Possible Connection Between Fire Island Algae Bloom and Breach Caused by Hurricane Sandy, Scientists Say

Every year since Hurricane Sandy created a breach, a brown tide has rolled into Fire Island, and a scientist from Stony Brook University thinks it’s no coincidence. Although algae blooms have popped up in on and off since the 1980s, this year breaks the record as the sixth consecutive year the brown tide has showed up.

Chris Gobler, a professor at Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and co-director of Stony Brook University’s Center for Clean Water Technology, thinks the breach is responsible for reducing water circulation in the west.

“The new inlet is a big plus for water quality along the eastern part of the bay and the western Moriches,” Gobler told Newsday, adding, “Certain areas at the center of the bay are a little more stagnant; they don’t flush out quite as well.”

Over two-thirds of homes in Suffolk County have septic systems that don’t remove nitrogen, which is a problem because the primary cause of the algae blooms are the high levels of nitrogen being released. The algae in the brown tides have been killing marshes and the eelgrass that fish need to eat and breed.

The issue with this year’s brown tide is it’s coming in a month earlier than previous years. The tide started in May and has grown to 600,000 cells per milliliter in Patchogue Bay and over 200,000 cells per milliliter in Bay Shore. Dr. Gobler called it a “troubling sign” for Long Island. “These early events often last a long time and are, in turn, very damaging to marine life,” mostly clams, he said.

After taking the Fire Island ferry over, we invite you to visit William J. Newman Realty. We have serviced Fire Island’s western communities since 1969 and offer the experience and professionalism to meet all real estate needs for people who want to take the Fire Island ferries over and stay on the Island for a few days or for the entire summer! We specialize in rentals from Fair Harbor to Dunewood, Lonelyville, and Saltaire.