Brookhaven Highway Department Receives $230,000 Suffolk County Water Quality Protection Grant for Center Moriches Project

Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro has announced the Town’s receipt of a $230,000 grant from the Suffolk County Water Quality Protection Restoration Program and Land Steward Initiative. The funding will be used to mitigate flooding and improve water quality along Old Neck Road and Old Neck Creek in Center Moriches.

The project, expected to cost $460,000 with a $230,000 Town match, will enable stormwater infiltration at the end of Old Neck Road. Currently, stormwater that falls onto the roadway, flows directly into Old Neck Creek and the Forge River, leading to degraded water quality conditions in the river. Improvements to the road end, coupled with the installation of an infiltration system, will support the natural infiltration of stormwater runoff and improve water quality in the river.

In 2019, the Town of Brookhaven initiated an assessment of South Shore road ends to identify the most vulnerable in need of mitigation measures to improve resiliency and protect water quality. The proposed grant project is a result of the Town of Brookhaven’s Climate Smart South Shore Communities Plan.

“In recent years, South Shore communities have been greatly impacted by large-scale storm events, resulting in significant damage to public assets,” said Superintendent Losquadro. “I am grateful to have received this recent water quality award and hope crews will be able to begin work in the near future.”

Councilman Panico said, “Grants such as this are key in helping the Town of Brookhaven protect its constituents, infrastructure, and vital waterways. We will continue to actively pursue funding opportunities that will facilitate important drainage projects such as the one slated for Old Neck Road in Center Moriches.”