In the coming weeks, residents may notice the presence of a different boat on Manhasset Bay. Cashin Associates, an environmental contractor retained by the Town of North Hempstead and the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, and their subcontractor will be conducting a survey of the shellfish and sediment of Manhasset Bay. The purpose of the survey is to obtain data on the current distribution and abundance of shellfish (clams and oysters), as well as other benthic species. The survey will also include the collection and analysis of sediment samples from throughout the bay. The data will be mapped and utilized to assess the present health of the biological community and to identify areas appropriate for shellfish restoration projects.
Healthy shellfish populations are known to represent an important component of estuarine ecosystems and they provide major benefits to water quality and marine ecology. The survey will be performed from a small boat utilizing sampling equipment at about 70 locations throughout the Bay. The work will also be done under the oversight of the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, The Town of North Hempstead, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Findings will be put in a report that will be issued later in the year.
The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is an inter-municipal organization aimed at addressing water quality and coastal issues in Manhasset Bay with a coordinated, watershed-level approach. The Committee has 15 member municipalities: Nassau County, the Town of North Hempstead, and 13 Villages who all voluntarily entered into an inter-municipal agreement. The Committee’s goals are to protect, restore, and enhance Manhasset Bay so as to ensure a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem while balancing and maintaining recreational and commercial uses.
If you would like more information about Manhasset Bay, please visit the Committee’s website at manhassetbay.net or e-mail the Director at mbpcExec@gmail.com.
—Submitted by The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee
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