Appendix A: Abstracts of Technical Reports
Index to Individual Reports in HTML Format.

[Note to reader: An electronic version of the South Shore Estuary Reserve comprehensive management plan, with links to the technical report series and associated data sets and maps, can be accessed at: www.estuary.cog.ny.us.]

Technical reports for Chapter 2: Improve and Maintain Water Quality

Contaminated Sediments. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (October 1998).

Existing State, federal and local government documents were used to identify areas of potentially contaminated sediments that could cause use impairments in the Reserve. These sources included: the 208 Areawide Waste Treatment Study; Long Island Segment of the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program; Nonpoint Source Handbook; Nonpoint Water Quality Strategy for Nassau County; the Suffolk County Water Quality Strategy; and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 1996 Priority Waterbody List. The paper concludes that available information is inadequate to assess the extent and impact of contaminated sediments but goes on to state that contaminated sediments may be one factor contributing to water quality degradation in the Reserve. An approach is proposed that would assess the potential for contamination of sediment using grain size and historical land uses as initial screening criteria.

Bulk Storage Facilities and Spills. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (October 1999).

This report focuses on leaks, spills and accidents associated with bulk storage facilities in the Reserve, a potential source of contamination to its ground and surface waters, and includes a summary of spills that have impacted the Reserve's water resources. The report describes existing programs and regulations that relate to underground and above ground storage tanks, including New York's Petroleum Bulk Storage, Chemical Bulk Storage, and Spill Response and Remediation programs.

Three databases provided by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Environmental Remediation were used to create two maps included in the report, one that identifies the 18 major oil storage facilities in the Reserve as of 1997, and another that depicts the 95 active and inactive chemical bulk storage facilities in the Reserve as of 1997.

Coordinated Water Resources Monitoring Strategy for the South Shore Estuary Reserve. EcoLogic LLC (January 2000).

The strategy establishes an ecosystem approach toward water quality monitoring linked to the Council's goals and objectives for the Reserve's water resources. The report: evaluates the current water quality monitoring efforts of local governments, academic institutions and citizen volunteer organizations; identifies gaps in those efforts; and, recommends actions to better coordinate and expand water quality monitoring in the Reserve.

The strategy identifies a two-tiered approach to water quality monitoring. Tier 1 calls for the immediate implementation of a baseline monitoring program that would include analysis of historical water quality data, build on existing monitoring programs, and provide strategic information that would identify and assess trends in water quality and the extent to which designated uses of the Reserve's waterbodies are met. Tier 2 activities are meant to augment Tier 1 monitoring and include short-term investigations designed to test specific hypotheses regarding water quality or ecological issues in the Reserve.

Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites and Active and Inactive Solid Waste Disposal Facilities. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (November 1999).

This report evaluates the forty-one inactive hazardous waste disposal sites located within the Reserve to determine their potential for contaminating Reserve waters. Seventeen of those sites were identified as having the potential to impair designated uses of waterbodies of the Reserve. Two of the seventeen sites also have the potential to also affect finfish and shellfish resources of the estuary.

Inactive hazardous waste disposal sites may have resulted from activities that were legal at the time they occurred, but concern over their possible impact grew with the increased awareness of their potential to pollute the environment. Their legality at the time does not reduce the severity of any problems associated with them.

The report also looks at the approximately forty active and abandoned solid waste disposal facilities on Long Island addressed through the 208 Areawide Waste Treatment Management Summary Plan (1976). The Long Island Landfill Law (LILL) required the closure of all landfills in Nassau and Suffolk counties by December 18, 1990, except for landfills that are protected by double liners and only accept waste from resource recovery, incineration, or composting. Although current regulations require lining and monitoring of landfills, a reliable estimate of the impacts of leachate from closed landfills is not available.

Land Cover. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (November 1997).

