Three Mile Harbor: Head of the Harbor

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Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task force is a volunteer-run, citizen science initiative and water quality monitoring program. The Eastern Long Island Surfrider Chapter has partnered with two local organizations, The Concerned Citizens of Montauk, and the Peconic Baykeeper to sample 50 locations on Eastern Long Island including ocean and bay beaches, ponds and lakes that are used recreationally and creeks that discharge into these coastal waters.The Blue Water Task Force tests both marine and freshwater sites for enterococcus, a coliform bacteria that indicates fecal pollution. Water samples are collected weekly from June to September. Testing is conducted bi-weekly during the fall (October to December) and monthly from January to May. Blue Water Task Force results are compared to water quality criteria established by the EPA to protect public health in recreational waters. Test results are expressed as the Most Probable Number (MPN) of enterococcus cfu (colony forming units) per 100 mL seawater by using the IDEXX Quanti-Tray/2000 MPN Table. All water quality results are posted online for anyone to view or download at go.surfrider.org/BWTF Weekly water quality reports are also distributed via email. Sign up to receive these reports by emailing chenn@surfrider.org with the subject “Interest In Water Quality Alert.” When a site is marked Green, they have meet the recreational water quality criteria (between 0 and 104 MPN/100 mL). When marked Red, results have exceeded recreational water quality criteria (above 104 MPN/100 mL). All data can be viewed at go.surfrider.org/BWTF. Any additional questions about Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force program or our results can also be addressed to Colleen Henn, chenn@surfrider.org.