Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0049-0102
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-03-19T05:00Z

Peconic
Estuary
Program
C
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C
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TWO
BROWN
TIDE
MANAGEMENT
PLAN
OBJECTIVES
1)
Determine
the
chemical,
physical
and
biological
factors
responsible
for
producing,
sustaining
and
ending
blooms
of
the
Brown
Tide
organism,
Aureococcus
anophagefferens.

2)
Determine
what
management
actions
can
be
undertaken
to
prevent
or,
if
that
is
not
possible,
to
mitigate
the
effects
of
recurrent
Brown
Tide
blooms
on
the
ecosystem
and
economy
of
the
Peconics.
Peconic
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MEASURABLE
GOALS
The
PEP's
measurable
goals
with
respect
to
Brown
Tide
blooms
include:

 
Continue
to
better
coordinate,
focus,
and
expand
Brown
Tide
research
efforts
(
measured
by
funding
appropriated,
frequency
of
Brown
Tide
symposiums,
frequency
of
updating
the
Brown
Tide
Workplan
and
coordinations
within
the
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee).
[
See
Action
B­
1]

 
Continue
the
current
level
of
water
quality
sampling
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
(
measured
by
the
number
and
frequency
of
samples
taken
per
year
and
the
number
of
bays
and
peripheral
embayments
sampled).
Currently,
the
Suffolk
Department
of
Health
Services
conducts
biweekly
monitoring
at
32
stations
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
throughout
the
year,
resulting
in
over
830
samples
taken
annually.
[
See
Action
B­
1]

Measurable
goals
related
to
natural
resources
are
found
in
the
Habitat
and
Living
Resources
Chapter
(
Chapter
4).
Peconic
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CCMP
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INTRODUCTION
Brown
Tide
is
a
marine
microalgal
bloom.
Microalgae,
or
phytoplankton,
are
microscopic,
singlecell
plants
that
are
found
in
all
natural
freshwater
and
marine
ecosystems.
The
Brown
Tide
has
appeared
in
Long
Island's
Peconic
and
South
Shore
Estuaries
(
see
Figure
2­
1)
as
well
as
in
Narragansett
Bay,
Rhode
Island,
Barnegat
Bay,
New
Jersey,
the
Delaware
Inland
Bays,
the
Maryland
Coastal
Bays,
and
in
South
Africa.

When
present
in
large
numbers,
the
Brown
Tide
organism
literally
turns
the
usually
clear
blue­
green
waters
of
the
Peconic
Bays
a
deep
brown.
At
concentrations
above
200,000
to
250,000
algal
cells
per
milliliter
(
ml),
water
transparency
drops
to
two
feet
or
less.
The
brown
waters
are
unappealing
to
swimmers
and
fishermen,
impacting
residents,
tourists,
and
the
sportfishing
industry.
An
even
greater
impact
of
the
Brown
Tide
organism
is
its
impact
on
natural
resources.
Although
the
Brown
Tide
is
not
known
to
be
harmful
to
humans,
either
through
direct
contact,
ingestion
of
Brown
Tide­
filled
waters,
or
through
the
ingestion
of
finfish
or
shellfish
harvested
from
affected
waters,
the
Brown
Tide
organism
has
had
deadly
effects
on
at
least
one
marine
organism,
the
bay
scallop.

The
abundant
Peconic
bay
scallop
population
was
virtually
eradicated
by
the
onset
of
the
Brown
Tide.
The
reasons
for
the
severe
impact
of
the
Brown
Tide
on
the
bay
scallop
are
not
well
understood.
The
devastating
effects
on
the
scallops
may
be
related
to
toxic,
mechanical
(
i.
e.,
the
small
size
of
the
Brown
Tide
organism
may
interfere
with
proper
ingestion)
and/
or
nutritional
(
i.
e.,
the
Brown
Tide
organism
may
not
provide
required
nutrients)
parameters,
and
effects
may
vary
with
the
growth
stage
(
larval,
juvenile,
adult)
of
the
scallop.

Other
impacts
of
the
Brown
Tide
potentially
include
declines
in
eelgrass
coverage
and
hard
clam
populations.
Eelgrass
beds
provide
important
shellfish
and
finfish
spawning
and
nursery
areas.
Impacts
to
eelgrass
may
be
due
in
part
to
reduced
light
penetration
caused
by
the
Brown
Tide
bloom
density.
Sharp
declines
in
finfish
landings
between
1985
and
1988
also
may
have
been
due,
in
part,
to
the
Brown
Tide.
Finally,
harmful
algal
blooms
such
as
Brown
Tide
are
also
believed
to
be
a
causal
factor
for
anoxia/
hypoxia
(
no
or
little
dissolved
oxygen),
and
may
affect
the
hatching
and
survivorship
of
fish
larvae.

The
overall
economic
impacts
of
the
Brown
Tide
have
been
severe,
for
the
scallop
industry
as
well
as
other
bay­
related
businesses
dependent
on
tourism,
recreation,
fishing,
and
shellfishing.
Scientists
are
still
working
to
try
and
understand
what
causes
the
Brown
Tide
blooms,
how
future
blooms
can
be
prevented,
and
how
the
impacts
of
the
Brown
Tide
blooms
can
be
mitigated.
In
1982,
the
500,000
pound
Peconic
Estuary
scallop
harvest
accounted
for
28
percent
of
all
U.
S.
landings
and
had
a
dockside
value
of
$
1.8
million.
After
appearing
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
in
June
of
1985,
and
persisting
in
high,
though
decreasing,
concentrations
for
extended
periods
in
1985,
1986,
1987,
and
1988,
the
Brown
Tide
bloom
virtually
eliminated
the
bay
scallop
population.
By
1987
and
1988,
the
Brown
Tide
harvest
had
dropped
to
only
about
300
pounds
per
year
(
see
Figure
2­
2).
As
a
result
of
re­
seeding
efforts
and
the
disappearance
of
the
Brown
Tide,
bay
scallop
landings
once
again
reached
pre­
Brown
Tide
levels
in
1994.
Based
on
NYSDEC
data,
266,448
pounds
of
scallops
worth
$
1,732,357
were
harvested
in
1994;
however,
a
Brown
Tide
bloom
in
1995
caused
severe
scallop
mortality.
The
1995
scallop
harvest
dropped
to
23,000
pounds,
valued
at
$
180,000.
The
1996
scallop
landings
came
in
at
only
53
pounds,
valued
at
$
400.
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Figure
2­
1.
Areas
of
Brown
Tide
Occurrence
on
Long
Island.
Peconic
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Figure
2­
2.
Bay
Scallop
Landings.