Satellite imagery was used to characterize the South Shore Estuary Reserve in terms of various land cover categories, measure the extent of change in land cover between 1984 and 1994, and estimate nonpoint source pollution potential. Findings indicate that the extent of change in land cover in the Reserve has been significant for both woodland and grassland categories. This report will be especially useful for addressing the link between land use and the actual or potential effects on water quality in the Reserve.

Municipal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control: Model Program and Town Assessment Status Reports. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (May 1999).

A model program was developed by the Department of State for assessing a municipality's current practices to control nonpoint source pollution from existing and potential future sources, both public and private. The model was used to assess those practices currently in place in the towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven and Southampton, and in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The reports resulting from those assessments are in this appendix.

Nassau County Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (December 2000).

This report documents the assessment of Nassau County's current nonpoint source pollution control practices and identifies actions the county should take to better control nonpoint pollution.

Nonpoint Source Pollution. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (June 1998).

Information on nonpoint source pollution and methods for its control was obtained from local governments, and State and federal agencies. Findings indicate that nonpoint source pollution is a priority concern and many water quality impairments in the Reserve can be attributed to the lack or inadequate implementation of known nonpoint source pollution controls.

Conclusions in the numerous studies reviewed during preparation of this report support these findings. These studies include: the 208 Areawide Waste Treatment Study; Long Island Segment of the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program; Nonpoint Source Handbook; Nonpoint Water Quality Strategy for Nassau County; the Suffolk County Water Quality Strategy; the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 1996 Priority Waterbody List; and the New York State Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program.

An approach is described to solve nonpoint pollution management problems based on participation by all levels of government (and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate) using science-based best management practices.

This report served as the basis for the model developed by the Department of State for assessing local government efforts to manage nonpoint source pollution (see Municipal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control: Model Program and Town Assessment Status Report).

State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit Sites. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (December 1999).

This report provides background information on the State Pollution Discharge Elimination System program and focuses on permitted discharges as potential sources of pollution in the Reserve. Particular attention is given to those permitted discharges with documented or potential impacts on water quality and living resources.

The 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments require that discharges from point sources associated with industrial activities, including municipal wastewater treatment plants, be authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit. New York State, which has the federally-delegated responsibility to administer the program, accomplishes this through State Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits administered by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Discharge permits establish numerical limits for pollutants. Limits are based on a determination of the pollutant's potential impacts on waterbodies. Permits require substance monitoring (sampling and analysis) by the permit holder, and specify the frequency of reporting. Discharge permits are specific, focusing on particular pollutants such as pathogen indicator organisms, nutrients, and toxins. For example, permits for a wastewater treatment plant and a metal plating factory will include conditions for different pollutants.

Status and Trends. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (June 1999).

This report identifies waterbodies in the Reserve that have been adversely impacted by declining water quality. The main source of information is the 1996 Priority Waterbody List published by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Other sources include: the 208 Areawide Waste Treatment Study; Long Island Segment of the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program; Nonpoint Source Handbook; Nonpoint Water Quality Strategy for Nassau County; Suffolk County Water Quality Strategy; New York State Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program; and county health department reports.

Stormwater runoff is the primary cause of water quality impairments in 48 of the 51 waterbody segments in the South Shore Estuary Reserve listed in the 1996 Priority Waterbody List. Stormwater runoff is a secondary source of pollution in 2 of the remaining 3 segments listed.

Issues identified as requiring further investigation include the role of groundwater underflow in pollution loadings and the effects of changes in fresh and salt water exchange on water quality and salinity in the Reserve's bays.

Suffolk County Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (December 2000).

This report documents the assessment of Suffolk County's current nonpoint source pollution control practices and identifies actions the county should take to better control nonpoint source pollution.

Summary of Town Nonpoint Source Management Practice Assessments. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (March 2000).

This report presents in summary form the results of the six assessments of town nonpoint source pollution control practices.

Summary Report: South Shore Estuary Reserve Water Quality Workshop. New York Sea Grant and the Living Marine Resources Institute, SUNY Stony Brook (January 1999).

