More protection sought for Carmans River

Hoping to bolster protection of the ecologically delicate Carmans River, two local environmental groups are petitioning the state to add the river to a list of "impaired" waterways.

The environmental groups Peconic Baykeeper and the local chapter of Trout Unlimited want the Carmans River added to the state Department of Environmental Conservation's 2012 "impaired waters" list.

The petition by the two groups seeks tighter restrictions on nearby development than the Town of Brookhaven is considering in its own protection plan for Carmans River.

"The town plan is deficient in addressing this," said Kevin McAllister of Peconic Baykeeper.

A Brookhaven Town spokesman said he could not comment specifically on the petition. "The Town will not comment since the issue relates to a matter that is under litigation," Jack Krieger said in an email, referring to a lawsuit filed against the town over the recently-approved Meadows at Yaphank development, which a local advocacy group contends would threaten the nearby Carmans and jeopardize drinking water. "However, the Draft Carmans River Watershed Protection and Management Plan, which addresses nitrates, is available to the public on the town website at www.brookhaven.org."

One local civic leader said the extra state protection would make the river eligible for federal funds under the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water Act.

"It mandates that the town move to protect the river while the river is still viable," said MaryAnne Johnston of the Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization.

The Carmans River runs 10 miles from Middle Island to Bellport Bay. Brookhaven officials and environmentalists have been crafting proposed laws intended to steer development away from 9,100 acres of sensitive Carmans River watershed. But McAllister -- who was a member of the committee that developed the draft on which Brookhaven's legislation would be based -- and Johnston said the plans don't do enough.

"None of it is mandatory," Johnston said of Brookhaven's plans. "None of it is moving forward."

McAllister said his top concern is that a limit be imposed on the amount of pollutants entering the river, mainly through wastewater.

The petition was filed in late October. "Albany has received the petition and it's currently being reviewed," said Aphrodite Montalvo, DEC spokeswoman.