ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN MARINE WATERS SURROUNDING SAG HARBOR VILLAGE
By Christopher J. Gobler
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Here is the updated Gobler study on water quality at and around Havens Beach. The results are depressing, but not surprising. In fact we have stated repeatedly that the volume of storm run-off flowing onto the beach is unsustainable, and this analysis proves our point.

The report shows that bacterial contamination in the waters at Havens Beach showed no improvement following the incorporation of the new drainage system. The new drainage system incorporated even more water from the village roads, and sidewalks - with a supposedly improved sponge filter.

We are however pleased to hear that the Chair of the Harbor Committee is now looking towards a more sustainable solution to storm water runoff: restoring the damaged wetlands that once protected the beach.

We look forward to progress, and sustainable solutions.


Havens Beach Heavy Rain Even - December 2020
Survey & Images By Jean Held (Thank You Jean!)

THE GROSSER ENGINEERING PLAN NEEDS TO BE CHANGED!

The Grosser Engineering plan will increase the amount of water flowing through dreen in rain events. Their plan also calls for regular cutting of the phragmites which will increase the speed of the water through the drain to the bay. The lower photo shows shows the amount of erosion in the present dreen system. The erosion will only be worse when the amount and speed of drain water increases.

We ask the Village to drop the cutting of phragmites from the Grosser plan. The phragmites serves to slow down the water flow,  absorbs polutants, and prevents upland erosion.  ​
BEFORE THE RAIN......
Before the rain event of Aug 28 shows dreen water pooling and stagnating on the upper beach. Two kids played in it and opened it to drain which it didn't.  The drain requires repeated maintenance to keep open the water path to the bay to avoid stagnation.
 AFTER THE RAIN......
​After: Shows the dreen water rushing out with great       force and eroding the beach and thus depositing upland beach sand and silt into bay and thus creating a dangerous soft sand delta in the bay. Waders have and may sink into the unexpected soft bay bottom.

Friends of Havens Beach Strongly Disagree with the Answers Engineers Submitted on the Coastal Assessment Form of Havens beach......

The PWGC Coastal Assessment Form does not represent the villager's perspective of their beach.
Please read the full report (scroll down), some excerpts are immediately below- it is pretty shocking....

HAVENS IS OUR SCENIC RESOURCE AND NEEDS TO BE REVITALIZED AS A HEALTHY WETLAND AREA WITH ITS ECOSYSTEM INTACT

HAVENS IS A BUFFER AGAINST THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE (FLOODING, STORM-SURGES, POOR WATER QUALITY)
 
THE DREEN CAUSES MORE EROSION WEAKENING HAVENS ABILITY TO ABSORB FLOOD WATER AND THE NITROGEN AND FECAL POLLUTION FROM STORM-WATER PUTS THE BAY AT MORE RISK OF
​BROWN TIDE & HYPOXIA

See the full report here..

This is the engineers plan:  a 15'' cement pipe alongside the old one....
This is what needs to be considered: how will additional storm-water run-off effect the rust tide and hypoxia issues.....

Friends of Havens Beach ©2018