... @eclectic__wanderer

Our New Community Oyster Garden Program has been a great way to gather responsibly this summer to promote stewardship of our waters! Many thanks to our friends at @advancedwastewatersolutions for providing the support to get this exciting project underway and please contact us if you would like to get involved!

What makes a Happy Oyster? Oyster farmer Bart Birk of Happy Oyster Company will tell you that it’s a combination between hard work and clean water! PBK is happy to be supporting sustainable aquaculture in the Peconic Estuary through our Oyster Aquaculture Program in Great Peconic Bay.

Water Quality Alert! Despite the recent temperature drop, this is still a great time of year to enjoy our waterways and the Blue Water Task Force has you covered! To see how your favorite spots measured up this week, head to the link in bio.

Friendly reminder to wear your mask and practice social distancing!

We are excited to announce that we are currently participating as a research partner in a study led by @stonybrooku to compare oyster growth rates in the Peconic Estuary and Great South Bay. Here: PhD candidate Chris Briank prepares oysters for deployment on PBK's oyster grant in Great Peconic Bay.

Water Quality Report! Most of our sampling sites tested clean this week. However, yesterday’s heavy rains are likely to have negatively impacted bacteria levels in our local creeks and ponds most heavily affected by runoff. The Blue Water Task Force recommends avoiding these areas for 48 hours. @eclectic__wanderer

Wildlife alert! Found this hatchling snapping turtle crossing a busy road this morning and moved it to safety. September marks the beginning of the hatching season for our local turtle species (some will overwinter in their nests and emerge in the spring). Please Keep an eye out and do your part to protect our wildlife!

Little Peconic looking ready for adventure on this Tumbleweed Tuesday

The Bald Eagle is one of the many creatures in danger within our own community. Learn more about them by heading to https://www.fws.gov/northeast/nyfo/es/NYSpecies.htm.

Early morning reflections on Red Creek Pond @eclectic__wanderer

Water Quality Results Bacteria levels at many sites decreased significantly this week, with no heavy rain reported 72 hours before testing day. With the possibility of storms this coming weekend, we may see bacteria levels rise. The Blue Water Task Force recommends not entering waters with high bacteria levels for up to 48 hours after heavy rains and rinse with fresh water immediately after swimming. #knowbeforeyougo #bluewatertaskforce #surfrider

Every day is #NationalDogDay! Alfie by the Bay. @dilo8800

Have you taken a look at PBK's Green Marinas Series? We cover everything from green cleaning products to beach cleanups! Head to the link in bio for more!

Did you know that a single dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes per day? Even organic pesticides can be lethal to beneficial insects and aquatic life in our waterways. When left alone, nature has a way of restoring balance.

Water quality in our bays, ponds, and creeks is often influenced by both heavy rainfall carrying runoff and strong winds that can push pollutants and debris into exposed areas. Stay tuned for Blue Water Task Force water quality results from today’s sampling and please use caution if you plan on going in the water today!

WATER QUALITY ALERT Visit surfrider.com sign up for the water quality alert emails and for this week’s full report! The Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider Foundation’s citizen science water testing program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Our Blue Water Task Force is made possible by our partners @surfridereasternlongisland @preservemontauk

Protecting our water is a community effort. PBK works with local groups to educate the public about our local ecosystems. A large part of this is educating the next generation of clean water advocates as part of our "Day in the Life" program. Learn more at https: //peconicbaykeeper.org/programs/educational- programs/. #InternationalYouthDay

Thanks to The Independent Newspaper for their coverage of the Blue Water Task Force water quality monitoring program! We are proud of this partnership that performs routine water quality monitoring to keep YOU informed and safe! https://indyeastend.com//surfrider-ccom-and-peconic-bayke/

Water Quality Results Sign up for the weekly water quality alert email to get the full report weekly. #bluewatertaskforce @preservemontauk @surfridereasternlongisland @somas.sbu

Happy Forage Fish Friday and great news for marine wildlife! Just this week, the ASMFC adopted one of the country’s first ecosystem-based management plans for Atlantic Menhaden. This victory was a long time coming and PBK is honored to have been part of this effort!

The menhaden are coming, the menhaden are coming! Atlantic Menhaden are a key component of our marine ecosystem and are often referred to as "the most important fish in the sea". Locally, these filter feeding fish support osprey, predatory fish, whales, and more! PBK is a proud member of the Herring Alliance, supporting conservation measures to protect these valuable forage fish.

Is your boat secure? In addition to loss of property, submerged boats can release gas, oil, and other contaminants into our waterways. With tropical storm Isaias approaching, now is the time to make sure your boat is storm ready!

Beauty in the marsh while out water sampling this morning! Marsh-pinks can be found in bloom around our coastal brackish and saltwater marshes from July-September. One more reason to love our coastal wetlands! @ Red Creek

Water Quality Results The Eastern Long Island Blue Water Task Force, in partnership with @surfridereasternlongisland and @preservemontauk tests over 60 public beach / bathing sites each week? Swipe through to see how your favorite beach measured up this week, or visit @surfridereasternlongisland to sign up for weekly water quality alert emails and to view up to date, detailed data on all sites.

Awesome time and some great finds today participating in a virtual seining program! A video of the event will be shared soon! @ Hampton Bays, New York

What do fishermen, whale and bird experts, scientists and ocean advocates have in common? A love of menhaden (aka bunker)! Next week @ASMFC will decide on adopting a modern approach to fisheries management that values the role #menhaden play in our oceans. This "Ecological Reference Point (ERP)" approach goes beyond traditional stock assessments to include the food chain supported by these vital forage fish. Watch the video today with some amazing local footage courtesy of @southforksalt! https://youtu.be/MluPrFNsn3A

Dolphin rescue in Great Peconic! We love seeing wildlife on the bays but not the plastic kind. When visiting the beach with kids, remember that our tides are great at picking up trash and treasures left too close to the water’s edge. @ Hampton Bays, New York