The
Brown
Tide
Organism
The
Brown
Tide
was
first
detected
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
in
June
of
1985.
Researchers
at
the
University
of
Rhode
Island's
Graduate
School
of
Oceanography,
using
electron
microscopy,
determined
that
the
Brown
Tide
is
caused
by
a
particularly
small
and
previously
unknown
phytoplankton
species,
Aureococcus
anophagefferens
(
see
Figure
2­
3).
The
Brown
Tide
organism
is
only
problematic
when
under
"
bloom"
conditions.
Phytoplankton
communities
in
temperate
coastal
waters
display
a
seasonal
cycle
of
abundance
and
species
composition.
An
algal
bloom
occurs
when
accelerated
growth
of
one
or
a
few
species
is
superimposed
on
this
overall
community
cycle
due
to
a
particular
concurrence
of
environmental
conditions
that
strongly
favors
the
growth
of
a
particular
species.
Most
blooms
are
of
relatively
limited
spatial
and
temporal
extent
(
McElroy,
1996),
but
the
Brown
Tide
can
persist
for
unusually
long
periods
of
time
over
large
areas
(
Sieburth
et
al.,
1988).
The
Brown
Tide
appears
and
recedes
in
the
bays
of
the
Peconic
Estuary
and
around
Long
Island,
with
no
predictable
onset,
duration,
or
cessation.
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
80
82
84
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
Year
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Figure
2­
3.
Brown
Tide
Organism.

BROWN
TIDE
BLOOMS
IN
THE
PECONIC
ESTUARY
SYSTEM
After
its
initial
discovery
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
in
June
of
1985,
the
Brown
Tide
bloom
persisted
in
high,
though
decreasing,
concentrations
for
extended
periods
in
1985,
1986,
1987,
and
1988.
Peak
Brown
Tide
cell
counts
in
the
Peconics
often
exceeded
one
million
cells
per
milliliter
of
water,
as
compared
with
a
normal,
mixed
phytoplankton
assemblage
concentration
which
would
typically
range
from
100
to
100,000
cells
per
milliliter.

Brown
Tide
blooms
were
not
evident
during
1989.
In
July
of
1990,
however,
elevated
Brown
Tide
cell
counts
were
observed
in
West
Neck
Bay,
an
enclosed
embayment
off
Shelter
Island.
Another
intense
bloom
of
Brown
Tide
began
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
System
in
May
1991
and
persisted
in
high
concentrations
through
July
1991.
In
the
summer
of
1992,
Brown
Tide
reappeared
in
high
concentrations
in
West
Neck
Bay
and
Coecles
Harbor,
subsiding
in
the
fall
of
1992.
The
Brown
Tide
did
not
appear
again
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
until
May
of
1995,
when
an
intense
bloom
lasted
through
June
and
July,
declined
in
August,
became
more
intense,
and
then
again
subsided
in
September.
In
1996,
the
Peconic
Estuary
was
free
of
Brown
Tide
blooms,
although
a
bloom
occurred
in
the
South
Shore
Estuary.
Only
one
localized
and
short­
term
Brown
Tide
bloom
occurred
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
in
1997,
in
West
Neck
Bay,
but
a
more
widespread
bloom
occurred
in
Great
South
Bay
in
the
South
Shore
Estuary
Reserve
System
that
year.
In
1998,
there
was
a
summer
bloom
in
West
Neck
Bay
and
Great
South
Bay,
with
no
major
Peconic
Estuary
blooms.
In
1999,
a
major
late
fall/
early
winter
Transmission
electron
micrograph
of
the
Brown
Tide
organism.
(
x47,000)

AUREOCOCCUS
ANOPHAGEFFERENS
("
golden
sphere")
0.5
µ
m
("
causing
cessation
of
feeding")
Peconic
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bloom
took
place
in
Great
South
Bay,
and
an
early
summer
bloom
occurred
in
Quantuck
Bay,
with
no
major
blooms
anywhere
in
the
Peconics.
The
Great
South
Bay
bloom
continued
into
the
summer
of
2000,
while
the
Peconics
remained
free
of
Brown
Tide
in
2000.

The
dynamics
of
the
Brown
Tide
bloom
(
i.
e.,
concentration
and
timing
of
onset,
persistence,
and
subsidence)
in
the
main
Peconic
Estuary
System
have
often
radically
differed
from
those
in
West
Neck
Bay
and
the
South
Shore
Estuary
Reserve
System.
In
general,
bloom
conditions
have
been
consistently
most
severe
in
Flanders
and
West
Neck
Bays.
Peak
Flanders
Bay
Brown
Tide
cell
counts
are
shown
in
Figure
2­
4.

The
Brown
Tide
organism
has
been
observed
in
small
numbers
(
non­
bloom
conditions)
from
Massachusetts
to
New
Jersey.
Outside
of
Long
Island,
Brown
Tide
blooms
have
been
observed
in
Narragansett
Bay,
Rhode
Island,
Barnegat
Bay,
New
Jersey,
the
Delaware
Inland
Bays,
the
Maryland
Coastal
Bays,
and
in
South
Africa.

