Our Troubled Waters
February 21, 2018
The Honorable Todd Kaminsky
New York State Senate, SD 9
Albany, NY 12247
Re: Thank You For Defending “The Lloyd” And The Barrier Island’s Drinking Water
Senator Kaminsky:
The Beach to Bay Civic Association wishes to applaud you for your continued stalwart defense of the pristine Lloyd Aquifer against NY City interests, over-pumping, saltwater intrusion and drawdown contamination; and, in particular, for the direct and explicit speech you gave at County Executive Curran’s press conference on February 1st. It was “no-nonsense,” determined and heartfelt.
Please continue your vigilant protection of the Lloyd; BUT not only from pumping threats originating in Queens, but from the rampant over-pumping going on in our own “backyard” as well. We cannot afford to be hypocrites. We cannot afford to save our drinking water only to ruin it ourselves. Reducing pumping on Long Beach Barrier Island – in particular to stave off saltwater intrusion – is paramount, as the freshwater-saltwater interface is migrating landward; and is already sited at and under most of the western portion of the Barrier Island’s shoreline (as was reported by the USGS in its PowerPoint presentation at Water for Long Island’s Groundwater Science Summit – Save Your Aquifer Day – on May 5, 2017).
Thank you for your ongoing vigilance in this matter; and please contact the Beach to Bay if we can assist your office in defending the Lloyd or our drinking water in any way.
Sincerely,
Barbara Bernardino
President
Gerald Ottavino & Joey Naham
Environmental Directors
The Honorable Todd Kaminsky
New York State Senate, SD 9
Albany, NY 12247
Re: Thank You For Defending “The Lloyd” And The Barrier Island’s Drinking Water
Senator Kaminsky:
The Beach to Bay Civic Association wishes to applaud you for your continued stalwart defense of the pristine Lloyd Aquifer against NY City interests, over-pumping, saltwater intrusion and drawdown contamination; and, in particular, for the direct and explicit speech you gave at County Executive Curran’s press conference on February 1st. It was “no-nonsense,” determined and heartfelt.
Please continue your vigilant protection of the Lloyd; BUT not only from pumping threats originating in Queens, but from the rampant over-pumping going on in our own “backyard” as well. We cannot afford to be hypocrites. We cannot afford to save our drinking water only to ruin it ourselves. Reducing pumping on Long Beach Barrier Island – in particular to stave off saltwater intrusion – is paramount, as the freshwater-saltwater interface is migrating landward; and is already sited at and under most of the western portion of the Barrier Island’s shoreline (as was reported by the USGS in its PowerPoint presentation at Water for Long Island’s Groundwater Science Summit – Save Your Aquifer Day – on May 5, 2017).
Thank you for your ongoing vigilance in this matter; and please contact the Beach to Bay if we can assist your office in defending the Lloyd or our drinking water in any way.
Sincerely,
Barbara Bernardino
President
Gerald Ottavino & Joey Naham
Environmental Directors
On June 23, 2017, the Beach to Bay Council of Civic Associations hosted The Current Status and Future Sustainability of Long Beach Barrier Island's Drinking Water at the Long Beach Library. The presentation was provided by Sarah Meyland, M.S., J.D., of NYIT, an expert in groundwater resources management at the federal, state and local level – in particular the Long Island aquifer system – for over 30 years.
LB City Manager, Jack Schnirman, and representatives from its Departments of Public Works and Economic Development attended the presentation, as did local Nassau County Legislator, Denise Ford and Town of Hempstead Commissioners of Water and Conservation, John Reinhardt and Tom Doheny.
Among other salient points, in his prelude, Schnirman noted the City is a proactive advocate for water conservation and working closely with Dr. Meyland to continue its decades-long commitment to protect the Lloyd Aquifer; emphasizing both remain top City priorities.
Dr. Meyland confirmed the City’s commitment; and her PowerPoint unmistakably demonstrated Long Beach Barrier Island’s (LBBI’s) drinking water is certainly finite and the long-term welfare of the Lloyd Aquifer – the Island’s ONLY source of potable water – is at high risk, with both quality and quantity crises lurking at our collective front door.
