Long Island water bodies faced 26 dead zones this summer

Long Island Morning Edition

Voters in two east end towns will decide on separate propositions that could pave the way for traffic calming measures at a busy East Hampton intersection and the removal of toxins from Lake Agawam in Southampton.

Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that the propositions will appear as the third proposal on the ballot in East Hampton and Southampton, after a statewide and a countywide referendum. Voters can cast ballots during early voting this week or on Nov. 5 — Election Day.

The Southampton Town proposition would allow Southampton Village to install a filtration system on a parcel of preserved land. In East Hampton Town, voters are being asked to approve a land swap that would allow Suffolk County to build a roundabout at the intersection of two county roads. At 7:06am we’ll address the East Hampton proposal

In Southampton Town, voters are being asked to authorize a land swap with Southampton Village as part of a yearslong effort to treat the polluted Lake Agawam. If approved, the village would be allowed to build an algae harvester on preserved property to treat and filter water in the lake. The system removes cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.

As part of the exchange, the village would acquire a 4.8-acre vacant parcel on the opposite side of the lake to be preserved for parkland.

The Lake Agawam Conservancy, which was formed in 2019 to help revive the lake, supports the proposition. The lake could be safe for recreation within three years, according to the conservancy.

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The Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association will discuss “What is the Impact of Large Building Construction on Our Community” at its next monthly meeting this evening at 6:30 p.m. in Veterans Park, Mattituck.

Tonight’s meeting will address the proposed construction of two buildings in the heart of Mattituck, a proposed 20,000-square-foot warehouse just west of the Handy Pantry on the Main Road and a 10,000-square-foot parish hall behind the Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church just east of the Mattituck-Laurel Library, also on the Main Road.

How does the Southold Town Comprehensive Plan relate to them?

There is no charge to attend this evening’s meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Veterans Park in Mattituck.

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The outcome of the 2024 election in seven New York congressional districts could determine which party controls the U.S. House for the next two years and will have long-lasting ramifications on taxes, immigration and health care. No state other than California has as many seats in play as New York, and spending for ads and turnout in New York races ranks among the most in the country: $86.4 million by outside groups and $48.6 million by candidates. How New Yorkers vote in those districts — three on Long Island, two in the Hudson Valley and two upstate — will be key in whether Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) becomes House speaker or remains minority leader. "Control of Congress runs through New York state, and particularly through Long Island. There's no question about that," said political analyst Lawrence Levy, executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies.

"Voters who had grown accustomed and maybe even become cynical about their votes not mattering because it was a blue state led by one party now are casting votes that can determine the very future of the country," Levy said.

Tom Brune reports in NEWSDAY that in the 1st Congressional District in Suffolk County…which includes the entire east end…freshman Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), 46, faces a tough challenge from Democrat John Avlon, 51, a former CNN commentator and author who has a home in Sag Harbor. The race is rated a likely victory for LaLota. But, at this point closer than previously projected. Avlon has been backed by $2.7 million from outside groups and LaLota $321,789 from outside groups.

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Election Day 2024 is 8 days away on Tuesday, November 5th. However, early voting in New York State is underway now through Sunday, Nov. 3.

Voters registered in Suffolk County can vote at any one of the 28 early voting sites in the county.

A full list of early voting sites, details about voting via absentee ballot, and voter registration information is available at www.suffolkvotes.com

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election was Oct. 26…this past Saturday.

Hours of early voting today are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m…tomorrow and Wednesday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m…. Thursday and Friday 12 Noon to 8 p.m. and this coming Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you vote on Election Day, Tuesday; Nov. 5 (when the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.), you can only vote at your designated polling place (you can find your regular polling place at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov)

Early voting polling places on the East End include St. Marks Episcopal Church at 40 Main Street in Westhampton Beach, Riverhead Town Hall at 4 West Second Street, The Gym at Stony Brook Southampton College at 70 Tuckahoe Road in Southampton, the Southold Town Recreation Center at 970 Peconic Lane in Peconic, the Shelter Island Youth Recreation Center at 1 Bateman Road on Shelter Island and Windmill Village at 219 Accabonac Road in East Hampton.

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Long Island public schools have seen transformative changes in the makeup of the student body in the past decade, including a decrease of thousands of white and Black students and the addition of thousands of Hispanics and Asians, according to a Newsday analysis.

These shifts reflect larger population shifts on Long Island, the state and nation, and have drastically altered the makeup of many local districts, impacting their priorities, spending choices, service needs and school culture, educators say.

Craig Schneider reports in NEWSDAY that the population shifts have enhanced the diversity in Nassau and Suffolk County schools and broadened students' familiarity with other cultures, but also brought challenges. Some districts have added numerous Hispanic and Asian students with limited skills in English. Plus, some districts have seen an increase in students whose families are struggling financially, educators say.

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Water bodies on Long Island faced a record-setting 36 dead zones during the summer of 2024, and more than double the number of blue-green algae blooms in lakes and ponds than any other region in New York State, according to this year’s annual Long Island Water Quality Impairments report prepared by the Gobler Laboratory at Stony Brook University.

Dr. Christopher Gobler, who chairs the university’s Coastal Ecology and Conservation department, presented the report last week at the Patchogue waterfront. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Dr. Gobler and other environmentalists used the occasion to make the case for the need to pass Proposition Two on this year’s ballot, which creates a new 1/8 percent sales tax for a Water Quality Restoration Fund, which would be used for upgrades to sewer systems and funding of innovative onsite septic systems that remove nitrogen before it makes its way to the bays. The sales tax, which would be 12 cents on a $100 purchase, is expected to generate $4.2 billion between now and 2060.

More than two dozen freshwater ponds and lakes experienced outbreaks of blue-green algae, 17 of them on the South Fork. Last year, Gobler reported 13 on the South Fork. These algae, or cyanobacteria, can produce toxins such as microcystin, a liver toxin and possible carcinogen. Microcystin can kill a dog that swims in an affected pond or lake.

Six fish kills appeared in several creeks and ponds on the South Shore, including in Watchogue Creek, Mill Pond in Water Mill and Mecox Bay. In some spots, Dr. Gobler said, the water was "slick with fish," floating belly-up on the surface. In each case, the dead fish appeared in waters where dissolved oxygen had dropped well below 3 milligrams per liter.

Low oxygen levels or hypoxia frequently develop where excess nitrogen and other nutrients stimulate aquatic plant growth, including macroalgae (seaweeds) and microalgae. The algae release oxygen into the water as they photosynthesize but when they die and decompose they use up oxygen.

Mentioned in this episode:

Long Island Morning Edition is part of Your Election 2024, a special collection of programs, series, and resources from The WNET Group to illuminate election issues on-air, online, and on YouTube leading into the November 5th elections. Find more at wliw.org/yourelection2024.