This report describes the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the September 26, 1996 workshop on water quality in the South Shore Estuary Reserve. The workshop was co-sponsored by New York Sea Grant and the Living Marine Resources Institute of the Marine Sciences Research Center at SUNY Stony Brook. Workshop organizers, with the assistance individuals with expertise in the field, prepared brief background papers on pathogens, eutrophication, toxic substances, and dredging and turbidity. Working in small groups in these topical areas, workshop participants critiqued the background papers, recommended additional sources of information, and identified research needs in each area that, if addressed, would improve the understanding of water quality and related management issues in the South Shore Estuary Reserve.

Town of Babylon Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (June 1997).

This assessment of the Town of Babylon's current nonpoint source pollution control practices identifies actions the town should take to better control nonpoint pollution.

Town of Brookhaven Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (June 1999).

This assessment of the Town of Brookhaven's current nonpoint source pollution control practices identifies actions the town should take to better control nonpoint pollution.

Town of Hempstead Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (June 1999).

This assessment of the Town of Hempstead's current nonpoint source pollution control practices identifies actions the town should take to better control nonpoint pollution.

Town of Islip Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (July 1999).

This assessment of the Town of Islip's current nonpoint source pollution control practices identifies actions the town should take to better control nonpoint pollution.

Town of Oyster Bay Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (July 1999).

This assessment of the Town of Oyster Bay's current nonpoint source pollution control practices identifies actions the town should take to better control nonpoint pollution.

Town of Southampton Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Assessment Report. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (April 1999).

This assessment of the Town of Southampton's current nonpoint source pollution control practices and identifies actions the town should take to better control nonpoint pollution.

Technical reports for Chapter 3: Protect and Restore Living Resources of the Reserve

Diadromous Fish. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program (October 1997).

Many fish species in the Reserve have an anadromous life strategy. Some use Reserve waters only as nursery grounds, while others have a direct dependence on the estuary's tributaries. Construction of colonial-era mill dams likely led to the extirpation of alewife runs and whatever local populations of sea-run salmonids (trout) or smelt there might have been. Most South Shore freshwater tributaries probably supported alewife runs. The extent of anadromous salmonid runs is less certain. Naturally-spawned brook trout exist in several Reserve tributaries; sea-run variants would be a rare resource meriting substantial habitat and population protection efforts. Comparison of anadromous fish habitat, dam location, and water quality classification will show candidate tributaries where potential exists for species reintroduction and where research should be focused.

Coastal Colonial Waterbirds. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program (October 1997).

An average annual total of more than thirty-two thousand waterbirds have in recent years nested in the Reserve; in 1987, a maximum of more than forty-five thousand was recorded. Total numbers are declining, reaching a low of 16,071 nesting waterbirds in 1995. Weather, human disturbance, predation, vegetation succession and population expansion can cause nesting waterbirds to move from site to site from one year to the next. Movement can occur even in a single nesting season. Any historic, newly created, or unoccupied suitable habitats is used, and management must consider this. Extensive development and habitat degradation are major threats to island nesting and beach nesting birds. The elimination and reduction of disturbances will protect and conserve this important and conspicuous component of the coastal ecosystem. Active habitat management and vegetation control can enhance physical habitat conditions favorable to breeding bird colonies.

Crustacean Shellfish. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (February 1999).

This report provides a base level of knowledge and preliminary management recommendations regarding blue crab in the Reserve. It includes a general discussion of blue crab biology, life history, ecology and habitat, a description of the commercial and recreational fishery, and an assessment of resource status and concerns.

It focuses on the need for research on fundamental biology and population dynamics of blue crabs and the nature of their exploitation, preservation of habitat and responsible stewardship of the species, in which maximum sustainable catch is supported while assuring maximum economic return for the industry and allowing for maximum use by recreational interests.

Estuarine Finfish. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program (January 1998).

