4. Maintaining
and enhancing the characteristics of the waterfront and harbor and
south shore bay areas (historic, cultural, recreational, economic or
aesthetic), that contribute to the quality of life of Town residents.
Comments on the Draft Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Dr. Koppelman suggested that we comment on the Draft
Local Waterfront Revitalization Program as part of our Hamlet study.
Our study area is essentially the southern part of LID lI of the
Brookhaven Town LWRP. The draft LWRP report describes LID II as:
a diversity of ecologically sensitive areas. The
Carmans River system provides valuable fish and wildlife habitats.
The river, its wetlands, and associated tributaries (Little Neck
Run, Yaphank Creek, Big Fish Creek, and Fish Creek) form an
extensive riverine ecosystem. The Carmans River and Beaver Dam Creek
are State designated Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife
Habitats
.
LWRP Boundary in LID II
We would like to see the boundary of the LWRP in LID
II follow more closely the boundary of the Towns Critical
Environmental Area. The Towns CEA boundary in our study area runs
eastward along Montauk Highway from the eastern end of Old South
Country Road in South Haven, just as does the LWRP boundary. But where
the Critical Environmental Area boundary turns northward at Old Town
Road and goes to Sunrise Highway, then west to Cemetery Road and
finally south to the Bay, the LWRP boundary turns south from Montauk
Highway at Old Stump Road to Beaver Dam Road, then west on Beaver Dam
to South Country, then southwest toward Bellport. Doing this misses
half of the Beaver Dam Creek and all of its headwaters. We would like
to recommend changing the LWRP boundary in this area in such a way as
to protect the whole Beaver Dam Creek. See Plate 6.
It is interesting to note that in the draft report
map showing an overview of all eight LIDs in Brookhaven Town, the
boundary line in LID II is shown following Montauk Highway with an
northward extension over the headwaters of the Beaver Dam Creek. Was
this the original plan? Why was it changed to follow the more
southerly Beaver Dam Road? If one of the goals of the LWRP is the
preservation of significant environmental resources and ecological
habitats, with priority given to the protection of surface waters,
then an effort should be made to include the undeveloped, forested
headwaters of this tidal creek in the program.
The following quote is from the LIRPBs
1990.pollution control study, also aimed at spurring long-range
improvement of water quality in the Great South Bay, under
"Recommended Actions on the Beaver Dam Creek: