May Update

We at the Accabonac Protection Committee hope you are safe in this difficult time. We have decided to cancel the events planned for May, June and July. This includes the Kayak event on May 23rd and the Forums planned for June 4th and July 22nd. We will defer decisions on the events of August and September until the health guidances for August and beyond are known.  We will really miss seeing you.

Although our schedule of events is interrupted, our mission to protect the health and beauty of Accabonac Harbor continues. On the water quality front, we still collect water samples at 3 sites in Accabonac Harbor. CCOM analyses the samples for the presence of enterococcus, a bacteria in the guts of warm-blooded animals. We will report the results of the analyses to APC membership on a regular basis.

The 2019 Accabonac Harbor Mosquito Larval Sampling program was an unqualified success. This program allowed Suffolk County Vector Control to identify specific larval “hotspots” to treat. In previous years Accabonac Harbor was broadly treated. In 2016, Vector Control treated 2500 acres. In 2019, less than one acre. In addition to sparing the Harbor the application of unnecessary toxic chemicals, the county avoided the cost of the chemical and helicopters. This program had participation from the Trustees, the Town and County as well as Accabonac Protection Committee and the Nature Conservancy. It is our hope the program will resume in 2020 and we will work to get the 2020 schedule clarified as soon as possible. Last year’s program began in June..

We will continue to monitor issues that impact Accabonac Harbor and communicate them to you. For example, the Energy Sustainability Committee is working on a resolution regarding gas powered leaf blowers. Will keep you apprised as the final draft resolution is available and the resolution makes it way to the Town Board.

In closing, may you find peace and beauty in Accabonac Harbor in these difficult times. If you go out for fresh air and exercise, you may observe nesting birds, early wild roses and beach plums in bloom. Look for the oyster catchers, so colorful in flight and protective of their chicks.  Last year, a pair of eagles nested at Merrill Lake. I spent many hours observing them and their interactions with the neighboring osprey. There were fierce aerial battles between the adults. The eagles seemed to spend a fair amount of time away from the nest. I did not observe the osprey attack the eaglets, who were often without an adult at the nest. This year the nest is occupied by osprey. The eagles may have found a safer place to nest. Such is the way of nature.

The above photo is from June of 2019 near Louse Point.

We are very grateful for your membership. If you haven’t already done so, you can update your membership on our website.
https://accabonac.org/contact-and-donate

Best wishes,
Patrice Dalton
President