LI South Shore Estuary Reserve Act Celebrates 30th Anniversary

GREAT SOUTH BAY, NY — A Long Island non-profit is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Act.

Passed by the New York State Legislature in 1993, the act prioritized all the south shore rivers, harbors, and embayments with the focus on improving water quality and restoring habitat.

According to the state website, the primary goals of the legislation were the protection and management of the maritime region as a whole. The act also established a council made up of local and state government, environmental groups and user groups that oversee implementation of the restoration.

In its 30 years of existence, the South Shore Estuary Reserve Program, is responsible for multiple Water Quality programs like the Subwatershed Wastewater Plan, as well as Watershed Management Plans, and Habitat Improvements.

It also is responsible for public recreation programs and experiences, such as Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, Suffolk County Blueway Trail, and South Shore Blueway Trail.

Save the Great South Bay, an organization dedicated to the revitalization of Long Island's Great South Bay utilizes the South Shore Estuary Reserve Program.

The nonprofit said the reserve is a rich and complex ecosystem extending from Hempstead Bay to Shinnecock encompassing the Great South Bay and reaching far into the mainland.

"Its beaches, shallow bays, tidal marshes, tributaries, and upland areas make the estuary one of the most ecologically productive regions in the United States, while supporting Long Island's tourism, recreation, and seafood industries," said Robyn Silvestri of Save the Great South Bay.

To learn more about the program, click here.

To learn more about Save the Great South Bay, click here.