Many species of finfish use the estuary as spawning and nursery habitat or for seasonal foraging. Of the fish species found in the estuary, only a few have significant commercial or recreational value. Other species have limited commercial or recreational value, but are ecologically prominent in biomass and abundance. Forage fish species, as prey for many animals, provide an important function in transferring estuarine productivity throughout the food web. Until recently, the marine fisheries management process had not given fish habitats proper consideration. For species managed by fishery management councils, management plans must now include a description of essential habitats and threats to those habitats. Specific information on ecological, spatial, and temporal characteristics describing estuarine finfish habitats is needed. Initiatives should focus on habitats, avoid interstate issues, and emphasize the ecological importance of forage species. Approaches include the rehabilitation of estuarine habitats, management actions to protect habitats from adverse impacts, and research that leads to improved understanding of habitat and community relationships.

Molluscan Shellfish. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (May 1999).

A base level of knowledge and preliminary management recommendations regarding hard clams in the Reserve are documented in this report. It includes a discussion of shellfish biology and habitat, factors that can influence shellfish abundance, and a brief chronological overview of the estuary's shellfish industry.

The report focuses on: the need for research on fundamental biology and population ecology; the evaluation of existing field studies; the implementation of management practices, particularly at the town level, but also Reserve-wide, to optimize shellfish productivity in the Reserve's bays; the establishment of ecologically sustainable harvest goals consistent with resource capacity; augmentation practices, such as expansion of seed clam production capacity, through private mariculture, and predator exclosure growout operations; preservation of habitat; and improvements to water quality.

The report recommends that existing hard clam abundance and distribution data, as well as new sediment and bathymetry information, be analyzed using digital technologies, including GIS, and spatial statistical approaches, in order to produce a comprehensive hard clam abundance and habitat map. Models of estuarine water exchange, temperature, and salinity regimes should be incorporated into spatial analyses when available.

The report also recommends that attention be given to other shellfish species particularly oysters, scallops, soft shell clams and mussels. Although not as commercially important as hard clams, they merit further assessment of their respective roles in the estuarine ecosystem.

Sea Turtles, Diamond Back Terrapin, Mud Turtles, and Seals. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program (October 1997).

Few sea turtles are sighted within the estuary. Kemp's ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtles make limited use of study area for feeding and juvenile development. Leatherback sea turtles are one of the most abundant turtles in the area May to November, but are found in near shore ocean waters and rarely in the estuary. Diamondback terrapins are year-round residents common along the margins of the estuary, its marsh fringe and near shore bays. Their abundance has rebounded from over harvesting earlier in the twentieth century. Little is known about diamondback terrapin population ecology in any location where they occur. An attempt to characterize the species determined that nesting habitat was probably the limiting factor controlling the study area population. More work is needed to learn about populations of other reptiles and amphibians in the Reserve that need protection.

The harbor seal is the most abundant pinniped of the East Coast. It is found year-round in the Long Island region, but is most abundant November to May. Most seal activity in the Reserve centers on winter haul-out and feeding areas. The seal population coast-wide has steadily increased due to the closure of seal fur harvests and recovery of winter forage species, especially sea herring. Impacts of an increasing wintering seal population on the estuary's fisheries are unknown.

Shorebirds. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program (November 1997).

Thirty species of migratory shorebirds use the Reserve's marine, estuarine, freshwater habitats and adjacent uplands for breeding, summering and wintering grounds, and for stopovers on migration. Many migrants travel great distances between breeding and wintering grounds, concentrating in small stopover areas that offer seasonally abundant food resources. Loss or degradation of key sites could devastate these populations. Peak migratory periods vary by species, age class, and sex, and each subgroup may use different micro habitats. No systematic assessment of shorebird use in the estuary exists. Shorebird habitat use directly competes with human activities. It is imperative that a conservation strategy focus on preserving and protecting key foraging and roosting habitats, reducing disturbance, and enhancing and restoring wetland and adjacent upland habitats.

Waterfowl. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern New England - New York Bight Coastal Ecosystems Program (October 1997).

