APC Forums 2020 and Updates

The Peace of Wild Things, Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Accabonac Harbor could very well be the place Wendell Berry visited, a place to find peace and leave the world behind for a bit, to dwell in nature. Wendell Berry described it well, the beautiful water, the stars and the wildlife.

We look forward to seeing you as we learn more about this fragile place and explore the beauty of Accabonac Harbor.

Thank you for your generous donations that make this possible. Please visit our website to donate, join or update your membership for 2020.

https://accabonac.org/contact-and-donate

Best Regards,
Patrice Dalton, APC President

Forums And Annual Meeting
The forums are organized around the themes of protecting and improving the quality of the water, protecting native plants from over clearing, understanding the environmental impact of pesticides and lawn chemicals and understanding the impact exterior home lighting has the night skies, birds and mammals.

Forums are held in Ashawagh Hall, the September event at the Hampton Observatory

June 4: Land, Air and Sky
Deborah Aller, PhD, Soil Scientist, CCE: “Soil-It Ain’t Just Dirt”
Bruce Horwith, PhD: “Birds of the Accabonac Area”
William Taylor: NASA Ambassador, Hampton Observatory: “Looking Up: Wonders of the Summer Night Sky”

July 22: Accabonac Update:
Kim Shaw, Mellissa Winslow, Samantha Klein: Dept of Natural Resources “What’s Going On in Accabonac
Tamson Yeh, Pest Management/Turf Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension: “Beneficial Insects: What are they and why we need to protect them”

September 16: “The Future is Now”
Christopher Gobler, PhD., Director of NY State Center for Clean Water Technology. “Nitrogen Mitigation: What’s New”
Alison Branco, Coastal Director TNC : “Sea Level Rise and Coastal Resiliency in Accabonac”

September 13: Annual Meeting and Party

September 22: Special Event Co-sponsored with the Hampton Observatory
Autumn Equinox Lecture and Night Sky Viewing.William Taylor, NASA Ambassador, Hampton Observatory

Accabonac Nature Paddle
Saturday May 23, 2020, 9 am – 11 am
Kick off your summer on a nature paddle around one of the most beautiful waterways on Long Island with APC and wildlife biologist Mike Bottini. We’ll survey the harbor’s Osprey and Bald Eagle nests, and keep an eye out for nesting Horseshoe Crabs. BYO boat or rent a paddle craft: single kayaks ($40); paddleboards ($50); tandem kayaks & canoes ($60). Lifejackets included. Meet at the Louse Point boat ramp.

Accabonac Harbor Mosquito Larval Control
The collaboration with Suffolk County Vector Control and has resulted in a significant decrease in the amount of chemicals used to control mosquitos in Accabonac Harbor. The data below is from Tom Iwancjko, Division of Vector Control.

We will have more information about the upcoming 2020 field season sampling program and potential for wetland enhancements that could further reduce or eliminate the need for mosquito treatments of the wetlands in next month’s APC newsletter.

Suffolk County Subwatersheds Wastewater Plan
We are hopeful that the Sub-watersheds Wastewater Plan will address the issues homeowners in our area may encounter when installing low nitrogen septic systems. We realize that the low nitrogen systems are most effective when the recommended maintenance is followed.  Sewer districts may offer a solution to the installation, required maintenance and perhaps, the income tax responsibility. More to come on this in April as a feasible plan is defined. 

Accabonac Harbor Shellfish Update
You may wish to consider getting involved int the Accabonac Harbor Oyster Garden on Gerard Drive:There should be close to 20 growers this year raising 1000 oysters each, each of which will filter up to 50 gallons of water per day this year. If you are interested, get in touch with “Barley” John Dunne, Director, East Hampton Hatchery. This is something we can do to be good stewards of the harbor. http://ehamptonny.gov/149/Aquaculture

The Peconic Estuary Program (PEP) Update on Peconic Bay Scallop Die Off
The PEP recently released an update on the die off of Peconic Bay Scallops in 2019. The Coccidian parasite was found in scallops collected at Hay Beach on Shelter Island. This additional potential factor can be added to the others discussed by a distinguished panel at Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. The panel identified warm water temperatures last summer, low dissolved oxygen, the physiological stress of spawning and ocean acidification as stressors that may have contributed to the die-off. The cownose ray, a species common to southern waters, was observed last year in local waters and was also cited as a potential contributor. APC Board Members Christine Ganitsch and Patrice Dalton attended the symposium.

The die off was significant in many areas of the Peconic however, scallops in the inner bays of Three Mile Harbor, Nappeague and Cold Spring Pond in Southampton fared better. Inquiring minds want to know so we asked “Barley” John Dunne, who offered the following thoughts: Timing of spawning may have been different, maybe inner bay conditions were less stressful, the inner bays are generally shallower than Peconic, therefore dissolved oxygen less of an issue, cow nose ray did not venture into inner bays, conditions weren’t right for Coccidian parasite to flourish in inner bays as they may have in Peconic.

Major Preserves Around Accabonac Harbor

Here is a list of preserves that you might like to explore.  Ticks remain active at temperatures above 40 degrees; follow recommendations about personal protection. 

(B1) Barbara Barnes Hale – 950 Springs Fireplace Rd
Named in honor of a Springs naturalist, preservationist, and educator. A mix of meadow and marine shrubs, with an extensive expanse of high tide bush. Currently, there is no trail though access is permitted. 

(C1) Caroline Gerard Park – 266 & 271 Gerard Drive
The bay side once held a fish processing factory. It is now used as a recreational beach with parking. Across the street, there is a former ice pond and vehicle access to the harbor. 

(D1) Dodge – 1064 Springs Fireplace Road
The best kept secret for a private picnic by the water. There is a trail from the two-car parking area to a bit of high ground just before the shoreline. A picnic table and a wonderful view awaits you. Nearer the street, an upland wooded area has replaced the former mowed field which wraps around a marshy cove. Special! 

(F1) Filippelli – 976 & 980 Springs Fireplace Road
Park in the highway right of way and take the trail that runs out to the edge of the marsh and an unexpected 180 degree vista of Accabonac Harbor. Along the trail you will pass a small native meadow. The rare and beautiful Slender Ladies’ Tresses orchid has been found here. The Filippelli management plan found on the town website contains extensive information about the environment of Accabonac Harbor, especially the marsh areas. 

(G1) Gerard Park – Southern End of Gerard Drive
Great fishing from the shore and the harbor side is a popular location to launch kayaks. People love to park here and start their bay side beach walks. Long views to the south show off the cliffs behind Louse Point. 

(L1) Louse Point Park Nature Preserve – Northern End of Louse Point Road
Deservedly the most popular destination on Accabonac Harbor for its unmatched beauty and 360 degrees of scenic views. 

(P1) Pussy’s Pond Park Nature Preserve (best access from School Street or Parsons Place)
In the Heart of Springs in the historic district, this preserve in recent years has finally received the attention it merits. The wooden bridge over the pond was rebuilt from locally harvested black locust. Extensive habitat restoration and erosion control projects are being finished. With the addition of on-going water quality improvement projects, Pussy’s Pond has been returned to good health. This preserve is always popular with both families and for a solo tranquil visit. Benches are available on the School Street side. There is a trail from Parsons Place to Sand Lot Road which connects with the wooden bridge and School Street. 

(TNC 1) The Nature Conservancy / Merrill Lake / Maloney – 884 & 888 Springs Fireplace Rd. 

That’s all for now. There are more exciting projects in the pipeline, stay tuned!

Photographs Copyright Patrice Dalton, 2019