LI BRIEFS

SMITHTOWN/Town to start next phase of Nissequogue dredging

After completing the dredging of 1,200 feet along tributaries of the Nissequogue River to relieve some of the high groundwater under homes in the area, Smithtown has decided to start the next phase without waiting for county money.

"In order to maintain the momentum generated by the success of Phase 1, the town would like to move immediately to Phase 2, a 2,600-foot stretch of the river immediately south of NYS 347," Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio wrote to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy in an April 28 memo. Vecchio said there was urgency since dredging takes place in the summer months through September. The town will pay the cost and hope to be reimbursed 50 percent by the county.

Legis. John M. Kennedy Jr. (R-Nesconset) introduced a resolution on Wednesday to fund $500,000 for the project, but the town said the money would most likely not be available during the dredging window.

Homes in the area have been besieged with flooding problems because of rising groundwater. The dredging hopes to relieve some of it by moving the stagnant water clogged by debris.

- STACEY ALTHERR

ISLANDWIDE/Federal official will hear LI fishermen's complaints

The head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will visit Long Island this summer to meet with commercial and recreational fishermen on their complaints about federal regulations.

Administrator Jane Lubchenco agreed to the request from Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)when the New York Democrat met with her last week. Schumer told Lubchenco it would be valuable for her to hear firsthand the economic impact of what he called imprecise and inflexible restrictions on the industry.

Jim Hutchinson Jr., managing director of the national Recreational Fishing Alliance and president of the New York Sportfishing Federation, said he was pleased Lubchenco will "listen to the concerns of New York's fishermen at a meeting outside of the Beltway comfort zone and on the home turf of Long Island's fishing communities."

Schumer said he explained how recently released information showed NOAA's early estimates for the black sea bass catch in 2009 were too high and resulted in significantly lower catch quotas in 2010 for recreational fishermen. He called for an immediate expansion of the season this year, and Lubchenco said she would look into the issue.

Local fishermen complain the quotas don't make sense and put them at a disadvantage compared with fishermen from neighboring states.

- BILL BLEYER