The destruction of habitat essential for breeding, migrating and overwintering is the principal reason for the decline of waterfowl in North America during the twentieth century. To a lesser extent, decline of several species has been attributed to over harvest. Contaminants, oil and chemical spills, lead poisoning, predation, and diseases are other factors that may affect the survival of waterfowl. Thirty-eight species of waterfowl use the estuarine and freshwater wetlands and adjacent uplands of the Reserve for breeding, resting and feeding during migration and for overwintering. Continued efforts to protect and enhance marshes, shallow bays, and adjacent upland areas will be critical for stabilizing and increasing waterfowl populations. Improving water quality in the bays will increase the availability of both plant and animal food items, and reducing contaminants will increase reproductive and survival rates. The entire complex of shallow water habitats from western Hempstead Bay to Captree Point in Great South Bay should be recognized as a unit for management.

Wetlands. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (July 1997).

Wetland loss due to filling and subsequent development has forced widespread change to the estuary's landscape. Many wetlands are lost forever, but some sites present opportunities for restoration and enhancement. Total acreage of recoverable wetlands is not known, but may approach one thousand acres. The total acreage that might benefit by enhancing desirable wetland values is greater, roughly ten thousand acres. Undertaking large-scale wetland rehabilitation will return lost values and functions, increase productivity and fauna, and improved aesthetic and water quality estuary-wide.

Technical reports for Chapter 4: Expand Public Use and Enjoyment of the Estuary

Historic, Cultural and Scenic Resources: Part 1: National Register of Historic Places. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (June 1997).

This report provides an introduction to the diverse cultural and historic resources of the Reserve, documents the cultural development of the area and provides preliminary findings, recommendations and implementation steps to protect, support and enhance the Reserve's cultural and historic resources. Three approaches were used to document the Reserve's cultural resources: 1) previously written information was summarized; 2) various persons and organizations were contacted and questioned about their knowledge of certain cultural resources; and 3) baymen were interviewed about commercial fishing and related activities. Local government departments, historians and historical societies provided information on locally designated historic landmarks, existing protective measures, issues and future recommendations. The findings and recommendations are grouped in four sections: Maritime Heritage, Cultural Resources, Historic Resources and Coastal Landscape.

Historic, Cultural and Scenic Resources: Part 2: Cultural, Historic and Scenic Resources. Allee , King, Rosen and Fleming, (March, 1999).

This is an inventory of historic sites as identified and described by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. It contains a brief description of the sites and their significance to the South Shore Estuary Reserve. The report encourages local communities to continue to maintain records on and protect historic resources within their jurisdiction. The inventory provides historical and cultural information that will be useful for future land use planning.

Inventory of Lands Previously Identified for Acquisition Within the South Shore Estuary Reserve. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (November 1997).

This is an inventory of lands previously identified for acquisition based on potential public benefit and environmental sensitivity. The report recommends: continued site identification and analysis; coordination of efforts with the NYS Open Space Plan; establishment of a regional land trust; and site acquisition. The inventory is a guide for developing protection measures and establishing acquisition priorities.

Maritime Centers of the South Shore Estuary Reserve. Geoffery Steadman (July 1999).

Maritime centers are shoreline centers of water-dependent businesses and facilities that provide important economic, cultural, recreational and other values. There are six "major" maritime centers in the Reserve: the Village of Freeport; the Village of Babylon; the hamlets of Bayshore and Sayville in the Town of Islip; the Village of Patchogue; and the Shinnecock Canal area near the hamlet of Hampton Bays in the Town of Southampton. In addition, fourteen "secondary" maritime centers are dispersed throughout other areas of the Reserve. The study provides information to increase public awareness of the importance of the maritime centers to the estuarine economy, the marine heritage of the Reserve and the estuary's use and enjoyment by the public. The study contains four parts: Part One provides background information on the Reserve's maritime centers; Part Two provides descriptive profiles of each of the twenty maritime centers identified in the report; Part Three presents the findings and recommendations of the study; and Part Four includes the sources of information used in conducting the maritime centers study.

Open Space Preservation Study. Allee, King, Rosen and Fleming (October 1999).

