Soundkeeper
"The Quarterboard"  - Soundkeeper's  NewsletterQuarterboard
June 2012
Mr T.  Greetings!
 

 

Exciting news!  Our Soundkeeper Terry Backer has been awarded the prestigious River Hero Award.  He credited the Soundkeeper Crew and you our members and supporters for making it possible. See the story below.

  

At Soundkeeper we are gearing up for the spring, summer and fall. While we are active year round summer brings our busiest time of year. We are focused on continuing our efforts to stop the carnage from power plant seawater intakes that kill billions of marine organisms from fish, fish larva, and fish eggs to a multitude of other creatures. 

  

We are focused on addressing polluted storm water runoff through our efforts to get workable permits from state governments and through finding alternate treatment options where they exist.  See story below on polluted storm water Filter Vault proposal.
  
As always we address and remain vigilant for sewage pollution from all sources.

 
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Soundkeeper Clean Water and Education Program starts Memorial Day weekend

 

jake pumpout boat

 

 

Soundkeeper, Inc.'s Clean Boater and Education Program started on Memorial Day weekend and will run through October.  During the holiday weekend we pumped out 72 sewage tanks, preventing approximately 1,500 gallons of waste from fouling the Sound.   

 
Soundkeeper Crew Takes Polluted Stormwater Samples


Water Testing Soundkeeper Crew takes storm water runoff sample to test for bacterial load. This storm water pipe is a consistent offender. We will build a database for a future remediation project both at end of pipe and watershed improvements with community.

Storm water runoff is a persistent and difficult problem for Long Island Sound. It often  culpable in beach closure because of e coil and other bacterial loads as well as chemicals, oil and grease. Polluted storm water is one of the sounds largest problems along with other large pollutant inputs.

 

Our Soundkeeper awarded River Hero Award in Portland Or. by River and Ocean advocates across the nation   

River Hero

Terry Backer has received the "River Hero" award from the River Network during a ceremony during River Rally 2012 in Portland,Oregon.   The International award, now in its twelfth year, honors individuals who have made substantial and inspirational contributions to the river and watershed conservation community.    Terry received the prestigious, peer-nominated award for his 25 years as the Long Island Soundkeeper.

 

"This is the most meaningful award I've received because it's from my peers," Backer said.   "This has been my life's work and it's been a labor of love.   I've been measured and weighed by my peers and deemed worthy.   Nothing gets better than that."

Soundkeeper, Inc. seeks to install storm water filter vault 

vault filter

Soundkeeper has worked to address polluted runoff from our streets, parking lots and other hard surfaces. First starting with our filter project that was successful in removing oil, grease and contaminated sediment and help kill bacteria.

 

We learned that the street drain filters have their purpose and do well but also found that the piping system under our streets is actually a bacteria generator polluting our waters and swimming beaches.

 

From our experience with the filter project, we learned that in critical areas the best way to rid the discharge of bacteria is a filter vault at the end of the pipe.  We have formed a working relationship with a municipality and the manufacturer of the filter material.

 

As a first of its kind we hope to attract funders to help install and monitor this  breakthrough technology and application. That will keep our swimming waters healthier for children of all ages for a number of years.