Even as the South Shore Estuary Reserve Council moves forward to develop a comprehensive management plan for the Reserve, many South Shore Communities are working on projects for improve the health of the estuary's resources. Governor Pataki supports these types of efforts, and on October 4th was pleased to announce his recommendations for the 1998 round of grants from the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act funds. The Governor also announced grants from the Environmental Protection fund for several other South Shore projects [see related article]..
In adopting the South Shore Estuary Reserve Act, the Legislature recognized South Shore municipalities as central players in protecting and improving the estuary. It created a mechanism -- the South Shore Estuary Reserve Council -- for bringing together and energizing a diversity of public and private stakeholders, including South Shore communities, to achieve common goals for the estuary. Since then, the Council and its technical and citizens advisory committees have strived to reach these goals and have persuaded numerous other partners to join in the effort.
In March 1998, the Council released the South Shore Estuary Reserve Interim Report which described the progress made in developing the comprehensive management plan for the Reserve. The report outlined a series of next steps aimed at improving the estuary and completing the plan,. The Council then invited residents of the six South Shore towns to participate in informal workshops where they shared their concerns about the estuary with Council members.
Guided by the Council's Interim Report and workshop comments, the Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources has continued to work on the comprehensive management plan and related activities. As a first step in identifying priority areas for wetland restoration, information on South Shore wetlands is being assembles using the Division's geographic information system (GIS). The Division also has brought together a group of technical experts to work on developing a water quality monitoring strategy, and has completed several more technical reports on estuarine fish and wildlife and municipal nonpoint source pollution control practices. These and other reports will serve as the basis for the comprehensive management plan.
The Council's Technical Advisory Committee continues to review the technical reports prepared by the Department of State and various consultants. The committee is also considering a workshop for scientists to discuss what research may be needed to better understand the factors influencing hard clam productivity in the estuary.
The Citizens Advisory Committee recently released a Directory of Educational Facilities, Programs and Resources of the South Shore Estuary Reserve, which is available by calling the Council's information line. In addition, the committee continues to spread the word about the importance of the estuary through newsletters, public service announcements, and participation in estuary-wide public events in towns and villages throughout the Reserve.
The Legislature's aim of building consensus among the estuary's many stakeholders is coming to fruition. By next summer, the Council expects to have fine-tuned its recommendations and completed a draft of the comprehensive management plan. At this time, the public will be invited once again to comment on the plan. Meanwhile, the Council encourages members of the public to attend its regularly scheduled meetings. Time is set aside at each meeting for people to share their concerns with the Council. Please join us!
Alexander (Sandy) F. Treadwell
New York State Secretary of State
Chair, South Shore Estuary Reserve Council