Conference at Hempstead Marine Lab highlights water quality improvements in Western Bays

The water quality of Hempstead’s Western Bays continues to show progressive improvement, according to a report presented Aug. 15 by officials from the Long Island Regional Planning Council, the Town of Hempstead, and Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies.

The report, shown at a briefing held at the Town of Hempstead Marine Laboratory, revealed significant decreases in nitrogen, ammonia, and other harmful pollutants that have historically degraded the water and damaged local coastal wetlands.

“Hempstead Bay and its major tributaries, known as the Western Bays, help drive a multi-billion-dollar economy,” said Richard Guardino, executive director of the LIRPC. “It’s fueled by recreation, bathing, boating, fishing, and seafood harvesting. The Western Bays contribute greatly to the quality of life we enjoy right here in the Town of Hempstead, and it’s one of the most beautiful coastal areas in all of the nation.”

Despite the promising results, officials cautioned that work remains to fully restore the bays’ health. They emphasized that multi-level efforts to reduce nitrogen pollution in the waterways should remain a top priority.

Excess nitrogen is recognized as the leading cause of water quality deterioration in the region, contributing to toxic algal blooms, low oxygen conditions, fish kills, and the destruction of vital marine habitats. It also poses a significant risk to Long Island’s drinking water, because groundwater serves as the island’s source of freshwater.

The Hempstead Bay Water Quality Monitoring Project, initially launched in the 1980s and revived in 2019 under the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan, has been key in addressing water-quality issues in the area. The project collects water samples from various locations in the bays and inland areas to measure levels of nitrogen, ammonia, and other pollutants.

“This is an investment in the environment. This is an investment in the economy,” Councilman Chris Schneider said. “It’s an investment in our safety, and the results we’re seeing, the fruits of the results of that investment, they are terrific, and we’re going to continue it.”

Testing is conducted using a network of 40 surface water stations located across the Western Bays. These stations help track pollution levels in the water. In addition, three continuous monitoring sites provide real-time data, and 20 deep-water locations allow researchers to assess conditions below the surface. There are also 12 inland sites to monitor nitrogen deposits from atmospheric conditions and rainwater.

“We’ve seen that the water is becoming cleaner. “We’ve seen lately less nitrogen in the water,” said Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin. “And it’s through all these combinations — people committed to making sure that the future is bright for their children, programs we run through the town — but it’s through the ability now to test it here that’s going to be most beneficial, and we are so grateful to have this.”

Hofstra Professor Steve Raciti presented data comparing water quality from 1980 to 1985, which showed high levels of nitrate marked in red on the charts, with the period from 2020 to 2023, when the waters had largely transitioned to blue, indicating much lower nitrate levels. Areas near wastewater-treatment plants showed the most significant improvements.

With an additional $5 million invested by New York state in the Nitrogen Action Plan since 2015, the program aims to continue reducing nitrogen levels across Long Island, beyond just runoff and treatment plant discharges.