Changes in and About Squassux Landing

The BVA owns and operates Squassux Landing, a 13-acre boat basin, open to all members of the community, on the Carmans River. In Chapter II, page 54, the LWRP recommends that our marina be rezoned from J2 to “Waterfront.” In Chapter IV, page 12, the report again recommends “the land use for Squassux Landing should be changed from COM to MCOM.”

While there is generic definition of these categories on page V-13, we have been informed by the Town of Brookhaven that currently no such zoning category exists. While the BVA thinks the concept of having both Squassux Landing and other marinas rezoned from J2 to “Marine Commercial” or “waterfront” as defined in the LWRP is a good idea, we would need to know the consequence of this, if any, on the current operation of Squassux Landing, and we would like to see this change of zone enacted as law and on the books before endorsing such a change.

In Chapter IV, page 17, there is a recommendation to “improve fishing access at Squassux Landing road end.” Currently, the residents in that area are up in arms over the tota1 lack of code enforcement at the eastern end of Beaver Dam Road. Despite repeated requests for police protection and calls for help to the Town, blaring car horns and “boom-boxes” are still active at 3 a.m., along with screeching tires, piles of garbage, prostitutes and drug dealers. The BVA feels that the suggestion of planned additions at the end of Beaver Dam Road should be deleted from the LWRP, and in its place recommends that the Town post one of its Code Enforcement vehicles there seven days a week, from 11 P.M. to 6 A.M., to make shouldering this waterfront access point less of a burden on our community and to encourage its use for water-related activities.

Below are listed a number of minor corrections we would like to see made on pages II-51 through II-55 of the DEIS:

B. Existing Land Use and Zoning

In this section it should be added: Because the Carmans River and Beaver Dam Creek have been designated Significant Fish and Wildlife Areas by the NYSDOS. Personal Water Craft (Jet Skis. etc.) should be prohibited from both of these rivers.

And: The recently installed road storm drain pipe system installed by the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department at the end of Beaver Dam Road. which empties directly into the Carmans River. should be removed. Also. the storm drain pipe installed in a new development on Prairie Lane. which goes directly into the Beaver Dam Creek, should be removed. Swales and dry wells would provide better filtering before entering directly into the surface waters of these rivers.

And: Dredged spoiled sites. especially on public lands, should be rehabilitated.

Also, on page II-54 “… Erosion and flooding are not a problem in LID II” This should be reworded to read “…not critical problems….” At least once a year the houses at the end of Bay Road and on River Lane are flooded, as is Squassux Landing (see photo of October 1991 flood).

D. Public Access and Recreation

This section missed the fact that the area between Montauk Highway and Sunrise Highway is the main access point for canoes along the Carmans River. Canoes can be launched on the east side by the public access parking lot and ramp provided by the NYSDEC and on the west side by Carmans River Canoe, the largest commercial canoe livery on the river.

E. Underutilized and Abandoned Sites

The report states: “The Carmans River could probably support additional canoeing without adversely affecting its environmental quality.” In the July 28, 1990, headline Newsday story “Rolling on the Rivers,” Art Cooley, secretary of the board of the Environmental Defense Fund, warned that if the trend toward increased use continues, it could pose environmental problems, saying, “You could put a mob of 50 canoes out there and scare away the wildlife.” However, the article seemed to say that canoe users were generally kind to the environment and that officials didn’t think canoe users are a problem.

F. Fishing

The DEIS states: “There is no commercial fishing or shell fishing undertaken in LID II.” We have five commercial fishermen working out of Squassux Landing, and there are another half dozen or so leaving from the Beaver Dam Creek daily. In the LID II section of the Great South Bay, there are hundreds of commercial crab pots as well as gill nets and commercial pound nets along the shore between the Beaver Dam Creek and Carmans River.

G. Hunting

The DEIS states: “Hunting is not pursued in LID II. The wetlands- are important waterfowl habitats.” Waterfowl hunting is extensive along the Beaver Dam Creek and sections of the bay shoreline. Because of the decline in migratory waterfowl, as well as to be consistent with the general habitat protection that characterizes LID II, the LWRP should suggest that waterfowl hunting not be pursued in the Beaver Dam Creek and along the mainland shoreline in LID II.