This report provides recommendations to preserve open space, including to: identify additional open space sites important to the future of the Reserve; strengthen cooperation among municipalities, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and developers in an effort to protect open space; develop a strategy to protect critical open space; and encourage acquisition of open space parcels previously identified. In order to develop the inventory of lands for open space protection, and the issues, opportunities and recommendations included in this report, information from a workshop, interviews, surveys and published literature were used. The study identifies: criteria for determining priorities for acquisition; non- acquisition techniques for land preservation; funding opportunities; and a comprehensive approach for open space planning.

Public Access and Recreation. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (May, 1999).

This report provides an inventory and analysis of shoreline public access and recreation sites and presents recommendations for achieving the South Shore Estuary Reserve Council's goal of increasing the public's use and enjoyment of the estuary. The document indicates that access to and recreational use of the waters of the Reserve are limited by factors related to development, changes in use, design and site characteristics, and planning and administration. Section I of the report presents an inventory of shoreline public access and recreation sites in the Reserve. Section II uses the inventory to identify and analyze the factors that appear to limit the use of the sites. Section III and IV, respectively, discuss the most important conclusions drawn from the analysis and develop recommendations to improve the public's use and enjoyment of the estuary.

Underwater Lands and the Public Trust Doctrine. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (September 1997).

This report documents the evolution of the ownership and regulation of underwater lands in the Reserve, application of the public trust doctrine and other regulatory jurisdictions over these lands, and measures for balancing conflicting interests along the shoreline.

The report recommends adoption of a complementary approach to intergovernmental management of underwater lands in an effort to promote a reasonable regulatory environment, based on a factual data base of property interests. A Reserve-wide study of shoreline management and regulations is recommended in order to facilitate a standardization of practices that would allow the reasonable exercise of littoral rights with the least impact upon other rightful uses and users of public trust lands.

Technical reports for Chapter 5: Sustain and Expand the Estuary-related Economy

Dredging and Dredged Material Management. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (August 1997).

This overview of dredging and dredged material management issues in the South Shore Estuary Reserve outlines current dredging practices and offers a direction for future action based on a cooperative regional approach to dredging.

Embayment Use Study. Geoffrey Steadman (March 1999).

This report focuses on the five embayment subareas in the Reserve and the management and regulation of surface water uses pertaining to boating, navigation, dredging, in-water structures, and vessel pump-out facilities. The report includes an overview of physical conditions and uses, summarizes use issues and management considerations, and presents findings and recommendations.

Recommendations in the report address: the need for more research to determine carrying capacity, factors influencing the estuarine economy, and the viability of water-dependent uses; the need to manage dredging and dredge disposal on an estuary-wide basis; the need to address embayment use issues through local municipal plans; the feasibility of "no discharge" designations for some or all of the embayments; and the need for local governments to conduct and maintain an inventory of existing and potential surface water uses and of institutional factors that contribute to or detract from a municipality's ability to maintain or enhance such uses.

Historical Development Patterns. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (May 1997).

The historical context for the current pattern of development of the South Shore is described in this technical report. The region consists of crowded urban areas, sprawling suburban areas and clusters of small hamlets. Farms, fishing villages and resort centers lie toward the eastern end of the region. The primary historical factors that shaped this development pattern were: the natural resources that favored certain types of economic activity; the transportation system that developed in support of those activities and in response to the pervasive influence of New York City's economic and population growth; and the government institutions which evolved. The paper is divided into the following time frames: 1609 - 1720 (the settlement period); 1750 - 1820 (the beginning of maritime economic activity and the local regulation of natural resources): 1825 - 1890 (the growth of major transportation networks and the shift to specialized agriculture); 1900 - 1940 (the era of resort and park development); and 1942 - present (the post World War II building boom and the era of environmental advocacy).

Value of Economic Impacts and Sectors with a Perspective on Uses. Executive Summary.s. Economic Analysis, Inc. (June 1997).