Figure
2­
4.
Flanders
Bay
Peak
Brown
Tide
Cell
Counts.
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
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Year
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Contributing
Factors
Although
advances
have
been
made
regarding
the
identification
and
characterization
of
the
Brown
Tide
organism
and
its
growth
needs,
the
causes
of
Brown
Tide
are
not
known.
The
input
of
conventional
inorganic
macronutrients
such
as
nitrogen
and
phosphorus
apparently
do
not
trigger
the
onset
of
the
Brown
Tide
blooms,
although
organic
nitrogen
may
play
a
role
(
discussed
below).
This
conclusion
is
based
on
laboratory
research,
comparative
monitoring
data
(
historical
trends
within
Peconic
Estuary,
as
well
as
a
comparison
of
Peconic
Estuary
to
other
estuaries),
and
statistical
analysis.
More
recent
analysis
of
the
long­
term
data
set
collected
by
the
Suffolk
County
Department
of
Health
Services
(
SCDHS)
suggests
that
groundwater
inputs
(
related
to
rainfall
patterns)
affect
the
relative
amounts
of
dissolved
inorganic
and
organic
nitrogen
in
the
waters
of
the
Peconic
Estuary,
and
that
this
may
be
an
important
factor
in
the
onset
of
Brown
Tide
blooms.
Various
constituents
and
situations
believed
to
play
a
role
in
Brown
Tide
blooms
are
discussed
below.

Chemicals
and
Trace
Metals
Chemicals
implicated
by
prior
research
as
potential
contributors
to
the
Brown
Tide's
pervasiveness
include
chelators
(
molecules
or
ions
that
are
able
to
form
bonds
with
metals)
such
as
citric
acid
and
trace
metals
such
as
iron,
selenium,
vanadate,
arsenate
and
boron.
A
correlation
has
been
noted
between
the
Brown
Tide
bloom
and
elevated
concentrations
of
dimethyl
sulfide
(
DMS)
in
the
Peconic
Estuary.
Because
acrylic
acid
is
part
of
the
compound,
which
forms
DMS,
it
is
postulated
that
acrylic
acid
also
is
directly
related
to
the
Brown
Tide.
These,
or
perhaps
some
other
as
yet
unidentified
chemicals,
may
be
toxic
to
potential
grazers
that
might
otherwise
control
phytoplankton
blooms.

Meteorological
and
Climatological
Factors
Water
circulation
in
certain
areas
of
the
estuary
is
strongly
influenced
by
winds.
It
has
been
postulated
that
reduced
flushing
in
the
Peconics
due
to
a
reduction
or
change
in
wind
patterns
results
in
a
retention
of
land­
derived
nutrients
that
may
stimulate
Brown
Tide
blooms.

Dissolved
Inorganic
and
Organic
Nitrogen
In
terms
of
using
actual
field
data,
perhaps
the
most
plausible
hypothesis
set
forth
to
date
has
been
produced
by
Brookhaven
National
Laboratory
(
BNL),
using
SCDHS
data.
BNL
hypothesizes
that
Brown
Tide
bloom
onset
conditions
may
be
optimized
by
elevated
ratios
of
available
dissolved
organic
nitrogen
(
high
"
DON")
in
surface
waters,
with
respect
to
the
supply
of
dissolved
inorganic
nitrogen
(
low
"
DIN").
These
nitrogen
constituents
may,
in
turn,
be
related
to
groundwater
inputs
and
weather
patterns.
Thus,
the
hypothesis
is
that
Brown
Tide
bloom
onset
conditions
could
be
optimized
in
a
dry
year
(
low
DIN
supply
from
groundwater),
particularly
when
the
dry
year
is
preceded
by
a
wet
year
(
which
results
in
conversion
of
prior
groundwater
DIN
inputs
to
current
DON
supply).
A
longterm
management
implication
of
the
BNL
hypothesis,
should
it
be
validated,
is
to
reduce
nitrogen
loadings
(
septic
systems,
fertilizers,
etc.;
see
Chapter
3)
to
dampen
the
effect
of
groundwater
nitrogen
inputs.

In
an
independent
analysis,
the
U.
S.
Geological
Survey
(
USGS)
lent
further
credibility
to
the
hypothesis
in
a
study
of
relative
water
table
altitudes.
The
USGS
found
that,
between
1985
and
1995,
Brown
Tide
blooms
coincided
with
below­
average
water
table
altitudes
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
study
area.
During
four
years
with
nearly
average
or
above­
average
water
table
altitudes,
there
were
no
widespread
Brown
Tide
blooms.
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Other
Factors
Monitoring
data
collected
by
Suffolk
County
since
1985
suggest
physio­
chemical
limits
for
Brown
Tide
bloom
events.
It
appears
that
salinities
in
excess
of
26
parts
per
thousand
(
ppt)
and
temperatures
between
20­
25
degrees
Centigrade
are
factors
associated
with
the
occurrence
of
major
bloom
events.
These
limits
are
consistent
with
the
findings
for
optimal
growth
of
A.
anophagefferens
in
laboratory
cultures,
but
are
not
believed
to
be
sufficient
causal
mechanisms
in
and
of
themselves.
Finally,
a
virus,
which
has
been
shown
to
be
associated
with
the
Brown
Tide
organism,
is
suspected
to
be
important
in
ending
blooms.

The
CCMP
discussion
about
Brown
Tide
represents
a
sketch
of
various
historical
theories
and
investigations.
The
state
of
knowledge
about
Brown
Tide
is
advancing
at
a
rapid
rate,
and
would
be
impossible
to
fully
capture
in
a
document
such
as
this
CCMP.
Therefore,
persons
interested
in
obtaining
updates
about
Brown
Tide
research
are
encouraged
to
contact
New
York
Sea
Grant
to
obtain
bulletins
summarizing
the
most
current
results
of
Brown
Tide
Research
Initiative
investigations
(
discussed
below).
Also,
the
Suffolk
County
Department
of
Health
Services
may
be
contacted
to
obtain
copies
of
the
latest
summaries
and
status
reports
of
Suffolk
County­
funded
Brown
Tide
research.

