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LONG ISIiAND WETLANDS PROTECTIVE PLANS 



The wetlands of Long Island have long been a cause for concern to 

 those worried about the rapid loss of our estuaries. There is a lengthy 

 history of political controversy over fillings and alleged dredging 

 violations. 



It has been estimated that 12.5 percent of these irreplaceable lands 

 was lost between 1954 and 1959, and that at present 30 percent of Long 

 Island's remaining wetlands is in immediate danger, while another 

 39 percent will be endangered in the foreseeable future. In addition, 

 of 29 cases of dredging by the Corps of Engineers, undertaken be- 

 tween 1964 and 1966 over the objections of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service, 21 were in the Long Island area (V-3-14). 



This has spurred legislative action on both State and Federal level 

 to protect the rapidly disappearing estuarine resources of Long Island. 

 In 1966 Congressman Herbert Tenzer, Democrat, of New York, of 

 the fifth district, introduced legislation to create a National Wetlands 

 Area in south Long Island. Broadened to include other estuarine 

 areas. House bill H.R. 15770 barely failed to pass in the 89th Congress 

 and was finally enacted as Public Law 90-454, the National Estuary 

 Protection Act, in 1968 by the 90th Congress. 



At a;bout the same time. New York State passed the Long Island 

 Wetlands Act, which provides that the States and localities share the 

 costs on a 50-50 basis of maintaining, operating, and developing 

 county or municipally owned wetlands that have been dedicated to 

 conservation purposes. At present 15,500 acres, mostly in the town of 

 Hempstead, are protected and authorities plan to extend the act's 

 coverage to another 31,000 acres. 



Also, a government instrumentality has recently been created in 

 recognition of the importance to Long Island of its marine environ- 

 ment. In 1965 the Nassau-Suffolk Regional Planning Board created 

 an oceanographic committee which prepared a report of the status 

 and potential of Long Island's marine environment with recommen- 

 dations on duck and vessel pollution and on regulating marine sand 

 and gravel dredging (V-3-15). The report also recommended a com- 

 prehensive research and planning program to remedy present manage- 

 ment and coordination deficiencies. 



Following the committee's report, a regional marine resources coun- 

 cil was created by the planning board in 1967 to act in an advisory 

 capacity on all matters involving Long Island's marine resources on 

 an ad hoc basis and to formulate a long-range management plan. The 

 council serves as an informal coordinating agency and also brings 

 together various nongovernmental and private interests through its 

 bimonthly meetings. The council is now funding a research program 

 and has been instrumental in bringing about improved methods for 

 duck farm waste disposal, elimination of DDT used as a pesticide 

 in several areas, and greater attention to improve wetland use and 

 sewer outfall locations. 



MASSACHUSETTS LOCAL CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS 



Recently, gains have been made in Massachusetts in recognizing 

 conservation needs and effecting appropriate programs. During this 



