Jun 28, 2011
The agreements, signed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), continue several years of joint efforts by these agencies to clean up the bay, with the active participation of a civic and environmental coalition, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Jamaica Bay Eco-Watchers, which were named in one of the legal settlements announced today.
The agreements require DEP to invest in heightened nitrogen treatment systems at four New York City wastewater treatment plants that discharge into the Bay, at an estimated cost of $100 million. DEP will also dedicate $13 million in Environmental Benefit Projects (EBPs) and $2 million to restore marsh island habitat in this nationally prominent ecosystem.
The agreements also require New York City to adhere to a schedule for plant treatment upgrades and provide for the civic and environmental coalition's continued involvement in the cleanup. The agreement between DEC and DEP also will keep on track the multi-year program to improve water quality in Long Island Sound through nitrogen treatment upgrades.
"The signing of this historic agreement will benefit generations of New Yorkers and millions of tourists who want to enjoy one of New York City's hidden gems," said New York City Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway. "And we have not waited for the drafting to be complete to get to work. We are already removing roughly 8,000 pounds more of nitrogen per day than would be the case without this agreement; when it is fully implemented, we will have cut nitrogen discharges from our treatment plants by at least 50%."
Popular for fishing and bird-watching, Jamaica Bay is one of the focus areas of the America's Great Outdoors program, the Obama Administration's initiative to develop a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda.
The Bay is a diverse ecological treasure that supports multiple habitats, including open water, salt marshes, grasslands, coastal woodlands, maritime shrub lands, and brackish and freshwater wetlands. These habitats support nearly 100 fish species, 325 species of birds and many reptile, amphibian and mammal species. Over the past several decades, Jamaica Bay's marsh island habitats have been disintegrating at an accelerated rate.
Excess nutrient nitrogen in salt water systems is a major cause of algae growth and associated low oxygen conditions that can cause fish kills, wetland habitat decay, odors and bio-slimes -- sometimes referred as a nitrogen "dead zone." These conditions often impact both Jamaica Bay and Long Island Sound during warmer weather. Ninety percent of the nitrogen going into the Bay comes from municipal sewage treatment plants.
Jun 20, 2011
|The Old Town Guide, with her original canvas before restoration.|
|Stripping off the old varnish. The canvas has been removed.|
|Stretching the canvas tight at the gunwales, before stapling.|
|The finished boat rests beautifully in the Batsto River, Jersey Pine Barrens.|
|Lapstrake canoe building form.|
|Sanding the interior. Inwales are also being glued on.|
|Portaging the 45 lb. canoe in Vinalhaven, Maine.|
|A beautiful sunrise on Lake Kejimkujik, Nova Scotia.|
Jun 15, 2011
As usual, we combine classroom instruction with "on the water" drills, pairing each student with an instructor. Our water drills out in the bay are accompanied by two rescue power boats. The second boat has proved invaluable, both in terms of safety and in maintaining close contact with the students. Further, we can load instructors in the power boats, rather than landing on the beach, while the students are doing their solo drills. We start out in the classroom and on land.
|Holly demonstrates sunfish rigging.|
|Severn practices the tiller hand exchange.|
|Lee and Oscar sailing, with Holly, Tracy, and Matthew in the skiff.|
|John and Severn sailing.|
|Oscar on a reach.|
|Lee with good tiller form.|
|Rounding the mark.|
|Former kayaker, Quint, demonstrates recovery from a turtle. This constitutes a "roll".|
|Climb on, Laurie!|
Jun 8, 2011
Jun 2, 2011
A Brooklyn canoe club is urging New Yorkers to paddle up this summer.
The Sebago Canoe Club is helping teach the basics at the Paerdegat Basin in Canarsie.
The volunteer, not-for-profit club has been around for 78 years teaching the public the basics of canoeing and kayaking.
Members, who pay a yearly fee of $225 and come from all walks of life, say they share a common love of being out on the water.
"It's relaxing, it's very soothing, it's like a runner needing to run basically," said Sebago Canoe Club Member Mike Boxer.
"This is just wonderful, it's like nothing that you find anyplace in the world, you know, it's just wonderful," said Sebago Canoe Club Member Elain Winslow.
Club members spread their love of the water through summer open paddle sessions which cost just $10 and free paddle trips for kids from the Police Athletic League and local schools.
"A lot of them are very timid at first and when they come back they have big smiles on their faces and they feel like they've accomplished something, they've overcome their fears," said Sebago Canoe Club "Commodore" Tony Pignatello.
While the waterways around New York City have not always had the best reputation for their water quality, club members say the basin has never been cleaner.
"There's a sewage treatment plant, and it's fully on line, and it's really magnificent," Pignatello said.
For more information on the club, visit www.SebagoCanoeClub.org.