Leveraging the resources of Peconic Estuary Protection Committee members to protect and restore the Peconic Estuary.
Reducing Nitrogen ImpairmenT in the Peconic ESTuarY
Improving Water Quality
Nutrients are critical for sustaining the marine ecosystem, but can be harmful to an estuary at excessive levels. Nitrogen is the primary nutrient of concern in the marine waters of the Peconic Estuary System. When nutrients are added to the estuary at excessive rates from sources including fertilizer use, on-site disposal systems (“septic systems”), atmospheric deposition, sewage treatment plants and runoff, the excess nutrients stimulate aquatic plant growth, including production of algae (both microscopic and larger plants). Excess algae can lead to decreased dissolved oxygen in estuary waters, leading to harmful conditions for fish and other marine life. The increased production of algae caused by nutrient enrichment results not only in low dissolved oxygen conditions, but also discolors the water, decreases water clarity and diminishes the amount of light received by beneficial rooted aquatic plants, such as eelgrass. The Peconic Estuary Partnership is working both to improve water quality where it is impaired and prevent problems from occurring in other areas.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Citizens: Eliminate or significantly reduce lawn areas, the use of nitrogen based fertilizers, and irrigation of turf. Use native plants in landscaping and ground covers. Maintain and upgrade your septic system. Comply with vessel waste No Discharge Zone requirements while boating in the Peconics. Decrease your consumption of fossil fuels. They lead to atmospheric deposition of nitrogen in local waterways.
Source:PEP
Members of the Protection Committee
Committee Members
Committee Members
Committee Members
County of Suffolk
Town of Brookhaven
Town of Riverhead
Town of Southampton
Town of Southold
Town of Shelter Island
Village of Greenport
Village of North Haven
Village of Sag Harbor
NYS Department of Transportation
Our History
Committee Members
Committee Members
In 2015, the Peconic Estuary Partnership initiated the creation of the Peconic Estuary Protection Committee, an intermunicipal affiliation comprised of Suffolk County, the New York State Department of Transportation, five of the Towns within the Peconic Estuary watershed and the Villages of Greenport, North Haven, and Sag Harbor. The PEP
In 2015, the Peconic Estuary Partnership initiated the creation of the Peconic Estuary Protection Committee, an intermunicipal affiliation comprised of Suffolk County, the New York State Department of Transportation, five of the Towns within the Peconic Estuary watershed and the Villages of Greenport, North Haven, and Sag Harbor. The PEPC is envisioned to act as part of the PEP’s Local Governments Committee in the PEP Management Conference. The Committee focuses efforts on compliance with EPA’s Clean Water Act and New York State’s stormwater regulations for municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) to achieve the Goals of the Peconic Estuary Program’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and is dedicated to achieving improvements in water quality and habitats of the Peconic Estuary by leveraging the resources of municipalities and agencies within the watershed. Due to the strong connection between the PEPC and the PEP, some of the information and links on the PEPC website direct the user to webpages on the PEP website for further information.
We recognize the Peconic Estuary as an Estuary of National Significance and a vital coastal ecosystem essential to the envrironmental and economic well-being of the people in the surrounding communities. We are deeply concerned with the existing degradation of the Estuary due to a variety of pollutant sources including stormwater runoff, septic system discharges, agricultural and residential fertilizers, groundwater flows, illegal dumping, floatable debris and boat waste.
Our Vision
Committee Members
Our Vision
The Committee aims to protect, restore and enhance the Peconic Estuary to ensure a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem while balancing and maintaining recreation and commercial uses. As a unified group of stakeholders, the Committee believes that the future health and productivity of the Estuary requires a coordinated effort.
The Commi
The Committee aims to protect, restore and enhance the Peconic Estuary to ensure a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem while balancing and maintaining recreation and commercial uses. As a unified group of stakeholders, the Committee believes that the future health and productivity of the Estuary requires a coordinated effort.
The Committee members also recognize that intermunicipal cooperation is an effective and resource-efficient means to comply with EPA's Clean Water Act and New York State's Phase II Stormwater regulations for small municipal stormwater sewer systems (MS4s). The Committee workplan outlines collaborative efforts toward improved water quality including sharing information and technical resources, coordinating regulatory and enforcement activities, jointly conducting outreach and education initiatives, and cooperating on planning and infrastrucure programs.