Friends of the Bay - Working to keep the oyster in Oyster Bay.

This award recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to improving environmental quality during the prior year; have demonstrated a high level of achievement; and have created unique or location-specific benefits, produced results that are sustainable or reproducible, or increased public involvement in environmental action.

This award is a tribute to the high level of commitment and professionalism of our volunteers.

Our water quality monitoring program is featured in March 2009 Northeast Boating Magazine, here's what they had to say:

"The clarity of the water is due in large part to the huge numbers of shellfish that inhabit the bay and the efforts of a nonprofit group called Friends of the Bay (FOB). Engaged in what they call "citizen science," the members of FOB work hard to maintain the bay's clean water and namesake bivalves."

Frances Cerra Whittelsey

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Friends of the Bay has received word from Legislator Diane Yatauro's office that work will be commencing on the construction project at the Birches. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on April 16 at 10:30 am. Surveying crews are working now to prepare for the commencement of the construction of Phase One of the project.

Community members gathered in the OB town hall on Tuesday night to get the first glimpse of the proposed eastern waterfront plan. This is still early in the planning stage, (it is not the final plan) all comments received at the public hearing will be considered.

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• >>> download the report powerpoint

The Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Complex was declared a federal no discharge zone (NDZ) on October 16th. A no-discharge zone is an area of a waterbody or an entire waterbody into which the discharge of sewage (whether treated or untreated) is completely prohibited. NDZs are designed to provide an additional level of protection to address water quality issues associated with sewage contamination.

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Senator Schumer visited the Birches in Locust Valley today, to announce that he is pushing for $500 to $700 billion in new federal funding targeted at upgrading sewer and water infrastructure on Long Island and across the country. This new funding would go to projects that are "shovel ready", such as the one to connect the homes in the Birches to the Glen Cove sewage treatment plant.

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