by Judith S. Weis, PhD, The common reed, Phragmites australis, is an invasive species in tidal marshes and is frequently removed (generally with toxic herbicides) and replaced with native Spartina alterniflora (cordgrass) during restoration projects. Most people around Accabonac and elsewhere in the US dislike Phragmites and would prefer to have it removed. The species actually is native to the US, with the native form comprising a […]
APC welcomes in Summer of 2018 and we have news for you! We hope everyone has been enjoying the lovely turn in weather and enjoying the beautiful vistas and opportunities for activity around our harbor. Our Steering Committee been working hard through the winter and spring and we are delighted to share the following with you. A Message from our incoming APC President Francesca Rheannon:Francesca has launched the […]
by Jorie Latham There has been a fair amount of land acquisition going on around the creek lately, thanks to the Town’s willingness to use CPF funds to preserve open space, water quality and historical and recreational value. In some cases, properties with houses have been purchased, in which case, the house is removed (unless it is of historic or recreational value and can be maintained in […]
by Sean O’Neill, Peconic Baykeeper On December 12, 2016, the Suffolk County Legislature once again voted to fund continued use of Methoprene by the Department of Public Works Vector Control to control mosquito populations. Methoprene, an insect growth regulator used in larvicide applications, is known to be toxic to fish and shellfish. APC and other environmental organizations have made impassioned arguments to ban or limit its use […]
by Jorie Latham APC joined forces with PRFCT Earth Project last April to create a PRFCT Earth Day in Springs which began at the Springs Fire House with presentations on alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, highlighting the human health and environmental benefits of the toxin-free approach. Talks also included a briefing on water quality concerns on Accabonac Harbor and other local water bodies and what homeowners […]
An Interview with Kimberly Shaw, Director of Natural Resourcesby Nicholas Bryan Five years ago, Amagansett native Kimberly Shaw was appointed—with a unanimous vote of the East Hampton Town Board—to succeed Larry Penny as Director of Natural Resources. Mr. Penny called her “ideally suited for the job.” In recognition of the anniversary, APC interviewed Kim about her remarkable career and the issues we face in protecting and improving […]
by Vay David and Kimberly Barbour, CCESC It’s no secret … excess nitrogen is having a serious negative impact on smaller bodies of water like our own Accabonac Harbor. With this in mind, APC has contributed funding to an important project, “Locating and Quantifying Groundwater-Derived Nitrogen Seeping into Selected Surface Waters of Accabonac Harbor,” being conducted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. APC was happily able […]
by Jorie Latham There was a real bright spot in November’s election: Proposition 1 passed exuberantly, extending the collection of Community Preservation Funds to 2050 and amending the law to allocate 20% of monies collected in any year to water quality programs. This provides a very exciting opportunity for participating East End Towns to be able to tackle the very serious issues threatening the quality of ground […]
by Michele Carlson, Carlson Design and Planning You may be wondering what’s going on at Pussy’s Pond Park—and why?? Earthwork and materials for erosion control have reshaped the landscape! Strange flags flap in the wind to keep hungry birds from eating recently added native seeds and plants! Fences have blocked it off!No one’s been inside (except some Spring School classes for planting, water testing and learning that […]
by Jorie Latham Never thought we’d be faced with such a dilemma: to be so overwhelmed with great articles, we couldn’t fit them all into one newsletter. But they are all so important, and so full of really solid, interesting information, that we couldn’t leave any out…so we have decided to produce a second edition in the coming months. In addition to our usual authors—mostly members of […]