RJ
07-19-2007, 11:08 AM
AREAS IN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES
Shellfish Closures Follow Heavy Rainfall
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has designated shellfish harvesting areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties as temporarily closed to shellfishing. These temporary emergency closures are in response to the extraordinary volume of stormwater runoff caused by locally heavy rainfall associated with the thunderstorms that passed over Long Island during the morning and afternoon of Wednesday* July 18* 2007.
The following areas have been designated as uncertified on Thursday* July 19* and the harvest of shellfish is temporarily prohibited through July 26:
Town of Oyster Bay (north shore): All of Oyster Bay Harbor and the southern portion of Cold Spring Harbor.
Town of Huntington: All of Northport Bay* Duck Island Harbor* Centerport Harbor* Lloyd Harbor; the southern portion of Huntington Bay and the southern portion of Cold Spring Harbor.
Town of Southampton: All of Shinnecock Bay* including tributaries; and* Cold Spring Pond; North Sea Harbor; Noyac Creek; and* the tributaries of Great Peconic Bay lying between Red Cedar Point and the Shinnecock Canal* including Red Cedar Pond and Squire Pond.
This precautionary action was taken to protect public health following the unusually heavy rainfall event that affected Long Island throughout Wednesday. Rainfall exceeded three inches in the affected areas. The extraordinary volume of stormwater runoff may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food.
DEC will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of bacteriological analyses of water samples that will be collected during the week. A taped message advising harvesters of the status of these shellfish areas may be heard at (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closures.
Shellfish Closures Follow Heavy Rainfall
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has designated shellfish harvesting areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties as temporarily closed to shellfishing. These temporary emergency closures are in response to the extraordinary volume of stormwater runoff caused by locally heavy rainfall associated with the thunderstorms that passed over Long Island during the morning and afternoon of Wednesday* July 18* 2007.
The following areas have been designated as uncertified on Thursday* July 19* and the harvest of shellfish is temporarily prohibited through July 26:
Town of Oyster Bay (north shore): All of Oyster Bay Harbor and the southern portion of Cold Spring Harbor.
Town of Huntington: All of Northport Bay* Duck Island Harbor* Centerport Harbor* Lloyd Harbor; the southern portion of Huntington Bay and the southern portion of Cold Spring Harbor.
Town of Southampton: All of Shinnecock Bay* including tributaries; and* Cold Spring Pond; North Sea Harbor; Noyac Creek; and* the tributaries of Great Peconic Bay lying between Red Cedar Point and the Shinnecock Canal* including Red Cedar Pond and Squire Pond.
This precautionary action was taken to protect public health following the unusually heavy rainfall event that affected Long Island throughout Wednesday. Rainfall exceeded three inches in the affected areas. The extraordinary volume of stormwater runoff may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food.
DEC will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of bacteriological analyses of water samples that will be collected during the week. A taped message advising harvesters of the status of these shellfish areas may be heard at (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closures.