Ana Ekeren, project assistant with Cornell Cooperative Extesion in Southold,...

Ana Ekeren, project assistant with Cornell Cooperative Extesion in Southold, pulls scallop nets from the Peconic bay in Orient. A scallop restoration project launching ceremony was held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County in Southold, Friday. A grant was presented to Cornell in order to help restore the bay scallop population in the Peconic Estuary, which will help to restore the scallop fisheries. (June 15, 2012) Credit: Randee Daddona

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today will help mark the 20th anniversary of the Peconic Estuary’s designation as an Estuary of National Significance.

Bellone will be joined by the East End’s federal, state, county and town elected leaders, as well as state and federal environmental officials.

The estuary, which covers 125,000 acres of land and 158,000 acres of water, stretches from Brookhaven National Lab and covers several bays before ending in Block Island Sound off Montauk Point. As an offshoot of the National Estuary Program, the multi-jurisdictional Peconic Estuary Program was formed to develop and implement a comprehensive management plan for the watershed.

Today’s event will be held at 11 a.m. at Hubbard County Park in Flanders.

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After 47 years, affordable housing ... Let's Go: Williamsburg winter village ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV

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After 47 years, affordable housing ... Let's Go: Williamsburg winter village ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV

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