Save the Sound / Village of Mamaroneck Collaboration

On Tuesday,  June 18, at 5:30 PM, Marine Education Center Staff, Mayor Norman Rosenblum, Members of the Board of Trustees, VIllage Manager Richard Slingerland and other interested Mamaroneck residents attended a meeting in the Harbor Island beach pavilion to learn about a special  "Save The Sound " summer project: monitoring water from storm water outfalls along Long Island Sound, specifically in Westchester County.

Cameron Okie, Save the Sound’s Summer Outreach Coordinator, did the presentation.

"Save the Sound is undertaking a collaborative effort this summer to help communities understand if and where significant sources of bacterial pollution might be entering their streams and Long Island Sound through storm water pipe outfalls.

Save the Sound will start this pilot program in July. The plan is to conduct water quality testing at perhaps a dozen storm sewer outfalls in Westchester communities. This water monitoring program will track down sewage leaks that both effect the Sound and close beaches.

Save the Sound's trained staff and volunteers will provide Mamaroneck (at no cost) with the labor and certified bacterial testing needed to help identify and confirm where significant sources of bacteria pollution might be coming from within the Village's stormwater system. Dick Harris, who oversees water quality testing for Earthplace’s Harbor Watch program in Connecticut, has agreed to provide training for Save the Sound and its volunteers.

The hope is that the data might help municipalities track down the sources of the pollution that causes local beaches to close so often in summer."

The Village of Mamaroneck has signed on and water sampling has begun!

On Tuesday, July 2 at 11:15 AM, volunteers met with Cameron Okie, in the A&P Parking lot on Mamaroneck Avenue to start the ball rolling!

Marine Education Center Program Coordinators Katherine Desmond, Sara Evans, and Jim Desmond assisted Cameron, as did Village resident Stuart Tiekert. The first outfall sites sampled were in the Mamaroneck River behind the A&P, and in the East and  West Basins of Mamaroneck Harbor.

Future dates are scheduled for: July 15, 22, and 29 with possible additions. Rain or Shine

The work involves helping to log in data, and carrying lightweight sampling equipment, including a small cooler for the samples.

If you are interested in joining the "The Team", please contact Cameron Okie, see below. 

He'll put you on the email list and will confirm the next field trips.

Cameron Okie
Summer Outreach Coordinator

Save the Sound
566 East Boston Post Road, 2nd Floor
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
(914) 574-7407

Champions for Long Island Sound