Sweeney-LaValle Bill Protects Carmans River

June 25, 2013

Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) and Senator Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) announced that the legislature has passed their bill that would add lands in the Carmans River Watershed to the Central Pine Barrens Area and the Core Preservation Area.

The Carmans River is one of the most pristine on Long Island. Protecting the river’s watershed will prevent the river water from being contaminated.

The Pine Barrens Protection Act of 1993 has successfully protected tens of thousands of acres in the Long Island Pine Barrens, so the protection afforded by inclusion of parcels from within the Carmans River watershed under provisions of the Pine Barrens Protection Act will extend the Act's protection to this environmentally sensitive natural resource.

“The Pine Barrens and Carmans River Watershed are Long Island and national treasures,” said Assemblyman Sweeney, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation. “Preserving this land will help protect the Carmans River and also provide important protections for Long Island’s groundwater,” Sweeney said.

"The Carmans River bill will preserve additional land, protect our groundwater and insure the environmental vitality of the Carmans River for future generations," Senator Ken LaValle said.

“The Nature Conservancy applauds Assemblyman Sweeney and Senator LaValle for their leadership in marshalling through the legislature a bill that will protect the Pine Barrens in the Carmans River Watershed. By protecting additional land in the Carmans watershed, pollutants are reduced and the Great South Bay is better protected since the Carmans River drains into the Great South Bay. It’s a two-for-one protection outcome,” said Kevin McDonald for the Nature Conservancy on Long Island.

“It’s terrific that the landmark Pine Barrens Act is expanding its protection to the Carmans River and its watershed. Thanks to the state legislature and all who were involved in this environmental accomplishment,” said Richard Amper, Executive Director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society.

The Carmans River is 10 miles long and is located in the Central Long Island Pine Barrens Region, which is publicly protected and managed land. Sections of the Carmans River are designated by New York State as a wild, scenic, and recreational river and a New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat. The Carmans River and the Peconic River are Long Island’s only rivers in the Pine Barrens Region and two of Long Island’s four major rivers. The other two are the Nissequoque and the Connetquot Rivers. The headwaters of the Carmans River are in Middle Island and it descends to Shirley.

The bill now goes to Governor Cuomo for his signature.

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