Weekly Long Island water quality report: Nine sites rated poor

During the summer, a team of students and scientists led by Chris Gobler, professor of marine science at Stony Brook University and director of the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, tests the water quality weekly at about 30 locations around Long Island. The result is the Long Island Water Quality Report, which aims to provide regular snapshots of ecosystem health, with an eye to how well the region's bays, harbors, rivers and inlets support robust fishing and shellfishing activity.

A good rating indicates clear water, adequate oxygen levels and no or low levels of algae or bacteria from human or animal waste, with levels of all parameters meeting or exceeding all state and federal water quality standards.

This week’s ratings are as follows:

GOOD: Stony Brook Harbor, Port Jefferson Harbor, Mount Sinai Harbor, Fire Island Inlet, Shinnecock Inlet, Mattituck Inlet, Little Peconic Bay, Great Peconic Bay

FAIR: Oyster Bay Harbor, Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington Harbor, Hewlett Bay, Middle Bay, South Oyster Bay, western Great South Bay, eastern Great South Bay, mid-Shinnecock Bay, Peconic River, Sag Harbor, Three Mile Harbor

POOR: Hempstead Harbor, Northport Harbor, central Great South Bay, Forge River, central Moriches Bay, eastern Moriches Bay, Quantuck Bay, western Shinnecock Bay, western Flanders Bay — harmful algal bloom, low dissolved oxygen, water clarity

The Water Quality Index is for informational purposes. Be sure to check with the county health departments and New York State Department of Enviromental Conservation for details on where swimming and shellfishing are permitted.