Elected officials join environmental advocates for a tour of the Peconic River Estuary.


Elected officials join environmental advocates for a tour of the Peconic River Estuary. | Suffolk County

The Peconic Estuary—a waterway of national significance and one of Long Island’s greatest natural treasures—supports a rich marine ecosystem, from oysters and bay scallops to eelgrass meadows and migrating waterfowl. It also helps sustain the East End’s economy, fueling commercial fishing, shellfish harvesting, and a thriving tourism industry. Yet decades of nitrogen pollution, habitat loss, and the collapse of the scallop population have put its future at risk, making restoration efforts more urgent than ever.

Two major initiatives in Riverhead—the Terrys Creek Restoration and the Living Shoreline at Indian Island County Park—are among the recently completed projects to restore the estuary’s resilience. To view the progress firsthand, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Congressman Nick LaLota, and Legislator Catherine Stark joined scientists and advocates aboard the Long Island Aquarium’s Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat on a trip guided by staff from the Peconic Estuary Partnership, Stony Brook University, and the Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

“As a former legislator representing the East End, I am all too aware of the environmental degradation faced, whether in terms of water quality or the collapse of the bay scallop population,” said Romaine. “I am also acutely aware of the progress we’ve made in the preservation of habitat and improvements made to our bay to protect our keystone species: oysters, kelp, and shoreline grasses.”

The Terrys Creek project focused on restoring a tidal marsh that had been cut off from natural flushing. Crews reopened an old channel and installed a culvert beneath the park access road, reconnecting the creek to its wetlands. More than 65,000 native plants—low marsh Spartina alterniflora and high marsh Spartina patens—were planted to revive ecological functions such as nutrient filtering, tidal exchange, and organic cycling. The restored marsh improves water quality and creates habitat for fish, shellfish, and coastal birds.

At Indian Island Park, a 275-acre preserve at the mouth of the Peconic River, erosion had been steadily eating away the coast. The new “Living Shoreline” uses natural features—rock sills, tidal plantings, and marsh grasses—to stabilize the land while also creating habitat. Unlike hardened seawalls, the soft shoreline design adapts to rising seas and storms, offering long-term protection for both wildlife and park visitors. The project also respected the site’s cultural significance, avoiding excavation that could disturb ancient Native American burial grounds.

“Protecting this estuary is not just about preserving wildlife—it’s about safeguarding our economy, our recreation, and the natural beauty that makes this region special,” said Legislator Stark. “These projects show how science-based restoration can make a real difference for our communities and our environment.”

The Peconic is one of only 28 national estuaries recognized under the federal Clean Water Act. Its wetlands and shorelines protect communities from flooding, while its bays and creeks provide habitat for species that drive the East End’s shellfish and recreational fishing industries. However, excessive nitrogen from outdated septic systems, agricultural runoff, and stormwater threatens the estuary, leading to harmful algal blooms, fish kills, and the decline of once-abundant eelgrass beds.

The restoration projects are part of the Peconic Estuary Partnership’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, which identifies priority actions for water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and climate resilience. Suffolk County has also preserved numerous properties adjacent to the estuary to protect surface waters and sensitive ecosystems.

By combining habitat restoration with water quality initiatives, environmental advocates say Long Island is beginning to turn the tide. “These efforts show what’s possible when science, government, and the community work together,” said Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “The Peconic Estuary is irreplaceable, and every acre restored brings us closer to a healthier, more resilient future.”

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Elected officials join environmental advocates for a tour of the Peconic River Estuary.

Officials hop on the boat to get a first hand look at the Peconic Estuary.