Sustainable Long Island
February 2015
Sustainable Long Island Newsletter
The one-stop-shop...
For all Sustainable Long Island news! 
In This Issue
Reduce Rain Runoff: Combating the Issue of Stormwater Pollution
Forum: Green Solutions to Stormwater Pollution
Almost Twice As Many Kids Helped By Food Stamps Than Before Recession
A Summit on Immigration
Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship
Board of Directors
Join Our Mailing List
Reading this newsletter, but not on our mailing list?
Join Today!

FEBRUARY E-NEWSLETTER SPONSOR

Reduce Rain Runoff: Combating the Issue of Stormwater Pollution 
Sustainable Long Island's column in the upcoming edition of The Corridor | Journal for Strategic Alliances
Photo by Jim Staubitser

Pathogens. Sediments. Heavy metals. Would you consider adding any of these appealing flavors to your drinking water? How about those of you who use that water for fishing, tourism, or recreation? Is that a more acceptable place for them? The answer to these questions will typically be a resounding no, but without the proper systems and projects in place, these contaminants can flow freely into your local water bodies.

 

This problem is caused by stormwater runoff - water from rain or melting snow that "runs off" across land and into the nearest stream, river, or ocean. Much of Long Island's stormwater runoff discharges untreated into local bays, lakes, and beaches through a series of outfall pipes and drains. With little in the way of natural vegetation to capture and filter this stormwater on land, what enters these bodies of water is more likely to contain pollutants, such as:

  • Fertilizers and pesticides from landscaped yards;
  • Oil and tire residues from vehicles and machinery;
  • A host of disease causing bacteria from local streets, sidewalks, soils, and lawns.

According to the EPA, as of 2008 the total reported water infrastructure needs for the United States included $42.3 billion for stormwater management.  Locally, stormwater runoff is one of the top water quality issues across Long Island - a region relying on a sole source aquifer for drinking water, surrounded by beautiful ocean, and defined by three major estuaries - the Long Island Sound, the Peconic Estuary, and the Great South Bay.

 

So what is being done to combat this ongoing issue?

 

Organizations like Sustainable Long Island are tackling the problem community by community. We recently launched a new initiative entitled "Reduce Rain Runoff." Funded by the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute's (NYSP2I) Community Grants Program, this rainwater capture and stormwater management program will implement conservation practices and emphasize the importance of more wisely and carefully using Long Island's most valuable natural resource - water.

 

The 'Reduce Rain Runoff' initiative will have tangible, positive effects on the environment by reducing flooding from stormwater runoff, increasing the areas that allow for water recharge above a sole source aquifer, and lessening carbon dioxide throughout the atmosphere through the planting of new rain gardens, comprised of native plants, and bioswales. Sustainable Long Island will implement rainwater capture and stormwater runoff infrastructure projects in prominent public areas throughout the City of Long Beach and at the East Islip High School, accompanied by signage to explain its significance and importance. These projects may include some of the following green infrastructure components:

  • Rain gardens - a shallow depression that is planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses;
  • Flow-through planters - stores stormwater on top of the soil and filters pollutants;
  • Rain barrels - typically sit under any residential gutter downspout collecting rainwater to reuse in landscaping;
  • Bioswales - low-lying, excavated areas that have been planted with native vegetation to filter toxins;
  • Infiltration planters - raised structural planting beds that filter and infiltrate runoff.

But what about you? What can the average Long Islander do to reduce rain runoff and minimize stormwater pollution?

  • Keep it clean: Don't litter and add to what's already on the ground. Don't self-pollute storm drains and clear away debris when you can. Don't flush unwanted medications and other items down the toilet; take the time to drop them off at designated locations for appropriate disposal.
  • Consistent car care: Fix any leaks or spills coming from your vehicle. Always recycle used oil, antifreeze, and other related fluids. Don't wash or flush them down the drain - dispose of them properly.
  • Cut down: Minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides, especially from November to April. Don't overwater your lawn or garden. Sweep your driveway and sidewalks.
  • Go for the alternative: Use brick, gravel, cobble, stone, or permeable pavement when possible to allow water to filter naturally.
  • Focus on your furry friend: Pick up after your pets. Bag up waste. Properly discard.
  • Keep your mind on the gutter: Direct your roofing or housing drains to vegetated areas like the garden or lawn.
  • Skeptic about septics: Schedule regular inspection of your septic system. Prevent costly repairs by checking for leaks. Pump it when needed.
  • Be innovative: A rain garden collects runoff and slowly filters it into the ground, typically absorbing 30-percent more water than a patch of lawn of equal size.

Stormwater runoff is a serious problem that has the potential to harm our water quality and wildlife, has a negative impact on recreation, and can cause economic issues for communities across Long Island. Long Islanders must be mindful of daily activities that directly contribute to stormwater pollution. Let's not run-away from runoff!

 

Speaking of Reducing Rain Runoff...
Forum: Green Solutions to Stormwater Pollution
 

Citizens Campaign for the Environment, National Wildlife Federation, and the Suffolk County Planning Commission are hosting a free educational forum entitled "Green Solutions to Stormwater Pollution" on February 5, 2015. This is an opportunity for Long Island municipalities, consultants, developers, and other stakeholders, as well as the public, to learn more about green infrastructure technologies, funding options, and local success stories.

 

Green infrastructure practices, which use natural landscapes to manage stormwater, are a successful and cost-effective way to reduce flooding, save energy, prevent polluted runoff, and increase property values. Tools like rain gardens, permeable paving, green roofs, and bioswales have already been implemented on Long Island to help protect our coastlines and local waterways during rain and snow events. Come join us at this forum to learn how to make green infrastructure work for your community.

 

Sustainable Long Island will be one of the presenters at this educational forum discussing how green infrastructure can protect Long Island's waterways.  