Public
Comments
Questions
have
been
raised
about
the
possible
relationship
between
radionuclides,
toxics,
and
Brown
Tide.
The
issue
of
radionuclide
and
toxic
contamination,
and
Brookhaven
National
Laboratory,
is
dealt
with
in
detail
in
Chapter
6.
With
respect
to
Brown
Tide,
to
the
knowledge
of
the
PEP,
the
scientific
community
has,
to
date,
not
produced
a
credible
theory
that
links
Brookhaven
National
Lab's
radionuclide
contamination
and
Brown
Tide.
This
is
based
on
several
factors,
including
the
appearance
of
the
Brown
Tide
in
several
locations
(
not
just
the
Peconic
Estuary)
dating
back
to
1985.
Also,
there
has
been
a
recent
global
increase
in
harmful
algal
blooms.
Moreover,
there
does
not
appear
to
be
a
hypothesis,
which
offers
a
mechanism
by
which
relatively
low­
level
radioactive
contamination
can
result
in
onset
or
persistence
of
Brown
Tide.

More
important
than
the
specific
issue,
however,
is
the
PEP
approach
to
dealing
with
the
matter.
With
the
assistance
of
the
New
York
Sea
Grant,
the
PEP
has
submitted
queries
to
Brown
Tide
Research
Initiative
researchers
about
whether
the
onset
and/
or
persistence
of
the
Brown
Tide
may
be
related
to,
or
caused
by,
radioactive
and/
or
toxic
chemical
contamination
associated
with
BNL.
The
researchers,
who
are
closest
to
the
latest
findings
about
Brown
Tide,
were
asked
to
offer
commentary
on
the
viability
of
this
hypothesis,
citing
the
nature
of
the
basis
of
their
response
(
personal
knowledge
of
relevant
studies,
personal
expert
opinion
based
on
well­
established
scientific
principles,
discussions
with
third
parties,
etc.).
Also,
they
were
asked
to
provide
guidance
on
elements
of
a
recommended
research
and/
or
monitoring
program
to
test
it.
They
were
also
asked
similar
questions
about
other
issues
posed
by
the
public,
including
a
theory
that
a
relatively
low
supply
of
dissolved
inorganic
nitrogen
may
be
causing
the
Brown
Tide;
the
corollary
to
that
hypothesis
is
that
human
DIN
enrichment
of
surface
waters
(
e.
g.,
direct
applications
of
nitrogen)
could
prevent
or
minimize
Brown
Tides.
This
issue
is
discussed
in
greater
detail
in
Chapter
3.
Ongoing
Brown
Tide
research
is
being
funded
with
an
initial
$
1.5
million
commitment
from
NOAA
(
over
three
years),
$
100,000
in
BNL
services,
and
$
100,000
in
Suffolk
County
funds
to
be
used
in
conjunction
with
the
BNL
funds.
Suffolk
County
appropriated
an
additional
$
450,000
(
over
three
years)
in
Brown
Tide
research
capital
funds,
and
is
considering
additional
appropriations.
Historic
Brown
Tide
research
has
been
funded
primarily
by
Suffolk
County
and
the
New
York
Sea
Grant
Institute.
An
additional
$
1.5M
over
three
years
for
Brown
Tide
research
recently
has
been
committed
by
NOAA.
Appendix
E
contains
a
summary
of
funded
projects.
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
C
H
A
P
T
E
R
T
W
O
2­
10
Other
external
experts
were
also
identified
to
respond
to
the
questions
about
radionuclides.
Via
this
active
process
of
soliciting
input
from
experts,
coupled
with
periodic
updates
to
the
Brown
Tide
Workplan
by
the
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee
(
discussed
below),
the
PEP
is
able
to
actively
respond
to
public
concerns
on
a
continuing
basis.

RESEARCH
EFFORTS
Since
the
first
appearance
of
the
Brown
Tide
in
1985,
significant
effort
has
gone
into
researching
the
causal
mechanisms
behind
the
appearance
and
persistence
of
the
Brown
Tide.
Numerous
agencies
and
organizations
from
New
York,
as
well
as
Rhode
Island
and
New
Jersey,
have
become
involved
in
Brown
Tide
research.

To
refine
the
research
agenda,
the
PEP,
in
cooperation
with
the
New
York
Sea
Grant
Institute
and
the
State
University
of
New
York
at
Stony
Brook's
Marine
Sciences
Research
Center,
hosted
a
Brown
Tide
Summit
in
October
1995,
with
local,
national,
and
international
experts
meeting
to
develop
a
comprehensive
research
agenda.
The
Summit
resulted
in
both
recommendations
for
the
direction
of
future
research
and
commitments
for
funding.
BNL
and
Suffolk
County
announced
the
formation
of
the
Brown
Tide
Monitoring
Network,
funded
with
$
100,000
in
Suffolk
County
funds
with
a
matching
amount
from
BNL.
NOAA
announced
that
$
1.5
million,
over
three
years,
would
be
used
for
funding
the
Brown
Tide
Research
Initiative
(
BTRI).
Finally,
a
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee
was
proposed
by
various
Federal,
State,
and
local
representatives
to
more
broadly
coordinate
and
guide
Brown
Tide
research
and
monitoring
efforts.
The
proceedings
of
the
Summit
were
published
in
January
1996
as
a
New
York
Sea
Grant
publication
(
No.
NYSGI­
W­
95­
001).
An
additional
$
1.5
million
over
three
years
has
been
committed
by
NOAA
to
pursue
the
most
promising
avenues
of
Brown
Tide
research
and
management.

