WANTAGH, NY – As part of his ongoing Healthy Nassau initiative, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) were joined by The Nature Conservancy and a group of volunteers to remove invasive plants from Mill Pond Park in Wantagh. This effort complements $20 million worth of pond improvement projects Suozzi has led on south shore ponds over the last several years.

“The ponds on the south shore are some of Nassau County’s greatest community and environmental assets and that is why I am pleased to announce the great strides we have taken to protect and improve them,” said Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi. “Removing invasive plants like water chestnut is essential to ensuring a ‘Healthy Nassau’ because they not only damage the lands and waters that native plants and animals need to survive, they hurt economies and threaten human well-being.”

The plant, water chestnut, is a concern to both people and for nature. Mill Pond is one of only two sites on Long Island that has this species and therefore is a priority for eradication. Water chestnut is an annual floating plant with bright green leaves that invades shallow to deep, fresh water habitats in the northeastern United States. It forms dense, floating mats on the water’s surface while rooted to the bottom. Leaves visible on the surface of the water are alternate and triangular in shape.

“The natural beauty of Nassau County and its waterways are being threatened by invasive non-native plant species, and Nassau County’s ponds and bays need our help to keep them pristine, and this is one way of ensuring that the natural beauty of our communities will exist for generations to come,” said Legislator Dave Denenberg. "Invasive non-native plant species make their way into Nassau’s waterways when aquarium owners dump their fish tanks, unaware that the exotic plant species being dumped can wreak havoc with a delicate ecosystem."

“The best time of year to remove this harmful plant is in late spring or early summer before it sets seed. The seeds are viable for up to ten years so control efforts must be conducted for many years, but luckily this plant has only been found in two locations on Long Island,” said Kathy Schwager, invasive species specialist for The Nature Conservancy on Long Island. “Pulling this weed is a win-win situation for both the environment and the community.”

In 2007, the Nassau County banned the sale of water chestnut and 62 other harmful invasive plant species within the County. To manage invasive species, the County is focused on prevention of new invasions, early detection and rapid response to new invasions, and control or eradication of existing invasions. Efforts are underway to revise and update the county’s “do not sell” list to reflect the latest science

In addition to today’s invasive species pull, Suozzi and Denenberg highlighted $20 million worth of pond improvements that are either completed or are in construction along the south shore. Nassau County has and will be receiving reimbursement from New York State in the amount of $3.7 Million. The projects include:

Camman’s Pond: Re-bulkheaded the eastern shoreline utilizing recycled plastic lumber. Park improvements included new paths, benches trash receptacles and landscaping. Project cost: $650,000

Milburn Pond: Dredged approximately 14,000 cubic yards of sediment, construction of a sediment capture basin, new pond walls in some areas and landscaped banks in others. New pathways, benches, trash receptacles, pond aeration and landscaping features were also included in the project. Project cost: $3.3 million, of which $437,500 were a NYS Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act award

Tanglewood Pond and Preserve: Dredged main pond as well as rehabilitation of two sedimentation basins. New brick paver pathways surround the pond leading to a fishing pier. A nature trail through a wooded preserve area includes several small bridges over a small stream. The pond edge was replanted with new native wetland grasses plants and shrubs including cardinal flower, cattail and pond aeration were added. Project cost: $1.2 Million, of which $600,000 were a NYS Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act award

Loft’s Pond: Hydraulic dredging of several thousand cubic yards of sediment from the pond, aquatic harvesting of aquatic vegetation, new pond shoreline plantings, pathways, benches, trash receptacles. A new boardwalk over water was also featured as well as a new gazebo and park lighting. Project cost: $1.2 Million, of which $400,000 were a NYS Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act award

Silver Lake: Hydraulic dredging of several thousand cubic yards of sediment from the pond, aquatic harvesting of aquatic vegetation, new pond shoreline plantings, pathways, benches, trash receptacles, and lighting. Project cost: $1.2 Million, of which $200,000 were a NYS Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act award

Mill Pond: Hydraulic dredging of several thousand cubic yards of sediment from the pond, aquatic harvesting of aquatic vegetation, new pond shoreline plantings, pathways, benches, trash receptacles. Project cost: $1.2 million, of which $300,000 were a NYS Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act award

Roosevelt Pond: Constructed a sedimentation basin, new pond wall, some hydraulic dredging, planted native wetland grasses and plants as well as upland shrubs along the shoreline. New pathways, benches, trash receptacles and lighting were also added. Project cost: $2.2 Million, of which $437,500 were a NYS Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act award

Massapequa Preserve: This major renovation project is currently underway. It is comprised of multiple components, including streamflow augmentation, stormwater treatment and bioengineering treatments of the streambank along Massapequa Creek. Partial dredging of the Massapequa Reservoir will occur later this year. Projected total cost: $8 million dollars, of which $1.3 Million were a NYS Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act award

Suozzi has received numerous accolades for his environmental accomplishments, including the 2009 Legacy of Conservation Award from the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center, the 2008 Environmentalist of the Year by the New York League of Conservation Voters, 2008 Equinox Award from Citizens Campaign for the Environment, 2009 EPA Region 2 Environmental Quality Award, and the Environmental Leadership Award from the Greater LI Clean Cities Coalition in 2005.

About Healthy Nassau

Improving water quality is a high priority for County Executive Suozzi as part of his “Healthy Nassau” campaign to make Nassau County the healthiest county in the country. Healthy Nassau seeks to sustain a healthy environment, focusing on air, land and water, while encouraging healthy living, tending to bodies, minds and spirits. To learn more, visit http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/healthynassau/index.html

Healthy Nassau initiatives include:

· Healthy Nassau-Roosevelt Field Mall Walking Club

· Fitness Trails at Eisenhower Park and Christopher Morley Park

· Ban on trans fats and the placement of calorie counts on menus;

· Working with other large municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore mass transit options;

· Continuing to preserve the County’s remaining open space;

· Operating an organic farm at Old Bethpage Village Restoration;

· Providing space for a Farmer’s Market offering fresh, local produce;

· The Biggest Loser Weight-Off Competition for County workers;

· Seeking a state-authorized increased cigarette tax to discourage smoking

About the Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. On Long Island, The Nature Conservancy has helped to preserve more than 150,000 acres. Visit us on the web at nature.org/longisland.