NYSG’s Fall 2010 New York Coastlines is available as a pdf, both in its full print version (see sidebar at right) and as individual articles. For individual articles and back issues of New York Coastlines, click here.
From the Director
Welcome to New York Sea Grant’s (NYSG’s) fall New York Coastlines issue. It has been a busy summer at NYSG, as highlighted in this issue. In late July, NYSG educator Helen Domske led a group of 4th-10th grade teachers on a learning tour of New York’s upstate shorelines. This tour was part of COSEE Great Lakes, a program funded by the National Science Foundation which helps NYSG to connect Great Lakes scientists with educators. It is an important part of our educational outreach in the Great Lakes region.
Nitrogen in coastal environments is another important focus of this issue, including a description of a NYSG-funded project on nitrogen in Peconic Bay sediments. In addition, there is a summary of a workshop on coastal nitrogen issues in the New York Bight region which I recently convened as part of a regional planning effort.
The results from two NYSG-funded projects on Lake Ontario sportfishing predict a decline in future fishing activity and also address ways to counter this trend. Angling provides important economic inputs to shoreline communities and such a decline is of great concern because of the potential for reduced income from angling. In another fishing-related activity, “The End” of Long Island— Montauk—was the site of a Safety At Sea workshop organized by NYSG’s Antoinette Clemetson for local commercial fishermen.
Upstate, NYSG’s Dave White toured several Lake Ontario harbors with the Discover Clean & Safe Boat program. Dave MacNeill, our upstate specialist involved with climate change, convened a climate science workshop at Cornell University to help extension educators integrate climate science into their regular outreach activities. Jay Tanski, our Long Island coastal processes specialist also participated.
On a personal note, I am sad to report that Bonnie Biel, our senior administrative assistant who gave a friendly greeting to anyone visiting, passed away in July following a long illness. She was active in the office until late March and is greatly missed by me, the rest of the staff, and the NYSG community. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
