Great South Bay

Map showing the location of the Great South Bay

Great South Bay is a bay situated between Long Island and Fire Island, in the State of New York. It is approximately 45 miles (72 km) long. It's protected from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island, a barrier island, as well as the eastern end of Jones Beach Island and Captree Island.

Robert Moses Causeway adjoins the Great South Bay Bridge, which leads to Robert Moses State Park.

The bay is accessible from the ocean through Fire Island Inlet, which lies between the western tip of Fire Island and the eastern tip of Jones Beach Island.

Sunset over the bay

The bay adjoins South Oyster Bay on its western end and Patchogue and Moriches Bays at the east end.

In the early 17th century, European settlers first encountered the native Meroke tribes. Among the earliest British families were the Smith, Carman and Hewlett families

Rapid population growth on the northern shore of the bay has made it a popular destination for yachts and other pleasure craft. During spring and summer, Great South Bay is a popular area for boating and fishing.

Environmental concerns

A man dives into the Bay

The rapid population growth around the shores of Great South Bay has led to numerous environmental problems. Eel grass beds, an important habitat for many fish species, have been lost from the western reaches of Great South Bay, in particular where the waste water treatment plants of the western communities pollute the bay. In the mid-bay and eastern part of the bay, storm water runoff, which contains pollutants and excess nitrogen from fertilized lawns and inefficient septic systems, has led to increases in algae and other pollution-related issues.

In the late nineteenth century Great South Bay provided many of the clams consumed throughout the region and even the country. The first oysters to be exported from the US to Europe came from Great South Bay. By the latter 20th century, a significant percentage of the habitat was lost and the clam population was dramatically reduced, devastating the neighboring communities that depended on it. In the 19th century thousands of baymen worked the waters of Great South Bay. Now, only a scant few can be seen.

The majority of these concerns could be alleviated due to the Great South Bay's new-found ability to begin flushing itself out. Recently the largest storm on record since 1938, Hurricane Sandy, made land fall with devastating impact to Fire Island sea shores, including multiple breeches. The largest forming just south of Bellport, Long Island. This was formerly known as Old Inlet. Residents were concerned it would have effects on tidal increases and potential flooding, when in actuality it has allowed the bay to relieve some of its captive water which ahas changed the salinity and nitrogen levels in the bay. The Bay has finally, after roughly 75 years, begun flushing itself out which may improve the water condition within the bay. The only thing holding the breach open are the regulations set forth by the US Government National Wildlife Preserve, which has a seven mile stretch of land (The Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness) which prohibit any unauthorized parties from performing any kind of man made changes. There have been a number of ongoing public meeting discussing the future of the Inlet. All the other breaches were closed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

See also

South Shore Estuary

External links

• Back To Baysics - Environmental awareness campaign in efforts to making our Great South Bay great again.
• Great South Bay Project
• Peconic Baykeepers The Waterkeeper Alliance Member for the Great South Bay