Conserving Long Island Wildlife
The Nissequogue River, the largest river on Long Island’s North Shore, is artificially impounded by two dams that significantly impact its overall ecological health. The upstream dam, at Stump Pond in Blydenburgh County Park, recently failed.
Rebuilding failed dams may occasionally make sense, but in most cases allowing rivers and streams to revert to their natural state will help make the region and its coastal ecosystem more healthy, resilient and sustainable.
The annual Long Island Volunteer River Herring & Eel Survey is one of Long Island’s longest running community science projects.
The only dam on West Brook, a major tributary of the Connetquot River, failed in 2019 and allowed the artificial pond behind it to drain. For the first time in over 100 years, the brook could once again flow naturally from its headwaters in Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park down to the tidal reaches of the Great South Bay. It is now one of a only a few free-flowing streams on Long Island. It has great ecological potential as a place where migratory fish can return and other native riverine species can once again find a home.
Progress continues on the effort to develop plans for fish passage at the Wantagh Mill Pond. Check here for the latest updates.
Join us on Saturday, April 9 for a volunteer work day as we continue the effort to improve the health of Penataquit Creek in Bay Shore!
Seatuck’s Long Island River Revival Project seeks to restore the ecological health of the region’s coastal rivers and streams.