Residential Septic Tanks #1 Cause of Local Bay Pollution 

Results of recent studies by marine biologists have shown that we need to rethink our approach to protecting our bays from pollution. While we have long focused on the dangerous effects of pesticides and road runoff, we now know that most of environmental damage is coming from the rapid growth of underground septic systems surrounding our estuaries. Nitrogen from these residential systems is seeping into our bays, killing shellfish and destroying aquatic vegetation.

But, fortunately, there is good news as well. There are simple steps we all can take to make our septic systems environmentally safer and the Group is now developing a program to offset the cost to homeowners for doing so. We are also working closely with conservation and design professionals to investigate alternative waste management systems for the future. Together, this two-pronged plan will help prevent millions of gallons of domestic waste from polluting our bays.

Learn more by listening to the April 8th, 2011 airing of Going Green with Bob DeLuca on WPPB 88.3FM.

If you would like to learn more about how we all can help, please contact Bob DeLuca at (631) 765-6450, ext. 213 or bdeluca@eastendenvironment.org.

Plantings To Restore Our Beaches  

After the damage caused by winter storms, many of our local beaches need restoration. This month, over 50 Southampton High School students joined Group for the East End to plant nearly 8,000 plugs of American Beach Grass at Tiana Beach of Hampton Bays. Beach grass is an effective, natural solution to beach erosion because its roots form a protective net that anchors sand and protects sand dunes.

There are many beaches and other natural habitats in urgent need of restoration that are also on this spring's planting agenda. Please click here to learn more or to join in with one of our upcoming planting teams. It's fun, it's outdoors and it makes a difference.

The Group is excited to sponsor this popular event in which wildlife enthusiasts team up to search from dawn to dusk for as many different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies and butterflies as they can find. Sponsors can pledge 25 cents to $1.00 per species to help raise funds for the Group's year-round youth environmental education programs.  The record is 266 species in one day, all found on Eastern Long Island. Let's set a new record this year!

Find out more at www.fauna-thon.org! 

Summer Learning Programs Your Kids Will Love