Brown
Tide
Monitoring
Network
The
Brown
Tide
Monitoring
Network
is
a
research
effort
funded
jointly
by
BNL
and
Suffolk
County.
The
primary
objectives
of
this
research
effort
are
to:

 
Determine
the
basic
photosynthetic
physiology
of
Aureococcus
in
the
field;

 
Deploy
three
real­
time
monitoring
buoys
in
the
Peconic
Bays
system
to
measure
the
abundance
of
chlorophyll,
temperature,
salinity,
dissolved
oxygen
and
tidal
information,
and
use
this
information
to
develop
and
test
models
for
bloom
dynamics;
and
 
Develop
and
maintain
a
Brown
Tide
"
home
page"
on
the
World
Wide
Web
containing
real­
time
data
from
the
buoys.
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
C
H
A
P
T
E
R
T
W
O
2­
11
BNL
is
also
funding
an
in­
house
research
effort
that
will
investigate
the
photosynthetic
and
nutrient
uptake
physiology
of
Brown
Tide,
including
conducting
nutrient
addition
experiments
with
natural
seawater
samples
from
Peconic
Bay
that
contain
Brown
Tide.
The
final
part
of
the
study,
a
retrospective
analysis
of
the
oceanographic,
meteorological,
and
biological
conditions
that
are
associated
with
Brown
Tide
blooms
in
the
Peconic
Estuary,
has
already
resulted
in
the
formulation
of
the
hypothesis
previously
noted
on
the
roles
of
dissolved
inorganic
and
organic
nitrogen
and
groundwater
levels
and
rainfall
patterns
in
the
onset
of
blooms.
Work
by
BNL
researchers
(
now
at
the
University
of
Kiel)
has
also
produced
the
first
axenic
(
bacteria­
free)
culture
of
Brown
Tide,
a
major
breakthrough.

Other
Suffolk
County
Capital
Programs
Between
1997
and
1999,
Suffolk
County
appropriated
$
450,000
to
support
Brown
Tide
monitoring
and
investigation
efforts
(
above
and
beyond
historic
appropriations
of
$
400,000).
The
general
criteria
used
to
select
Suffolk
County­
funded
projects
included:

 
Consistency
with
the
Brown
Tide
Workplan;

 
Linkages
with
potential
physical
management
applications
(
e.
g.,
nutrient
reductions,
structural
changes
to
the
Shinnecock
Canal
locks,
etc.);

 
Focus
on
collection
and
application
of
actual
field
data
(
typically
with
the
assistance
of
the
SCDHS
marine
monitoring
crew);

 
Development
of
data
and
products
useful
to
the
broader
research
and
management
community;
and
 
Cost­
effectiveness
of
proposals.

Five
projects
have
been
funded
with
this
$
450,000,
including
the
Brown
Tide
Monitoring
Network
(
discussed
above).
The
Suffolk
County
Capital
Program
moneys
also
support
an
investigation
of
the
various
constituents
of
dissolved
organic
nitrogen
in
Long
Island
waters
(
BNL/
Woods
Hole
Oceanographic
Institute;
LaRoche,
Repeta,
et
al.),
with
the
goal
of
eventual
linkages
to
Brown
Tide
and
other
phytoplankton
dynamics.
Also
prominent
is
a
forthcoming
study
of
the
influence
of
various
groundwater
constituents
on
Brown
Tide
(
Taylor
et
al.,
SUNY
MSRC).
In
addition,
Suffolk
County
Historic
Research
Efforts
and
Findings
Between
1986
and
1997,
Suffolk
County
funded
Brown
Tide
research
projects
totaling
approximately
$
400,000.
The
New
York
Sea
Grant
Institute
funded
$
700,000
in
Brown
Tide
research
projects
from
1991­
1996
and
$
57,000
in
projects
for
1996­
1997.

The
following
achievements
are
a
result
of
the
SCDHS
and
Sea
Grant
research
projects.

 
An
immunofluorescent
Brown
Tide
identification
procedure
which
allows
accurate,
reliable,
and
expeditious
analysis
of
Brown
Tide
cell
concentrations;

 
The
production
of
a
laboratory
culture
of
the
Brown
Tide
organism
which
could
be
used
for
investigating
the
organism's
chemical
and
physical
requirements;

 
Laboratory
results
bolstering
the
indication
from
monitoring
data
that
conventional
inorganic
macronutrients
such
as
nitrogen
and
phosphorus,
do
not
appear
to
trigger
Brown
Tide
blooms;

 
The
laboratory
indication
that
micronutrients,
such
as
iron
and
selenium,
may
be
important
in
bloom
formation;

 
Mathematical
modeling
indicating
that
Brown
Tide
blooms
do
not
seem
to
be
directly
related
to
the
concentrations
of
conventional
nutrients;

 
Studies
which
indicate
that
Brown
Tide
may
be
stimulated
by
a
relatively
high
ratio
of
available
dissolved
organic
nitrogen,
with
respect
to
supply
of
dissolved
inorganic
nitrogen;

 
Field
verification
of
the
decimation
of
eelgrass
populations,
possibly
due,
in
part,
to
the
light
shading
effects
of
Brown
Tide;
and
 
Microzooplankton
grazing
experiments
that
strongly
suggest
that
microzooplankton
consume
alternative
phytoplankton
and
avoid
Brown
Tide
cells.
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
C
H
A
P
T
E
R
T
W
O
2­
12
field
staff
are
assisting
in
the
collection
of
samples
for
a
Differential
Phytoplankton
Analysis
project
(
Lonsdale
et
al.,
SUNY
MSRC).
Finally,
Tetra­
Tech,
Inc.
will
be
calibrating
and
verifying
a
Shinnecock
Bay
model
(
coupled
with
the
Peconic
Estuary
model),
to
test
the
hypothesis
that
reversal
of
the
locks
at
the
Shinnecock
Canal
will
greatly
improve
Peconic
Estuary
flushing,
potentially
mitigating
or
preventing
Brown
Tide
blooms.
An
additional
$
133,000
was
appropriated
for
Brown
Tide
research
by
Suffolk
County
in
2000,
and
$
150,000
per
year
has
been
authorized
by
Suffolk
County
for
2001
and
following
years.

Brown
Tide
Research
Initiative
NOAA,
through
its
Coastal
Oceans
Program
(
COP),
is
providing
Brown
Tide
research
funding
totaling
$
3.0
million
over
six
years.
A
Brown
Tide
Research
Initiative
(
BTRI)
committee,
chaired
by
New
York
Sea
Grant,
was
formed
by
the
COP
in
consultation
with
the
PEP
to
manage
the
research
funding
process.
The
BTRI
committee
includes
representatives
from
the
PEP,
COP,
South
Shore
Estuary
Reserve,
Suffolk
County,
citizens
groups,
and
local
government.
The
primary
objectives
of
the
BTRI
are
to:

!
Develop
additional
isolates
and
axenic
cultures
of
the
Brown
Tide
organism
and
methods
for
culture
maintenance;

!
Identify
the
physical,
chemical,
and
biological
factors
that
initiate
and
sustain
Brown
Tide
blooms;
and
!
Identify
factors
leading
to
the
cessation
of
Brown
Tide
blooms.

