Pattersquash Creek will run a little cleaner thanks to the concerted efforts of local activists fueled by a grant from Suffolk Legislator Jim Mazzarella.
He joined in a community cleanup with volunteers from several groups, including the Pattersquash Creek Civic Association, Save the Great South Bay, Mastic Beach Creek Defender, William Paca Middle School students, and the Boy Scouts.
Before the cleanup kicked off, Legislator Mazzarella presented the Pattersquash Civic and Save the Great South Bay with a Water Quality Protection and Restoration (WQPRP) Grant for $80,155, which they will utilize to remove invasive plant life and replace it with native species within the creek watershed area. “This project will help rejuvenate the health and ecology of Pattersquash Creek,” the legislator noted.
Residents Walt Meshenberg, the Creek Defender, and Save the Great South Bay’s Mike Lovell and Robyn Silvestri, the group’s executive director, initiated the grant request.
“Kudos to all the dedicated volunteers for their commitment to the preservation and restoration of the ecology of Pattersquash Creek,” started Mazzarella, who added, "Thank you to County Executive Ed Romaine and the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning for their support of this important project.”
Suffolk’s WQPRP program works to provide funding to municipalities and non-profit organizations to protect and restore the county’s groundwater and surface water resources.
“This is very important to the quality of life in our area,” said Frank Fugarino, Pattersquash Civic president. “The creek empties into the bay and the bay connects to the ocean; keeping them clean benefits us all.”
Creek Defender Walt Meshenberg has been a passionate steward of the the local creeks, patrolling them regularly to remove debris and taking samples to monitor water quality. “The creeks are under a lot of stress; we need to watch over them, take care of them,” he said.
The Creek Defender, a part of the Save the Great South Bay group, is active with educational outreach efforts to ensure new generations appreciate the area’s biodiversity and the need for environmental advocacy. “Community involvement has been fantastic as we work to make our local waterways cleaner and more vibrant,” Meshenberg said. “Everyone understands the impact these tributaries have on the bay and the other natural resources that make our area so desirable.” Bird populations depend on the creeks, in addition to fish, shellfish, and other wildlife, he noted.
Draining from the densely populated and low-lying Mastic Peninsula, Pattersquash is part of a vital local watershed that includes other creeks: John’s Neck, Second Neck, Lons, Home, Lawrence, Sheepen, Sheepshead, and Poospatuck. Under threat from septic pollution and land runoff, the area is targeted for long-sought sewer systems to remove the nitrogen that brings toxic algae blooms and other threats to water quality.