Adds certain lands within the Carmans River watershed to the core preservation area of the Central Pine Barrens

1 Co-sponsor

• Lee M. Zeldin

BILL NUMBER:S5663

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the addition of certain lands within the Carmans River watershed to the core preservation area of the Central Pine Barrens

Purpose

To authorize additional land preservation in the Long Island Pine Barrens.

Summary of provisions

This bill would amend Section 57-0107 of the Environmental Conservation Law to protect the Carmans River watershed and add approximately 1,000 acres of land to the Central Pine Barrens area, following the development of a watershed protection and management plan. In addition, this bill would require the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission to conduct an agriculture and horticulture study.

Justification

The Carmans River is a major river on Long Island and, along with its sister river, the Peconic, is one of two that reside within the Central Pine Barrens. Although various State and local measures have been undertaken to protect the Carmans River scientific analysis has indicated that these existing measures are insufficient.

A number of threats to the Carmans River persist and are anticipated to cause progressive degradation both within the Carmans River as well as its watershed unless more definitive action is undertaken. As the source of the surface water flow of the Carmans River is derived primarily from Long Island's sole source aquifer, certain activities that occur within the groundwater watershed of the Carmans River, the area surrounding the River which contributes groundwater to its surface flow, are likely to cause increased degradation of the Carmans River's water quality and increase ecological deterioration.

The Town of Brookhaven has commenced a program to protect the Carmans River and is in the process of developing and ultimately implementing a Carmans River Watershed Protection and Management Plan which is designed to protect and preserve the areas within the Carmans Watershed. In developing this plan, the Town of Brookhaven has assembled a diverse team of individuals, including representatives from government, the business community and advocacy organizations, to create a cons:ensus-based plan that achieves the optimal balance of environmental preservation and economic development. This process has also entailed the cooperation and participation of the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission.

The entire watercourse of the Carmans River lies within the Central Pine Barrens and much of its groundwater watershed also lies within the Central Pine Barrens. Accordingly, the Carmans River Watershed Protection and Management Plan initiative recognizes that the most expeditious and effective means of achieving the dual objectives of environmental preservation and economic development is to expand the

Core Preservation Area of the Central Pine Barrens. This legislation will expand the Core Preservation Area boundary to encompass those groundwater contributing areas most critical to the Carmans River, those from which groundwater requires the least amount of time to reach the river and include those from which groundwater requires the least amount of time to reach the river and include those areas identified as being critical for preservation in regard to the hydrological and ecological integrity.

Legislative history

New legislation.

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately; provided that if none months after this act shall have become u law. the plan amendment shall not have been adopted, ratified and implemented the act shall be deemed repealed.