 

When: Thursday, February 5, 2015, 1:00-4:00pm
Where: William H. Rogers Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, NY

 

This event is free and open to the public: Register today.

 

Almost Twice As Many Kids Helped By Food Stamps Than Before Recession   
22% of all children under 18 received food stamps in 2014
 

(via Newsday) - The number of children receiving benefits from food stamps in 2014 is nearly twice as high as the number receiving such assistance before the start of the recession in 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau said last week.

 

The bureau found that 22 percent of all children under 18 -- about 1 in 5 -- received food stamps in 2014, or an estimated 16 million, compared with "roughly" 9 million children -- about 1 in 8 -- in 2007, before the start of the 18-month recession that officially ended in June 2009.

 

The bureau also found that the highest percentage of children receiving food stamps lived with their mother only, 47 percent in 2014, up from 33 percent in 2007; followed by two unmarried parents, 39 percent in 2014, up from 22 percent in 2007. The percentage of children living with married parents and receiving food stamps in 2014 was 11 percent, up from 5 percent in 2007.


The bureau's statistics come from its 2014 "Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement," which officials said has collected statistics on families and living arrangements for more than 60 years.

 

While the bureau did not comment on the reason for the increase in children with food stamps, other experts noted the expansion in eligibility for the federal food stamp program, known formally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as well as more program outreach and general economic factors.

 

"Effective March 1, 2009, the regulations expanded categorical eligibility, which could have contributed to an increase from that point forward," Karen Garber, spokeswoman for Nassau County's Department of Social Services, wrote in an email.

 

Garber said the department does not differentiate between children and adults, counting only individuals who receive SNAP. In 2007, she said 28,288 individuals in Nassau County received SNAP; by the end of 2014, 66,130 individuals received the food assistance benefit.

Suffolk County experienced an increase as well: 40,800 individuals received SNAP benefits in December 2007 and by last October the number was 127,838. The bulk of the increase came from individuals and families who do not have a temporary assistance case, which is the larger welfare benefit, Social Services Commissioner John O'Neill said in an email.

 

O'Neill said other "primary drivers of the increase in SNAP caseloads" include:

 

The recession in 2008, which adversely impacted local, state and national economies.

 

The "job substitution effect," where an individual obtained a job that paid less than a prior one.

 

O'Neill added that applications for SNAP benefits can now be made online, precluding a visit to a service center. He said there had also been "marketing outreach."  

Eligibility expansions aside, Renee Wilson-Simmons, director of the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, said in an email the census bureau's data "isn't a surprise to us here at NCCP. . . . While the Great Recession may have ended, its repercussions continue to be felt among many single- and married-parent families."

 

Ross Fraser, a spokesman for the Chicago-based nonprofit Feeding America, a network of 200 food banks, said, "For the people we serve, the economic recovery has not happened for millions of these households." He added, "you will not find a food bank in the country that will tell you the need for emergency food has diminished."


A Summit on Immigration
Long Island at a Turning Point - It's Everyone's Opportunity

Long Island Wins and the Center for Civic Engagement at Hofstra University will be hosting "Long Island at a Turning Point - It's Everyone's Opportunity" on February 26th, 2015 from 9:30am - 1:30pm at Hofstra University's Student Center, North Campus in Hempstead, NY. 

 

This event will aim to define the future direction of immigrant inclusion and integration for our region. The summit will bring together the worlds of advocacy, policy, service, corporate, labor, and academia to build strategies for making the most of our region's diversity.

Break out sessions on important aspects of immigration include:  

  • Healthcare - Opportunities and Challenges Facing Immigrant Health Care on Long Island
  • Immigration Law - New Legal Opportunities and Challenges for Immigrants 
  • Media - The Role of the Media in the Immigration Debate 
  • Education - Opportunities and Challenges for School Districts and Immigrant Families 
  • Economy - Immigrants' Roles in Long Island and Regional Economies 
  • Governance - State and Local Jurisdictions: Decisions and Consequences

You can RSVP here. 

 

Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarship 
The submission deadline has been extended to February 6th

Scholarships Available for New Planners working on Long Island and Planning Students from Long Island to Attend the APA National Conference in Seattle in April 2015!

 

The Long Island Section of American Planning Association's (APA) NY Metro Chapter is pleased to announce that we will be awarding up to three Arthur Kunz Memorial Scholarships this year.  The scholarships will provide $1,500 to awardees for attendance at the APA National Planning Conference that is being held in Seattle, Washington, April 18-21, 2015.

 

Eligible applicants include Long Island entry-level planners (five or less years out of college or five years or less in a professional planning position) and students enrolled in a planning-related program (undergraduate or graduate studies).

 

If you are a new planner working on Long Island or a student of planning (or related field) from Long Island and wish to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2015 APA National Conference, please send a letter of interest and a copy of your resume to Kathy Eiseman. The letter of interest should at least include your interest in the planning field, goals for a career in planning on Long Island and what you hope to gain from attendance at the National Conference.


Together we can build a more
sustainable Long Island

 

These challenging economic times have magnified the problems we Long Islanders face each and every day. With our leaders warning us of tougher times to come, thinking regionally and acting locally is urgent. It is in all of our best interests to stay engaged and do what we can together to build a more sustainable Long Island.

 

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to Sustainable Long Island that will help support our ongoing and future work within your Long Island communities; while helping advance economic development, environmental health, and social equity!

Want community updates on various planning projects? Exciting tidbits on events, meetings, and engagements in your neighborhood? Exclusive information and the latest feedback about everything Long Island?


Real-time updates on all the news you've read today! What are you waiting for? Join us, like us, follow us, and stay informed!

 

Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Visit our blog

Sincerely,

The Board and Staff of Sustainable Long Island