New Data Shows Alarming Nitrogen Levels In Long Islands Waterways

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SHINNECOCK BAY, N.Y.(CBSNewYork) According to new data released by marine scientists on Wednesday, Long Island is in crisis mode when it comes to its waterways.

As CBS 2s Jennifer McLogan reported, commercial fisherman Kenny Raynor, of East Quogue, has seen dramatic and worrisome changes along the coast of Long Island.

It affects everything the fish, the wildlife, the birds. Nothing comes into the bay because theres too much nitrogen in the bay, Raynor said.

Too much nitrogen in the water means marine life swims away or dies off. Fin fish and shellfish cannot survive without enough oxygen and toxic algae takes over, McLogan reported.

In a startling new study by Stony Brook scientists, more than two-thirds ofthe Islandscoastal waters this summer showed poor to lethal amounts of oxygen.

Researchers used water monitors at 30 sites;of those sites, 21 failed, McLogan reported.

Sites with the worst oxygen levels include Westhampton Beach, Huntington Bay, Shinnecock and Flanders Bay.

By makingcontinuous measurements 24-7 all through the summer, we caught these times and periods where the oxygen levels would go to zero and stay there for an extended period of timeabsolutely dangerous, Professor Christopher Gobler said.

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New Data Shows Alarming Nitrogen Levels In Long Islands Waterways