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LONG ISLAND SOUTH SHORE ESTUARY RESERVE

Image of the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve.

The Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve

Photo Courtesy of William Fahey

The Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve is where saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean and fresh water from upland streams and groundwater mix to create a unique place for Long Island. The Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve includes 173 square miles of south shore bays and wetlands, the streams and tributaries that empty into these bays, and its 326 square mile watershed. The reserve extends for over 70 miles along the Atlantic shoreline of Long Island, from Reynolds Channel in Nassau County to the eastern shores of Shinnecock Bay in Suffolk County.

  1. Preservation, Protection and Planning
  2. SSER Links and Resources
  3. The South Shore Estuary Reserve Council Stewardship Award

Click here to visit CCE’s Aquatic Invasive Species Page to learn how various introduced organisms impact estuaries, such as the South Shore Estuary Reserve, and how to take action to stop these ecologically harmful invasions.

For decades, the Western Bays have been experiencing declining water quality, excessive seaweed growth, and increased shellfish closures. Since 1998, the Bays have been listed on the New York State DEC list of impaired water bodies for pathogens. Recently, they were included on the DEC list as an impaired water body for nutrients, i.e., excessive nitrogen content. CCE and SPLASH have been working together to improve the quality of these waters. CCE & SPLASH have launched a 4 point plan to bring back the bays. CCE & SPLASH have prepared a position paper that cites the major problems impacting the Western Bays and proposes solutions for solving them and restoring the Bays to health.

Click here to read the Save the Western Bays position paper

Click here to read the press release

Click here for the Save the Western Bays supporters

Watch video, "Environmentalists hold presser about sewage in the bay":

Image of the Western Bays video.

CCE Tours the Western Bays
August 29, 2007

Image of the egrets that live in the Western Bays.

On August 29, 2007, CCE along with SPLASH, Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, the South Shore Estuary Reserve Office, and Captain Don Harris, went out to explore the Western Bays and to do some water quality sampling. Click on the picture to the left to view a gallery of some great pictures of the Western Bays.

Image of CCE staff with Senator Caesar Trunzo.

From left to right: Greg Walbrecht, Senator Caesar Trunzo, William Cooke, Adrienne Esposito, Maureen Dolan, and Brendan Mahoney.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment hosted a reception in honor of New York State Senator Caesar Trunzo (R-Islip) for his leadership in protecting and restoring the South Shore Estuary Reserve. The event was held Thursday, March 3rd, 2005, at 6pm at the Harbor Crab Company Restaurant, 116 Division Street, located on the historic Patchogue River, in the Village of Patchogue.

Click here to read CCE's press release announcing the event, 3/03/05