NYCkayaker Jamaica Bay...

[Rick Muller]

Just make sure when you disseminate this widely you also mention that the assertion of fact that it is the nitrogen that is causing the marsh island loss is scientifically unfounded. Long Island is also losing marsh islands and they don't have a nitrogen 'problem,' for example. Less nitrogen would be a good thing, but don't pretend that it would bring the marshes back - there are multiple hypothesized 'causes' stemming mainly from upland development, such as massive diminution of siltation because pipes have replaced natural streams feeding into the bay.

And when you talk about pressuring the City to reduce nitrogen, just be aware that the billions, yes billions, that would be required for each few percentage points of reduction in nitrogen in treated effluent have to come from somewhere; so every time you flush your toilet, send a buck to the city for nitrogen reduction. BTW, the city is doing all it can, given budgetary constraints and all the other massive capital projects (Croton filtration plant, Third Water Tunnel, rebuilding Gilboa Dam, Ultraviolet treatment facility) as well as trying to get the remaining 15% of the city outfitted with storm sewers, to figure out how to further reduce nitrogen in a cost-effective way.

Just remember also that ocean dumping of the treated effluent was outlawed, and it's gotta go somewhere. It's your waste. And when you pressure DEC to impose penalties on DEP, be mindful that those dollars, too, will be coming out of your, the water and sewer ratepayers', pockets. 



-----Original Message-----
>From: HB <carrotjuice at friendsofbrookpark.org>
>Sent: Jul 3, 2008 10:07 AM
>To: "nyckayaker at rockandwater.net" <nyckayaker at rockandwater.net>
>Subject: NYCkayaker Jamaica Bay...
>
>>  
>> From: David M. Quintana
>> 
>> I attended the Jamaica Bay Task Force (JBTF) quarterly meeting last night
>> (July 1st) at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn and I wanted to share some
>> important environmental information with everyone.
>> 
>> As some of you know, Jamaica Bay is being overloaded with nitrogen from NYC's
>> Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) waste treatments plants. This is
>> destroying the aquatic life and the marshes at an alarming rate in the
>> Bay...The Bay is losing 35-40 acres of marshland a year. Currently, the DEP is
>> discharging 30,000 - 35,000 tons a day of nitrogen into the bay, at this rate
>> this important community resource will cease to exist in our lifetime... this
>> would be tragic. 
>> 
>> Scientists predict that, at the current rate, the marsh islands will
>> completely vanish in less than 20 years. Adjacent to New York City, the Bay is
>> one of the largest and most productive coastal ecosystems in the northeastern
>> United States, and includes the largest tidal wetland complex in the New York
>> metropolitan area. Jamaica Bay's wetlands serve as flood protection and
>> shoreline erosion control for the homes and businesses of the encircling
>> neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens, home to more than 500,000 New Yorkers.
>> 
>> The Jamaica Bay watershed, which feeds the freshwater portion of the estuary,
>> extends deep into Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau County. The New York State
>> Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has included Jamaica Bay on its
>> Section 303(d) impaired water list since 1998 because of violations of water
>> quality standards relating to pathogens, nitrogen, and oxygen demand.
>> 
>> It was reported at the JBTF meeting that the NYS DEC is currently preparing a
>> "white" paper to deal with this situation.
>> 
>> I believe it's important that NYS DEC use the full force of their oversight
>> and enforcement powers to have NYC DEP lower their rate of nitrogen discharge
>> and other polluants into the Bay. I feel we owe this to our children and
>> future generations of New Yorkers.
>> 
>> I also feel NYS DEC's enforcement action with NYC DEP should be as stringent
>> as possible within the law... The City should be held accountable for this
>> pollution and made to eliminate it completely or take actions to seriously
>> mitigate the discharge of this life threatening pollutant to the aquatic life
>> in Jamaica Bay.
>> 
>> In this regard, I would ask that everyone to please exert pressure on their
>> local State Senators and Assembly members (phone numbers & contact information
>> below) by calling their offices and asking that their representatives contact
>> DEC Commissioner Peter Grannis to ensure that NYS DEC brings NYC DEP into full
>> compliance or have the City face serious ramifications and penalties for
>> non-compliance. 
>> 
>> If you require additional information, please contact me.
>> 
>> Please feel free to distribute this widely.
>> 
>> Thanking you in advance for your kind and prompt cooperation in this matter.
>> 
>> Legislator Information
>> 
>> To find your NYS  Senate member
>> http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators
>> 
>> To find your NYS Assembly member
>> http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
>> 
>> More here:
>> http://davidmquintana.blogspot.com/2008/07/jamaica-bay-task-force-meeting-july
>> -1st.html
>> 
>> "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
>> the world; it's the only thing that ever
>> has" - Margaret Mead
>> 
>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>
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