South Shore Estuary News
Fall 2003

Improving Water Quality: Municipal Control of Nonpoint Source Pollution

by Dennis Mildner
NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources

The Reserve's comprehensive management plan calls on municipalities in the Reserve to evaluate their ability to manage nonpoint source pollution. To help municipalities accomplish this, the Department of State has hired a consultant to work with the City of Long Beach and the thirty-one villages in the Reserve to assess the effectiveness of their land- and water-use regulations, capital improvement programs, routine operation and maintenance practices, education and outreach programs, and professional training for municipal staff, at controlling nonpoint source pollution.

Municipal assessments were previously completed for each of the six towns and two counties in the Reserve. Based on these assessments, the Reserve's comprehensive management plan identifies how each community can improve its control of nonpoint pollution by recommending specific amendments that would reduce pollutants associated with new construction, new and redeveloping marinas, and recreational boating; reduce fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide use; and minimize the impacts of septic systems and modifications to waterways. Such recommendations will prove useful as municipalities in the Reserve strive to comply with the U.S. Environmental Agency's Storm Water Phase II Final Rule through municipal storm water pollution prevention plans.

Improving Water Quality will be a regular feature of the SSER Newsletter.