Shinnecock Bay serves as a shellfish grounds, finfish nurseries, water fowling wintering area and home for many commercial and recreation species. However because of its economic values, continuous development to exploit its natural resource became one of the biggest environmental problem. Construction such as marsh draining, ditching, impoundment, filling, and other man-make modification has alter the Shinnecock Bay shoreline leading to shoreline hardening and fortification. The construction of Dune Road in Shinnecock Bay, blocked the tidal current such as flood tides in the marsh area. Without these tidal activity, it negatively changed the morphology of bay. It decrease the marsh size, water quality, salinity, and resulted in excessive turbidity and sedimentation. These combinations changed the vegetation in the area and allowed foreign species to invade, disturbing the bay’s ecosystem, which badly affected the wildlife that originally lived in the bay. The endangered species that lives here are peregrine falcon, roseate tern, finback whale and least tern. Threatened species include but are not limited to loggerhead sea turtle, green sea turtle, pipling plover, seabeach amaranth, northern harrier, osprey, and common tern. Species of concern list consists of northern diamondback terrapin,Cooper’s hawk, and short-eared owl.
Increasing human activity also leads to chemical contaminations, oil spills, road runoffs, and improper waste disposable. Petroleum hydrocarbon exposure is another issue due to increasing boat traffic in the bay. Runoffs also deliver fresh water into the bay decreasing the water salinity, and sediments which modify the marsh environment. Shoreline hardening cause by docks, walkway platform, and other man-made hardening devices restrict the growth and expansion of vegetation and wetland. Lack of bivalve filtration is another serious problem in Shinnecock Bay. The excess nitrogen present from groundwater seepage leads to harmful algal blooms, which is a threat to the bay’s ecosystem and public health. In the past decade, red tide event cause by varies toxic dinoflagellates lead to the death of different finfish and shellfish in the bay. Another issue is private landowners nearby Shinnecock Bay fence up the beach area, limiting the area for beach-nesting birds, such as piping plovers. Studies conducted by Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atomoshiperic Science also shows that the poor water quality reduces infant survive of different species killing the offspring and decrease in population. The continuation of these problems will result in the formation of a dead zone for fishes if serious pollution issues are not corrected.
Shinnecock Bay’s ecosystem also feels strain from the increased of marina facilities and recreational fishing over the years. The shellfish, clams and other sea creatures of Shinnecock Bay are an integral part of the fishing industry. Not long ago, shellfish and clam populations were depleting because they were affected by the increased of algal bloom, which would negatively impact the fishing industry.
To try and fix theses problems, a program called the “Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program” are currently being run by SOMAS at Stony Brook University. To try and replenish the area with its natural wildlife, there is an attempt to plant more eelgrass and put clams and oysters around the bay. The clams and oysters can function as filters to help improve water quality and decrease the amount of pollution around Shinnecock Bay. There also may be attempts in the future to build artificial reefs for the oysters to prosper and aid in ridding the area of pollution. Currently the water quality and TMDL (total maximum daily loads) for bacteria of the bay is constantly being monitored, since several bodies of water discharges waste into Shinnecock Bay. By controlling the waste that is going into the water, habitats can be saved and once again the animals can reproduce again.
Sources
http://nctc.fws.gov/resources/knowledge-resources/pubs5/web_link/text/sb_form.htm
http://www.southamptontownny.gov/FTP/SEQRA/mrmp.pdf
http://shinnecockbay.org/program/current.html
http://longislandsoundstudy.net/2014/01/shinnecock-bay-and-nitrogen-pollution/
http://nctc.fws.gov/resources/knowledgeresources/pubs5/web_link/text/sb_form.htm
http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/General-Interest-Southampton/23632/A-Fishy-Whodunit
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/opinion/clams-and-grass-to-the-rescue-of-shinnecock-bay.html?_r=0