Peconic Estuary Program Public Input Survey

Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan 2016

The following questions ask you about your opinions on the Peconic Bays and surrounding watershed area for the purposes of the revision of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP). This document will act as the blueprint for conservation with the six townships of the Peconic Estuary (Brookhaven, East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, and Southold). Please provide feedback and comment on topics relating to challenges our bays and communities are facing. Email peptalk@peconicestuary.org with questions and visit www.peconicestuary.org for more information.

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* 1. In your opinion, how important are the following topics to the Peconic Estuary? Please rate each issue from 1 (less important) to 9 (most important).

Habitat Restoration: Habitat loss and fragmentation are the result of altering the natural landscape from land development, pollution, and climate change. Protecting and restoring critical areas that support eelgrass, wetlands, fish spawning grounds.

Nitrogen Management: Excess nitrogen loading from human activities is causing widespread disruptions in the coastal ecosystem as shown by harmful/toxic algal blooms, low dissolved oxygen, and degraded aquatic habitats.

Living Resources: PEP supports numerous projects that address the protection of shellfish, finfish and endangered species and the habitats that support them, including eelgrass, wetlands and natural shorelines.

Critical Lands Protection: Increasing development pressure is leading to the loss of open spaces and natural habitats, threatening ground/surface water quality, and stressing remaining natural communities. Protecting the remaining developable acres.

Pathogen Management: Stormwater runoff, wildlife, and onsite waste water can be the source of contamination by bacteria, etc. which may result in closure of shellfish beds and bathing beaches thus impacting economic and recreational activities.

Education and Outreach: Citizen involvement is critical to PEP's foundation and success. Bringing together all stakeholders to encourage participation and public understanding/support for estuary and watershed protection and restoration.

Climate Change Adaptation: Projections for the Long island region include air and water temperature increase, weather pattern changes, and sea level rise. Climate change has the potential to impact habitat and living resources in the Peconic Estuary.

Harmful Algal Blooms: Every year the Peconic Bays experience numerous HABs such as rust, red, brown, and mahogany tides. Negative impacts of HABs are broad from death in fish and wildlife to reduced water quality and recreational value.

Monitoring: The PEP has a robust monitoring program that assesses a range of critical indicators throughout the estuary. Monitoring is currently conducted for water quality parameters, seagrass health and extent, and atmospheric deposition.

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* 2. Please tell us what you think are the major contributors to nitrogen pollution in the Peconic Estuary. Rate the choices found below.

	Not a Contributor	Maybe a Contributor	Definitely a Contributor	I Don't Know	Neutral or No Opinion
Septic tanks and cesspools	Septic tanks and cesspools Not a Contributor	Septic tanks and cesspools Maybe a Contributor	Septic tanks and cesspools Definitely a Contributor	Septic tanks and cesspools I Don't Know	Septic tanks and cesspools Neutral or No Opinion
Sewage treatment plants	Sewage treatment plants Not a Contributor	Sewage treatment plants Maybe a Contributor	Sewage treatment plants Definitely a Contributor	Sewage treatment plants I Don't Know	Sewage treatment plants Neutral or No Opinion
Atmospheric deposition (rain)	Atmospheric deposition (rain) Not a Contributor	Atmospheric deposition (rain) Maybe a Contributor	Atmospheric deposition (rain) Definitely a Contributor	Atmospheric deposition (rain) I Don't Know	Atmospheric deposition (rain) Neutral or No Opinion
Agricultural fertilizers	Agricultural fertilizers Not a Contributor	Agricultural fertilizers Maybe a Contributor	Agricultural fertilizers Definitely a Contributor	Agricultural fertilizers I Don't Know	Agricultural fertilizers Neutral or No Opinion
Residential fertilizers	Residential fertilizers Not a Contributor	Residential fertilizers Maybe a Contributor	Residential fertilizers Definitely a Contributor	Residential fertilizers I Don't Know	Residential fertilizers Neutral or No Opinion
Industry	Industry Not a Contributor	Industry Maybe a Contributor	Industry Definitely a Contributor	Industry I Don't Know	Industry Neutral or No Opinion
Boats	Boats Not a Contributor	Boats Maybe a Contributor	Boats Definitely a Contributor	Boats I Don't Know	Boats Neutral or No Opinion

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* 3. Please select your response to each question.