Dr. Meyland was quite clear; averring failure to halt over-pumping on LBBI is sure to hasten saltwater intrusion, which is being evinced by the Freshwater-Saltwater Interface having significantly advanced landward; and is now at or under the shoreline in parts of Long Beach.
The Water Budget checking account analogy Dr. Meyland introduced was particularly revealing. The Island’s aquifer checking account has been “running in the red” for well over a decade; and, if not reversed, our freshwater dollars will soon run dry (actually be replaced by counterfeit saltwater dollars).
Simply, unmanaged and unprotected, the Lloyd cannot sustain the intense pumping demands LBBI has been placing upon it. This is especially true during the hot summer months, when rising temperature and increasing population density cause consumption to spike. And, when coupled with over-pumping and dearth of aquifer recharge, saltwater intrusion will inevitably force water supply wells to be closed permanently. Then, quoting Dr. Meyland eloquent prediction, Game Over.
Other key topics, germane to future sustainability, were: cleaning up contaminated (superfund) sites; reexamining the wisdom of further developing an already over-developed barrier island, in particular Long Beach itself, that is totally dependent upon an already over-stressed aquifer; and the prospective Bay Park ocean outfall pipe, when effluent discharge is, in effect, freshwater recharge lost forever.
The entire Barrier Island must embrace conservation measures and employ an aquifer management plan that will protect the Lloyd, and, hence its drinking water, long-term. The Beach to Bay is committed to bringing the Island’s civic association together to achieve this goal. Please visit and then join BEACH TO BAY CIVIC @www.beachtobaycentralcouncil.com
THANK YOU
Gerald Ottavino, Director of Environment
LB City Manager, Jack Schnirman, and representatives from its Departments of Public Works and Economic Development attended the presentation, as did local Nassau County Legislator, Denise Ford and Town of Hempstead Commissioners of Water and Conservation, John Reinhardt and Tom Doheny.
Among other salient points, in his prelude, Schnirman noted the City is a proactive advocate for water conservation and working closely with Dr. Meyland to continue its decades-long commitment to protect the Lloyd Aquifer; emphasizing both remain top City priorities.
Dr. Meyland confirmed the City’s commitment; and her PowerPoint unmistakably demonstrated Long Beach Barrier Island’s (LBBI’s) drinking water is certainly finite and the long-term welfare of the Lloyd Aquifer – the Island’s ONLY source of potable water – is at high risk, with both quality and quantity crises lurking at our collective front door.
Dr. Meyland was quite clear; averring failure to halt over-pumping on LBBI is sure to hasten saltwater intrusion, which is being evinced by the Freshwater-Saltwater Interface having significantly advanced landward; and is now at or under the shoreline in parts of Long Beach.
The Water Budget checking account analogy Dr. Meyland introduced was particularly revealing. The Island’s aquifer checking account has been “running in the red” for well over a decade; and, if not reversed, our freshwater dollars will soon run dry (actually be replaced by counterfeit saltwater dollars).
Simply, unmanaged and unprotected, the Lloyd cannot sustain the intense pumping demands LBBI has been placing upon it. This is especially true during the hot summer months, when rising temperature and increasing population density cause consumption to spike. And, when coupled with over-pumping and dearth of aquifer recharge, saltwater intrusion will inevitably force water supply wells to be closed permanently. Then, quoting Dr. Meyland eloquent prediction, Game Over.
Other key topics, germane to future sustainability, were: cleaning up contaminated (superfund) sites; reexamining the wisdom of further developing an already over-developed barrier island, in particular Long Beach itself, that is totally dependent upon an already over-stressed aquifer; and the prospective Bay Park ocean outfall pipe, when effluent discharge is, in effect, freshwater recharge lost forever.
The entire Barrier Island must embrace conservation measures and employ an aquifer management plan that will protect the Lloyd, and, hence its drinking water, long-term. The Beach to Bay is committed to bringing the Island’s civic association together to achieve this goal. Please visit and then join BEACH TO BAY CIVIC @www.beachtobaycentralcouncil.com
THANK YOU
Gerald Ottavino, Director of Environment