The economic impact of the estuary is summarized based on available data, in terms of number of commercial establishments, employment, wages and estuary-related revenues. The report identifies thirty-four economic sectors and key uses of the estuary and estimates their economic impact. It also identifies and assesses significant data gaps and opportunities for further research.

The report presents existing (1995) data which demonstrates that estuary-related sectors comprise an important part of the local economy: eleven percent of the Reserve's establishments and employment, six percent of its wages, and $856 million in revenues. The report suggests researching non-market values such as recreational, cultural and aesthetic attributes, property values affected by the estuary, and local tax and fee-based revenues generated by estuary-related economic impacts of recreational boating, finfishing and shellfishing, and beach use.

Zoning for Water Dependent Uses: Case Studies of Four South Shore Estuary Reserve Maritime Centers. Geoffery Steadman (May 1999).

Four centers were chosen based on notable maritime heritage, the intensity of water dependent activity, and the municipal efforts for economic development. The maritime centers chosen were the Village of Freeport; the hamlet of Bayshore in the Town of Islip; the Village of Patchogue; and the Shinnocock Canal area near the Hampton Bays in the Town of Southampton. The purpose of the study was to assess the status of waterfront zoning and present recommendations to preserve, enhance and encourage water-dependent uses and economic development through zoning regulations in the selected maritime centers. Traditional water-dependent uses such as commercial marinas, boatyards and fishing docks are of major importance in maintaining the economic viability and maritime heritage of the Reserve. The study recognized that the maritime centers have experienced varying degrees of economic decline in recent years. Through the application of appropriate techniques, including zoning and other land use laws and regulations, it is possible to encourage desired growth and redevelopment in appropriate areas. Recommendations to this end were developed for each of the four maritime centers.

Technical reports for Chapter 6: Increase Education, Outreach and Stewardship

Directory of Educational Facilities, Programs and Resources of the South Shore Estuary Reserve. New York State Sea Grant and the New York State Marine Education Association (June 1998).

The directory provides basic information about agencies and organizations and their educational facilities, programs and/or resources. It also includes an index of facilities open to the public in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The directory's library listing identifies public libraries that hold information pertaining to the South Shore estuary.

Long Islanders and the Environment of the South Shore: A Survey of Public Opinion. Cornell Local Government Program. (May 1998).

The central goal of this study was to better understand and quantify how South Shore residents perceive the South Shore estuary and its watershed. In addition, the research explored how certain socio-demographic and geographic variables influence this perception. Compared to the physical conditions and processes at work in the estuary, these topics have received less attention. The survey was conducted to provide the South Shore Estuary Reserve Council, the Council's Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) and others involved in education, outreach and planning within the watershed with a better foundation for their work.

Technical reports for Chapter 7: Implementation

Coastal Flooding and Erosion in the South Shore Estuary Reserve. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (March 2000).

This report examines the impacts of flooding and erosion along bay shorelines of the South Shore Estuary Reserve and governmental efforts to address those impacts, and makes recommendations to improve management of existing conditions. The focus is on how best to alleviate the impacts of existing flood and erosion conditions, anticipating that flooding and erosion may worsen in the future due to sea level rise and other known factors. The report draws from existing data and published information.

Institutional Framework, Part I: State and Federal Agencies. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (May 1999).

This report is a summary description of applicable federal and state laws and the regulations, management activities and responsibilities of federal and state government agencies. It is organized by major departments and their divisions, except in the case of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, where listing by functional areas provided a clearer picture of regulations, activities and responsibilities. The purpose of the report was to identify opportunities for improving cooperative management of the South Shore Estuary Reserve.

Institutional Framework, Part II: Local Government Agencies. New York State Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources (May 1999).

Part II addresses the management activities and responsibilities of the principal local government agencies in the Reserve. Section I of the report describes the structure authorized by the laws of New York State for each of the major governmental divisions. Relevant activities of counties, towns, villages and the one city in the Reserve are covered in sections II through IV. The list is divided by major government units and further described by department and pertinent regulations and programs.