MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water

In This Issue:

• 2021 Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan
• Funding Available for Water Infrastructure Upgrades
• Acquisition of 161 Acres in Owasco Lake Watershed to Protect Water Quality
• Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Notifications

2021 Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan

The NYS Department of State (DOS) and the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Council released the draft 2021 Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) update. Public comments will be accepted through December 6.

The South Shore Estuary Reserve extends across the southern portions of Nassau and Suffolk counties and includes the City of Long Beach, portions of the towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven and Southampton, and 28 villages. The Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve CMP guides efforts to protect and restore the estuary and its natural, recreational, economic, and educational resources.

Email comments with “SSER CMP Update” in the subject line to sser@dos.ny.gov or mail comments to: Jeremy Campbell, Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Office, c/o New York State Department of State, Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231.

Funding Available for Water Infrastructure Upgrades

$400 million is available for critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) and the Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant Program (IMG). 

Information and application documents are available on the Environmental Facilities Corporation's website, If you have questions, e-mail NYSWaterGrants@efc.ny.gov or call 518-402-6924.

Acquisition of 161 Acres in Owasco Lake Watershed to Protect Water Quality

DEC and The Nature Conservancy have announced the acquisition of 161 acres in the town of Sempronius in the Owasco Lake watershed. The acquisition of the Ward property will help protect public water supplies and safeguard riparian buffers and wetlands. This critical acquisition is the second of several parcels the Conservancy is purchasing with funding from a $1.1 million Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant from DEC that specifically targets the protection of source waters.

Using the grant funds, the Conservancy has been identifying and protecting areas in the Owasco Lake watershed that have the most impact on the lake's water quality. The Ward property ranked in the top 10 in this assessment. The land will not be developed, allowing its natural features to help protect public water supplies by reducing sediment and nutrient loading, helping to reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Notifications

Visit NYHABS, DEC’s harmful algal bloom notification map, to view locations of freshwater HABs in New York State that were reported in the past two weeks. Click on a dot for more information, including the date it was reported, the waterbody name, and pictures. Click on the arrow at the bottom of the screen to view a list of reported HABs.

Know it. Avoid it. Report it.

If you see a HAB, please use the reporting form to submit a report to NYHABS. Because waterbodies may have HABs that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scums and discolored water.

If you, your family, or pet have been in contact with a HAB, please rinse with clean water and report any symptoms to your local health department. 

Consider visiting a healthcare provider if you, your family, or your animals are experiencing symptoms related to blue-green harmful algal blooms. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting; skin, eye, or throat irritation; and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.