Flesh-Eating Bacteria, Toxic Algae, Oxygen-Starved Waters Were Widespread in 2023, Thanks to Nitrogen and Warmer Waters - 27 East

Flesh-Eating Bacteria, Toxic Algae, Oxygen-Starved Waters Were Widespread in 2023, Thanks to Nitrogen and Warmer Waters

icon 6 Photos
Christopher Gobler Ph.D. presented his annual State of the Bays symposium on water quality issues across Long Island earlier this monthy at Stony Brook University-Southampton. MICHAEL WRIGHT

Christopher Gobler Ph.D. presented his annual State of the Bays symposium on water quality issues across Long Island earlier this monthy at Stony Brook University-Southampton. MICHAEL WRIGHT

Nitrogen levels in Suffolk County groundwater have soared with population growth, presenting broad environmental and human health concerns, including cancer risks in humans and developmental issues in newborn babies. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

Nitrogen levels in Suffolk County groundwater have soared with population growth, presenting broad environmental and human health concerns, including cancer risks in humans and developmental issues in newborn babies. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

Over the decades, as nitrogen levels have climbed and waters have warmed, the number of different harmful algae species blooming in local bays has grown. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

Over the decades, as nitrogen levels have climbed and waters have warmed, the number of different harmful algae species blooming in local bays has grown. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

Suffolk County has more than four times as many water bodies that experience toxic blue green algae blooms than any other of the 62 counties in New York State. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

Suffolk County has more than four times as many water bodies that experience toxic blue green algae blooms than any other of the 62 counties in New York State. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

Suffolk County's grounwater has some of the highest levels of nitrates in the entire nation. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

Suffolk County's grounwater has some of the highest levels of nitrates in the entire nation. COURTESY OF THE GOBLER LAB

More than two dozen tidal and freshwater bodies on Long Island were stained by harmful algae blooms or starved of oxygen, leading to die-offs of marine species, in 2023.

More than two dozen tidal and freshwater bodies on Long Island were stained by harmful algae blooms or starved of oxygen, leading to die-offs of marine species, in 2023.

authorMichael Wright on Apr 17, 2024
Record-high temperatures globally and in local waters fueled the steadily worsening water quality crisis in Suffolk County’s groundwater, freshwater ponds, and tidal bays and harbors in 2023, Stony Brook University... more

You May Also Like:

Adam Potter's Mixed-Use Development Clears a Procedural Hurdle

Adam Potter’s proposed mixed-use development at 7 and 11 Bridge Street in Sag Harbor cleared ... 1 Apr 2025 by Stephen J. Kotz

What a Leader Does

Rich Schaffer, who will have been leader of the Democratic Party in Suffolk County for 25 years in September, is not shaken by Republican gains in recent times, nationally and in Suffolk. “We’ve been there before over the years I’ve been county chair,” Schaffer was saying. “We saw this when young [George W.] Bush was president. But a lot of times, the party in power makes mistakes, upsetting people. And I think with Trump, we are in a whole different universe. “There’s lots of chaos,” he continued in a recent interview. “His administration is hell-bent at going after Social Security ... by Karl Grossman

The Last To Die

A somber 50th anniversary is to be observed at the end of this month: the end of the war in Vietnam, on April 30, 1975. That means it will also be the 50th anniversary of the last two U.S. soldiers to die in what was never actually a declared war, one that in total killed over 58,000 American military men and women. For over four decades, there was controversy over who was the first American serviceman who died in Vietnam. Richard Fitzgibbon Jr.’s death in June 1956 was deemed to have taken place before the start of the Vietnam War. ... by Tom Clavin

Legacy Threatened

Members of the Greatest Generation lived through the Depression of the 1930s, learned to cope in hard times, and took responsibility with dedication and humility. During World War II, they answered the call. Sixteen million served, including a million African Americans and 44,000 Native Americans. Women went to work in factories turning out planes, tanks and munitions. May 8, 2025, will mark the 80th anniversary of V.E. Day, the official end of World War II in Europe and the final repudiation of the horrors initiated by Adolf Hitler. Out of World War II came the Marshall Plan, which helped Europe ... 31 Mar 2025 by Staff Writer

Housing for Heroes

On November 8, 2022, Southampton Town voters approved a law to introduce a half-percent tax on all residential real estate transactions to fund the Peconic Bay Region Community Housing Fund, aimed at creating affordable housing in the town. The Southampton Town website states that the affordable housing initiative aims to provide housing for essential workers, including first responders, fire/EMS workers, hospital workers, public servants, teachers and veterans. The proponents of the Community Housing Fund used this argument to urge Southampton Town residents to vote yes for its approval. The recent wildfires that threatened the East End again highlight the critical ... by Staff Writer

No Clothes

I don’t know how Republican voters are feeling this week about the national security breach on the Signal texting app, but I bet that our allies were horrified and our adversaries delighted. As everyone knows by now, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine was inadvertently placed on a text chain on Signal discussing U.S. military action in Yemen. These were detailed, highly sensitive military communications, and others on the text chain were heads of national security and top cabinet officials, including the Secretary of Defense and the vice president. To make matters worse, Signal is a nonsecure app that should ... by Staff Writer

Time To Move

Osprey are back nesting and fishing the ocean. Piping plovers are arriving. Time to move the dredging equipment off the ocean beaches. Elaine McKay Sag Harbor by Staff Writer

Community News, April 3

YOUTH CORNER Circle of Fun East Hampton Library, 159 Main Street in East Hampton, will ... by Staff Writer

Thomas J. Meers, Formerly of Sag Harbor, Dies March 12

Thomas J. Meers, formerly of Sag Harbor, died peacefully with his family surrounding him on ... by Staff Writer

School News, Sag Harbor & East Hampton Town, April 3

Pierson Juniors Host Masked Singer Fundraiser Pierson High School juniors recently hosted a masked singer ... by Staff Writer