Pine Barrens Society

Board of Directors

547 East Main Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

 Did you know the Peconic River is a New York State Designated Scenic and Recreational River under Article 15 Title 27 of the Environmental Conservation Law (Wild, Scenic & Recreational Rivers Permit Program)?

 Do you believe the Peconic River is a valuable natural resource worth preserving and enhancing?

 Do you believe the massive fish kills in the Peconic River during the month of June 2015 were a result of nitrogen pollution?

 Do you believe out-dated sanitary systems and stormwater runoff contribute to nitrogen pollution and overall low water quality of the Peconic River?

If you answered “Yes” to these questions, then you should also say “Yes” to the proposed Kent Animal Shelter re-development project!

The Kent Animal Shelter has received a NYS DEC Freshwater Wetlands permit and Wild, Scenic & Recreational Rivers permit for the proposed re-development project. The project meets NYS DEC standards because is calls for removal of out-dated cesspools and buildings from the shoreline of the Peconic River, restoration of over a quarter an acre of wetland buffer area and new sanitary disposal and stormwater drainage systems setback hundreds of feet from the Peconic River. The purpose of the regulations of the Pine Barrens Core Preservation Area is to protect the sole-source aquifer for drinking water purposes. The groundwater at the Kent Animal Shelter property flows directly into the Peconic River and eventually the Peconic Bay; it does not contribute to the aquifer and drinking water.

The proposed re-development of the Kent Animal Shelter incorporates the cleaning and abandonment of the existing non-conforming sanitary system in accordance with Suffolk County Department of Health Services standards. The new sanitary system will decrease nitrogen loads to the Peconic River as it will be located 300 linear feet from the Peconic River and will have a minimum vertical separation of 2 feet to groundwater. The stormwater drainage infrastructure will be essential to decreasing stormwater runoff into the Peconic River and associated nutrients, pathogens and sediments.

The densely re-vegetated buffer will separate the Peconic River from the upland buildings and will filter nutrients, sediments and other contaminants, further decreasing the amount of nitrogen entering the Peconic River. The proposed project would restore the property with the native vegetation that defines Long Island ecosystems, including the Central Pine Barrens, which the property is currently lacking.

Improvement of water quality, through reduction in nutrients, pathogens and sediments, is key to preservation and protection of surface water and groundwater. The proposed Kent Animal Shelter re-development project would advance the goals of the Pine Barrens Society by improving the water quality of the Peconic River. The benefits of this proposed project are countless and there are no detriments. So why is the Pine Barrens Society trying to stop this project? Please reconsider your position and join us in support of the Kent Animal Shelter bettering the environment.

Thank you.