Goals
Goal 3: Clean waters
Actions
Projects
Progress of Actions
Progress of Projects
Objective D: Protect areas with clean water from degradation
Completion of the Peconic Estuary Water Quality Monitoring Strategy within 3 years
Annual review of water quality data and water quality monitoring programs
Identification of areas with clean waters and their current levels of protection; communication of findings to local stakeholders and decision makers
A Quality Assurance Plan for citizen science partner programs carrying out water quality monitoring
Development of model legislation collaboratively with Suffolk County, NYSDEC and East End Towns to use for planning purposes to protect areas with clean water
Objective E: Increase understanding of nutrient pollution in groundwater and surface waters, and decrease negative impacts from legacy, current, and future nutrient inputs
Completion of the Peconic Estuary Water Quality Monitoring Strategy within 3 years
Completion of the Peconic Estuary Solute Transport Model
Nitrogen Atmospheric Deposition Monitoring Program (NADP)
Completion of BMP cost per pound of nitrogen removal from nature-based point and non-point source removal techniques
Collaborate with the NYSDEC to compile and update a database of completed nitrogen management projects within the Peconic Estuary watershed
Utilize Action 17 Short-term Performance Measures to further refine draft code and model local laws
Development of strategies with municipalities and water districts to manage water use, conserve water, and maintain existing and protect future buffers to prevent saltwater intrusion into the groundwater
A review of existing non-point source recommendations in the TMDL report and establishment of a reduction target
Implementation of monitoring programs recommended in the Peconic Estuary Water Quality Monitoring Strategy
Work with NYSDEC to centralize Water Quality Data Reporting
Phased implementation of the Suffolk County Subwatersheds Wastewater Plan
Use of existing legal framework and County and Town grant and loan opportunities to assist homeowners in upgrading to Innovative and Alternative On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (I/A OWTS)
Support for the planning and implementation of wastewater re-use initiatives
Assistance to farmers in completing nutrient management plans
Pilot projects to evaluate innovative technologies and practices (e.g., permeable reactive barriers, bioextraction, living shorelines, hydromodification) and determine their usefulness
Additional lands protected using the Peconic Estuary Critical Lands Protection Strategy as a guide
Identification of funding sources to carry out recommendations in the Suffolk County Harmful Algal Bloom Action Plan
Implementation of the Suffolk County Harmful Algal Bloom Action Plan
Communication of accurate and sound science as part of PEP annual water quality reporting to local decision makers
Development of a HABs reporting system that streamlines the efforts of partner organizations
Objective F: Reduce current and future inputs of toxics, pathogens, and marine debris into groundwater and surface waters, and minimize their impacts
Research into the types, sources, and impacts of toxic contaminants
Establishment of hydrodynamic modeling of the Peconic Estuary
Support Suffolk County to implement Integrated Pest Management Plans
Promotion of Stop Throwing Out Pollutants (S.T.O.P.) days
Utilize Action 20 Short-term Performance Measures to develop sustainable landscaping BMPs and further refine draft code and model local laws for all six East End Towns for chemical disposal and to curb pesticide and herbicide use on residential properties
Development of a marina management plan for the Peconic Estuary
Reduction in pesticide usage in marsh habitat and implementation of alternative pest control methods
Development of pathogen TMDLs for applicable Peconic Estuary waterbodies
Development of strategies and outreach materials to help achieve stormwater reduction goals
Development of a Quality Assurance Management Plan (QAMP) to enable sampling, analysis, and reporting of ground and surface water by municipalities
Compilation of a database of completed stormwater management projects and future green infrastructure needs
Review of current PEP Non-Point Source Subwatershed Management Plans and initiation of select viable projects
Development of additional Non-Point Subwatershed Management Plans for all pathogen impaired waterbodies
Funds identified for a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-certified lab in Suffolk County
Collect additional data on microplastics by USGS in the Peconic Estuary and dissemination of existing information