	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Neutral or No opinion	Important	Very Important
How disruptive have brown tides, rust tides, red tides been to you or your business in the last 20 years?	How disruptive have brown tides, rust tides, red tides been to you or your business in the last 20 years? Not Important	How disruptive have brown tides, rust tides, red tides been to you or your business in the last 20 years? Somewhat Important	How disruptive have brown tides, rust tides, red tides been to you or your business in the last 20 years? Neutral or No opinion	How disruptive have brown tides, rust tides, red tides been to you or your business in the last 20 years? Important	How disruptive have brown tides, rust tides, red tides been to you or your business in the last 20 years? Very Important
How important do you think it is to continuing monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs)?	How important do you think it is to continuing monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs)? Not Important	How important do you think it is to continuing monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs)? Somewhat Important	How important do you think it is to continuing monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs)? Neutral or No opinion	How important do you think it is to continuing monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs)? Important	How important do you think it is to continuing monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs)? Very Important
How important are eelgrass and wetlands/saltmarshes to you?	How important are eelgrass and wetlands/saltmarshes to you? Not Important	How important are eelgrass and wetlands/saltmarshes to you? Somewhat Important	How important are eelgrass and wetlands/saltmarshes to you? Neutral or No opinion	How important are eelgrass and wetlands/saltmarshes to you? Important	How important are eelgrass and wetlands/saltmarshes to you? Very Important
How important are shellfish and finfish to you?	How important are shellfish and finfish to you? Not Important	How important are shellfish and finfish to you? Somewhat Important	How important are shellfish and finfish to you? Neutral or No opinion	How important are shellfish and finfish to you? Important	How important are shellfish and finfish to you? Very Important
How much of a threat is over-development to the east end?	How much of a threat is over-development to the east end? Not Important	How much of a threat is over-development to the east end? Somewhat Important	How much of a threat is over-development to the east end? Neutral or No opinion	How much of a threat is over-development to the east end? Important	How much of a threat is over-development to the east end? Very Important
How much of an impact will beach closures (due to high bacteria) have on your recreational activities or business?	How much of an impact will beach closures (due to high bacteria) have on your recreational activities or business? Not Important	How much of an impact will beach closures (due to high bacteria) have on your recreational activities or business? Somewhat Important	How much of an impact will beach closures (due to high bacteria) have on your recreational activities or business? Neutral or No opinion	How much of an impact will beach closures (due to high bacteria) have on your recreational activities or business? Important	How much of an impact will beach closures (due to high bacteria) have on your recreational activities or business? Very Important
How concerning is mosquito control with your community?	How concerning is mosquito control with your community? Not Important	How concerning is mosquito control with your community? Somewhat Important	How concerning is mosquito control with your community? Neutral or No opinion	How concerning is mosquito control with your community? Important	How concerning is mosquito control with your community? Very Important
How concerning is noise and light pollution to the Peconic Estuary?	How concerning is noise and light pollution to the Peconic Estuary? Not Important	How concerning is noise and light pollution to the Peconic Estuary? Somewhat Important	How concerning is noise and light pollution to the Peconic Estuary? Neutral or No opinion	How concerning is noise and light pollution to the Peconic Estuary? Important	How concerning is noise and light pollution to the Peconic Estuary? Very Important
How concerning is climate change and coastal resiliency to the Peconic Estuary?	How concerning is climate change and coastal resiliency to the Peconic Estuary? Not Important	How concerning is climate change and coastal resiliency to the Peconic Estuary? Somewhat Important	How concerning is climate change and coastal resiliency to the Peconic Estuary? Neutral or No opinion	How concerning is climate change and coastal resiliency to the Peconic Estuary? Important	How concerning is climate change and coastal resiliency to the Peconic Estuary? Very Important

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* 4. Please select your response to each question.

	Yes	No
Do you think fertilizers are the main cause of harmful algal blooms?	Do you think fertilizers are the main cause of harmful algal blooms? Yes	Do you think fertilizers are the main cause of harmful algal blooms? No
Do you think PEP should continue to restore habitats such as eelgrass and wetlands?	Do you think PEP should continue to restore habitats such as eelgrass and wetlands? Yes	Do you think PEP should continue to restore habitats such as eelgrass and wetlands? No
Should more area be designated as preserves?	Should more area be designated as preserves? Yes	Should more area be designated as preserves? No
Do you think it is important to include bacteria/pathogens as a priority topic in the new CCMP?	Do you think it is important to include bacteria/pathogens as a priority topic in the new CCMP? Yes	Do you think it is important to include bacteria/pathogens as a priority topic in the new CCMP? No
Are you aware of the Suffolk County Fertilizer Law which bans all fertilizer application from November 1st to April 1st?	Are you aware of the Suffolk County Fertilizer Law which bans all fertilizer application from November 1st to April 1st? Yes	Are you aware of the Suffolk County Fertilizer Law which bans all fertilizer application from November 1st to April 1st? No
Would you take advantage of a septic system financial incentive to upgrade to one that pollutes less if given the opportunity?	Would you take advantage of a septic system financial incentive to upgrade to one that pollutes less if given the opportunity? Yes	Would you take advantage of a septic system financial incentive to upgrade to one that pollutes less if given the opportunity? No
Would you consider alternative wastewater treatment systems on your residential or commercial property?	Would you consider alternative wastewater treatment systems on your residential or commercial property? Yes	Would you consider alternative wastewater treatment systems on your residential or commercial property? No

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* 5. Use three adjectives to describe the estuary you want to see.

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* 6. Why is protecting the Peconic Estuary important to you? (Please feel free to add comments or a narrative below).

My business is here

Because it is in my neightborhood

Boating, sailing, paddle sports

Relaxation and recreation

Historical and cultural reasons

Fishing opportunities

Clean water

It's where I grew up

The future of my children

The beaches and access to safe/clean beaches

For fresh and local seafood

To escape the suburbs/cities

Other (please specify as many as you would like)

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* 7. List 3-5 ways the Peconic Bays can be improved.

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* 8. Where do you learn about local issues (Please check all that apply)

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Vimeo

Radio (please indicate which station in the comment box)

Newspaper (please indicate which publication in the comment box)

Online blog or website (please indicate which site in the comment box)

Other (please specify)

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* 1. In your opinion, how important are the following topics to the Peconic Estuary? Please rate each issue from 1 (less important) to 9 (most important).

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* 2. Please tell us what you think are the major contributors to nitrogen pollution in the Peconic Estuary. Rate the choices found below.

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* 3. Please select your response to each question.

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* 4. Please select your response to each question.

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* 5. Use three adjectives to describe the estuary you want to see.

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* 6. Why is protecting the Peconic Estuary important to you? (Please feel free to add comments or a narrative below).

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* 7. List 3-5 ways the Peconic Bays can be improved.

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* 8. Where do you learn about local issues (Please check all that apply)

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* 9. Please use one or two sentences to describe your vision of a "healthy estuary".