A
full
list
of
the
Brown
Tide
research
projects
being
funded
by
NOAA
can
be
found
in
Appendix
E.

Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee
and
Workplan
The
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee
(
BTSC)
was
formed
to
broadly
coordinate
Brown
Tide
research
efforts
both
inside
and
outside
of
New
York
through
the
development
of
a
comprehensive
Brown
Tide
research
and
management
plan
or
Brown
Tide
Workplan.
The
BTSC
includes
representatives
from
various
agencies
and
environmental
groups
as
well
as
elected
officials,
commercial
fishermen,
and
other
interested
parties.
The
BTSC
is
coordinated
by
Suffolk
County.
The
Brown
Tide
Workplan
will
be
implemented
by
the
BTSC
through
the
PEP,
NOAA,
and
Sea
Grant
and
in
coordination
with
the
Barnegat
Bay
National
Estuary
Program,
the
Narragansett
Bay
National
Estuary
Program,
the
South
Shore
Estuary
Reserve
Program,
the
Delaware
Inland
and
Maryland
Coastal
Bays
Programs
(
to
be
included
on
committee)
and
other
participants.

The
Brown
Tide
Workplan
recommends
Brown
Tide
research
priorities
for
the
next
three
years.
Research
priorities
are
based
on
a
review
of
past
and
current
research
efforts
as
well
as
recommendations
for
research
from
the
Brown
Tide
Summit.
The
Brown
Tide
Interim
Workplan
(
BTSC,
1998)
estimates
that,
over
the
next
three
years,
$
2.1
to
$
2.8
million
will
be
necessary
to
conduct
the
high
priority
research
efforts
identified
by
the
BTSC.
The
Interim
Workplan
has
been
approved
by
the
BTSC
and
the
PEP
Management
Committee
and
will
be
refined
and
updated
periodically.
A
copy
of
the
Interim
Workplan
can
be
found
in
Appendix
F.
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
C
H
A
P
T
E
R
T
W
O
2­
13
MANAGEMENT
ACTIONS
The
Peconic
Estuary
Program
recognizes
the
need
to
continue
to
better
coordinate,
focus,
and
expand
Brown
Tide
research
efforts.
To
this
end,
the
PEP
has
worked
to
coordinate
Brown
Tide
research
and
has
prepared
a
comprehensive,
regional
Brown
Tide
research
workplan.
Further,
the
PEP
recommended
a
commitment
of
significant
additional
funding
to
extend
promising
avenues
of
research
and
management.
This
funding
is
in
addition
to
the
funds
allocated
for
the
preparation/
implementation
of
the
PEP
CCMP.
Thus,
comprehensive,
regional
Brown
Tide
research
can
take
place
on
a
separate,
parallel
course
with
the
current
Management
Conference
direction,
which
deals
with
conventional
water
quality
and
natural
resource
issues.

The
Brown
Tide
management
action
contained
in
this
chapter
reinforces
the
need
for
continued
research
and
monitoring
as
well
as
the
need
for
continued
coordination
of
research
efforts
and
information
sharing.
The
Brown
Tide
management
action,
shown
in
the
accompanying
text
box,
is
detailed
below.
The
Brown
Tide
Management
Action
Summary
Table
(
Table
2­
1)
includes
information
on
the
costs,
status,
and
timeframe
associated
with
the
action.
The
table
is
located
at
the
end
of
this
chapter.

Within
the
CCMP,
some
steps
within
the
actions
have
been
identified
as
priorities,
as
indicated
under
the
step
number.
The
PEP
will
seek
to
implement
priority
actions
in
the
near
term.
Priorities
may
be
either
new
or
ongoing,
commitments
or
recommendations.
Completing
some
priority
actions
does
not
require
any
new
or
additional
resources,
because
they
are
being
undertaken
through
"
base
programs"
or
with
funding
that
has
been
committed.
In
other
cases,
in
order
to
complete
the
priority
actions,
new
or
additional
resources
need
to
be
secured
by
some
or
all
of
the
responsible
entities.

In
addition
to
Brown
Tide
research
initiatives,
the
PEP
has
been
involved
in
restoring
those
natural
resources
believed
to
be
most
impacted
by
Brown
Tide:
bay
scallops
and
eelgrass.
Many
of
these
efforts
have
been
funded
by
the
PEP,
the
State,
Suffolk
County,
and
local
towns.
These
initiatives
and
the
associated
management
actions
are
found
in
the
Habitat
and
Living
Resources
section
of
this
CCMP
(
see
Chapter
4).

BROWN
TIDE
MANAGEMENT
ACTION
B­
1.
Ensure
Continued
Brown
Tide
Monitoring,
Research,
Coordination,
and
Information
Sharing.
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
C
H
A
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T
E
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W
O
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14
Addresses
Brown
Tide
Management
Objectives
1
and
2.

Since
1985,
the
Suffolk
County
Department
of
Health
Services
(
SCDHS)
Office
of
Ecology
has
maintained
a
monitoring
program,
which
has
included
the
analysis
of
thousands
of
water
samples
for
Brown
Tide
levels
and
for
the
chemical
and
physical
characterization
of
the
estuary.
This
program
has
been
important
for
a
number
of
reasons,
including
the
determination
of
the
timing
and
spatial
extent
of
Brown
Tide
blooms;
the
determination
of
physical
and
chemical
parameters
associated
with
the
blooms;
and
the
generation
of
data
supporting
numerous
research
and
management
efforts.
The
joint
SCDHS/
BNL
project
(
the
Brown
Tide
Monitoring
Network)
also
contains
a
much­
needed
Brown
Tide
monitoring
component.

