No matter the borders that one resides in or the language that one speaks, one commonality that unites the globe is a dependence on water. Today, this invaluable resource of water is celebrated around the world in honor of World Water Day! Being the largest island in the continental United States, Long Island has an even greater reason than most to recognize the role that water plays in sustaining our lives.
Created in 1993, the UN-designated “World Water Day” is celebrated every March 22nd to raise awareness of the widespread challenge of declining water quality. The theme for World Water Day 2018 is “Nature for Water”, which explores the nature-based solutions that can be used to restore degraded waterbodies and prevent further damage to the world’s water quality. Asides from targeting the primary cause of nitrogen pollution – compromised cesspools and septic systems- it is especially important for Long Islanders to pursue water quality solutions that use the environment around them. These nature-based solutions are especially relevant to limiting the frequency of storm water runoff – the second largest threat to Long Island’s water quality after failing cesspools. Stormwater runoff moves contaminants from the surface, whether it is road salt or fertilizer, into the island’s waterbodies, thereby degrading the quality of the water. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that we can utilize “Nature for Water”.
Coastal Erosion Control – With over 118 miles of shoreline, Long Island’s battle for clean water is largely fought on the beaches. Extreme weather conditions severely damage and erode the coast along Long Island. Once eroded, coastlines are prone to allowing contaminants to enter waterbodies and increased flooding. As a result, control over the erosion of these beaches is heavily sought. Known as the first line of defense for beaches, dunes and the reconstruction of damaged dunes are a primary tactic used in controlling this erosion. By repairing fallen dunes, communities can provide a natural barrier against destructive winds and waves that erode Long Island’s coastlines.
Salt Marsh Protection – Before 1974, over 10,000 acres of salt marshes, also referred to as wetlands, were destroyed. Since that time, the environmentally sensitive role that these ecosystems play has been recognized and efforts to protecting them have expanded. Salt marshes help to prevent pollutants from reaching beaches and bays that would otherwise would travel through storm water runoff and other means, prevent shoreline erosion and flooding that often times brings contaminants back into waterbodies and provide protected habitats for threatened fish, birds and other wildlife. Because of this relationship with water quality protection, healthy salt marshes on Long Island must be protected and degraded salt marshes must be restored. Currently, efforts to restore hundreds of acres of wetlands on the South Shore are ongoing and making significant progress.
Green Infrastructure – As the 18th most populated island in the entire world, Long Island certainly has an extensive system of infrastructure and development. However, in order to improve its water quality, Long Island must build a different type of infrastructure: “green infrastructure”. This includes the planting of native gardens and trees, installation of green roofs or rain gardens and construction of permeable pavements. All of these improvements work to prevent polluted storm water from running into Long Island’s water bodies and further degrading the quality of the water.
On this World Water Day, take a moment to appreciate the opportunities that clean water provides communities and to learn more about ways in which our water quality can be improve through the environment that surrounds us. To learn more, visit our section on “Long Island’s Water” or email us at info@longislandcleanwater.org.
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