Continued
research
on
Brown
Tide
depends
on
continued
funding.
Historically,
most
of
the
Brown
Tide
research
was
funded
by
NY
Sea
Grant
and
Suffolk
County.
In
1995,
several
additional
avenues
of
Brown
Tide
research
were
opened
through
the
NOAA
funding
initiative.
Additional
research
continues
to
be
funded
by
the
PEP,
Suffolk
County,
NOAA,
and
Sea
Grant.

Steps
B­
1.1
Ensure
that
the
SCDHS
water
quality
monitoring
program
continues
to
provide
information
needed
for
analysis
and
research
related
to
Brown
Tide.

B­
1.2
Include
Brown
Tide
monitoring
as
a
component
of
the
long­
term
monitoring
program
of
the
PEP.

B­
1.3
Continue
research
efforts
by
BNL
and
Suffolk
County
under
the
Brown
Tide
Monitoring
Network
and
BNL
hind­
casting
and
autoecological
investigations,
as
well
as
other
monitoring
and
investigation
projects
funded
by
the
Suffolk
County
Capital
Program.

B­
1.4
Support
continued
funding
for
NOAA­
funded
Brown
Tide
research
and
management
Priority
projects,
cooperation
among
researchers,
and
dissemination
of
information
on
progress
and
results
under
the
Brown
Tide
Research
Initiative.

B­
1.5
Identify
potential
funding
sources
to
implement
the
Brown
Tide
Workplan
and
secure
Priority
funding
for
Workplan
priorities.

B­
1.6
Assign
agency
staff
members
to
coordinate
Brown
Tide
research.

B­
1.7
Coordinate
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee
activities
to
periodically
update
the
Brown
Priority
Tide
Workplan
with
necessary
research
and
management
projects.
B­
1.
Ensure
Continued
Brown
Tide
Monitoring,
Research,
Coordination,
and
Information
Sharing.
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
C
H
A
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15
Responsible
Entities
B­
1.1
Suffolk
County
Department
of
Health
Services
(
lead),
PEP
B­
1.2
Suffolk
County
Department
of
Health
Services
(
lead),
PEP
B­
1.3
BNL
and
Suffolk
County
(
co­
leads)

B­
1.4
NY
Sea
Grant
(
lead),
NOAA,
BTRI
Steering
Committee,
PEP
B­
1.5
Suffolk
County
(
lead),
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee,
and
various
agencies
funding
Brown
Tide
research
B­
1.6
PEP
(
lead)

B­
1.7
Suffolk
County
(
coordination),
PEP,
EPA,
NOAA,
Sea
Grant,
SUNY
Marine
Sciences
Research
Center,
local
government,
New
York
State,
and
other
estuary
programs
(
Buzzards,
Narragansett,
Barnegat
Bays,
and
South
Shore
Estuary
Reserve
Program)

BENEFITS
OF
THE
BROWN
TIDE
MANAGEMENT
ACTIONS
Successful
management
actions,
which
prevent
Brown
Tide
blooms,
lessen
their
severity,
cause
blooms
to
subside,
or
otherwise
mitigate
impacts,
are
vital
to
the
restoration
and
protection
of
the
once
economically
important
Peconic
bay
scallop
industry.
Other
important
shellfish
that
will
benefit
from
successful
Brown
Tide
management
include
blue
mussels,
hard
clams,
and
oysters.
The
reduction
or
control
of
Brown
Tide
will
be
helpful
in
protecting
eelgrass,
which
serves
as
an
important
habitat
for
finfish
as
well
as
shellfish.
There
is
also
evidence
that
the
Peconic
Estuary
is
important
as
a
nursery
and
spawning
ground
for
a
variety
of
marine
organisms,
including
weakfish
and
other
commercially
valuable
finfish.
Although
the
dockside
value
of
commercial
fishery
landings
is
significant,
it
is
much
smaller
than
actual
revenues
generated
by
other
water­
related
activities,
including
marinas,
restaurants,
and
other
businesses
and
institutions
which
cater
to
sports
fishermen,
boaters,
bathers,
and
tourists
who
utilize
the
Peconic
system.
An
economic
assessment
conducted
by
the
PEP
has
shown
that
there
are
over
one
thousand
business
establishments
that
are
estuarine­
dependent
(
21
percent
of
the
total
businesses
in
the
Peconic
Estuary
study
area).
Gross
revenues
for
these
establishments
total
$
442
million/
year,
and
they
employ
over
7,000
individuals.

COSTS
OF
THE
BROWN
TIDE
MANAGEMENT
ACTIONS
At
this
time,
the
long­
term
costs
of
identifying
the
causes
of
the
onset
and
persistence
of
Brown
Tide
blooms,
and
of
developing
measures
to
control
and
minimize
those
blooms,
are
unknown.
As
of
1997,
Brown
Tide­
specific
and
related
research
totaled
approximately
$
1.2
million
(
excluding
NOAA
funds).
As
mentioned
previously,
NOAA
has
committed
$
3
million
over
six
years
to
conduct
Brown
Tide
research,
beginning
in
1996,
and
BNL
and
Suffolk
County
have
committed
a
combined
total
of
$
200,000
in
equipment
and
services
for
Brown
Tide
research.

The
County
will
continue
to
monitor
the
waters
of
the
Peconic
Estuary
for
Brown
Tide
and
other
constituents
of
concern.
Between
1997
and
2000,
Suffolk
County
appropriated
$
583,000
of
Capital
Program
funds
for
Brown
Tide
research.
Suffolk
County
has
also
authorized
$
150,000
each
year
for
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
C
H
A
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T
E
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W
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2­
16
the
next
three
years
(
2001­
2003)
from
the
Capital
Budget.
Suffolk
County
also
has
requested
that
$
1
million
in
NY
Clear
Water/
Clean
Air
Bond
Act
funds
be
dedicated
to
Brown
Tide
investigations.

The
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee
has
identified
short­
term
Brown
Tide
research
and
management
needs
in
the
form
of
a
workplan.
These
needs
are
currently
estimated
to
be
$
2.1
to
2.8
million
over
the
next
two
to
three
years.
Additional
funding
may
be
needed
to
extend
promising
new
avenues
of
research,
and
may
be
requested
in
the
future,
based
on
the
recommendations
of
the
Committee.

The
total
cost
of
all
actions
proposed
for
Brown
Tide
management
is
$
3.25
million
in
new
one­
time
costs.
(
See
"
Action
Costs"
in
Chapter
1
for
an
explanation
of
how
these
costs
were
determined.)

BROWN
TIDE
ACTIONS
SUMMARY
TABLE
Table
2­
1
provides
the
following
summary
information
about
each
of
the
actions
presented
in
this
chapter.

Status
An
action's
status
is
designated
in
the
table
by
either
an
"
R"
for
"
Recommendation"
or
a
"
C"
for
"
Commitment."
Actions
that
are
commitments
are
being
implemented
because
resources
or
funding
and
organizational
support
is
available
to
carry
them
out.
Actions
that
are
"
recommendations"
require
new
or
additional
resources
by
some
or
all
of
the
responsible
entities.
"
O"
refers
to
ongoing
activities;
"
N"
indicates
new
actions.

Timeframe
This
category
refers
to
the
general
timeframe
for
action
implementation.
Some
actions
are
ongoing
or
nearing
completion;
implementation
of
other
actions
is
not
anticipated
until
some
time
in
the
future.

Cost
Information
in
the
cost
column
represents
the
PEP's
best
estimate
of
the
costs
associated
with
action
implementation.
"
Base
Program"
means
that
no
new
or
additional
funds
will
be
needed
outside
of
the
responsible
entity's
operating
budget
to
implement
the
action.
Where
additional
funding
is
needed,
resources
to
implement
an
action
may
be
expressed
in
dollar
amounts
or
work
years
or
both.
One
full
time
equivalent
employee
or
"
FTE"
is
estimated
as
costing
$
75,000
per
year,
which
includes
salary,
fringe
benefits
and
indirect
costs.
The
"
Action
Costs"
description
in
both
Chapter
1
and
Chapter
9
provides
an
expanded
explanation
of
base
programs
and
action
costs.
C
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17
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
Table
2
1.
Brown
Tide
Management
Actions.

Action
Responsible
Entity
Timeframe
Cost
Status
B­
1
Ensure
Continued
Brown
Tide
Monitoring,
Research,
Coordination,
and
Information
Sharing.
(
Objectives
1
and
2)

B­
1.1
Ensure
that
the
SCDHS
water
quality
monitoring
program
continues
to
provide
information
needed
for
analysis
and
research
related
to
Brown
Tide.
SCDHS
(
lead),
PEP
Ongoing
Minimum
grant
commitment
of
$
120,000/
yr
to
satisfy
EPA
local
match
requirements.
As
with
prior
years,
costs
likely
to
be
substantially
higher
than
EPA
grants.

(
See
Environmental
Monitoring
Plan)
C/
O
B­
1.2
Include
Brown
Tide
monitoring
as
a
component
of
the
long­
term
monitoring
program
of
the
PEP.
SCDHS
(
lead),
PEP
Ongoing
Included
in
Action
B­
1.1
C/
O
B­
1.3
Continue
research
efforts
by
BNL
and
Suffolk
County
under
the
Brown
Tide
Monitoring
Network
and
BNL
hind­
casting
and
autoecological
investigations;
as
well
as
other
monitoring
and
investigation
projects
funded
by
the
Suffolk
County
Capital
Program.
BNL,
Suffolk
County
(
co­
leads)
Ongoing
(
Between
1997
and
2000,
$
583,000
Suffolk
County
Capital
Program
funds.
Suffolk
County
has
authorized
$
150,000
each
year
for
the
next
three
years
(
2001­
2003)

from
the
Capital
Budget.)
C/
O
B­
1.4
Priority
Support
continued
funding
for
NOAA­
funded
Brown
Tide
research
and
management
projects,

cooperation
among
researchers,

and
dissemination
of
information
on
progress
and
results
under
the
Brown
Tide
Research
Initiative.
NY
Sea
Grant
(
lead),

NOAA,
BTRI
Steering
Committee,
PEP
1996­
2001
$
3,000,000
C/
O
Table
continued
on
next
page
C
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A
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18
Peconic
Estuary
Program
CCMP
Table
2­
1.
Brown
Tide
Management
Actions.
(
continued)

Action
Responsible
Entity
Timeframe
Cost
Status
B­
1.5
Priority
Identify
potential
funding
sources
to
implement
the
Brown
Tide
Workplan
and
secure
funding
for
Workplan
priorities.
Suffolk
County
(
lead),

Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee,
and
various
agencies
funding
Brown
Tide
research
Ongoing
Identify
funding:

Secure
funding:

The
necessary
workplan
research
is
estimated
to
require
an
additional
$
2.1
 
2.8
million
over
2
to
3
years.

Funds
obligated:
None.
Potential
sources:
NYS
Environmental
Protection
Fund
or
Clean
Water/
Clean
Air
Bond
($
1
million
requested);
Suffolk
County
Capital
funds
($
450,000
requested)
C/
O
R
B­
1.6
Assign
agency
staff
members
to
coordinate
Brown
Tide
research.
PEP
(
lead)
Ongoing
EPA
 
0.1
FTE/
yr
NYSDEC
 
0.05
FTE/
yr
SCDHS
 
0.1
FTE/
yr
C/
O
B­
1.7
Priority
Coordinate
Brown
Tide
Steering
Committee
activities
to
periodically
update
the
Brown
Tide
Workplan
with
necessary
research
and
management
projects.
Suffolk
County
(
coordination),
PEP,
EPA,

NOAA,
Sea
Grant,
SUNY
Marine
Sciences
Research
Center,
local
government,

New
York
State,
and
other
estuary
programs
(
Buzzards,

Narragansett,
Barnegat,

Delaware
Inland,
and
Maryland
Coastal
Bays,
and
South
Shore
Estuary
Reserve
Program)
Ongoing;
Interim
Workplan
last
updated
in
Feb.

1998;
workplan
to
be
updated
annually
as
necessary
SCDHS
 
0.2
FTE/
yr
C/
O