Why is the health of the Peconic Bays important to you? Do you enjoy boating, kayaking, fishing or bird watching in the Peconic Estuary? Does the health of your family or business rely on the health of the local environment? Maybe you want to learn more about the issues and challenges facing the bays while being involved in future restoration and management activities? As a member of the Peconic Estuary Program (PEP) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), you can help spread public awareness of the estuary while advising the PEP about important goals and concerns of the citizens of Long Island’s East End.

The Peconic Estuary Program (PEP) will be holding their next Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on Wednesday January 25th, 2017 at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, 423 Griffing Avenue Riverhead, NY 11901 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

Become actively involved in the conversation about the issues concerning the vitally important Peconic Estuary. For more information, please e-mail cac@peconicestuary.org.

In 1993, the Peconic Estuary became one of 28 estuaries in the nation to receive the designation as an “Estuary of National Significance” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the brown tide events of the 1980’s. Under the Clean Water Act and as part of the Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP), stakeholders of the Peconic watershed developed and implemented a comprehensive conservation management plan (CCMP) with priority topics concerning the bay including: Brown tide, nutrients, habitat and living resources, pathogens, toxic pollutants, and critical lands protection.

The Peconic Estuary Program was formed as an innovative partnership of citizen and environmental groups, local, state, and federal governments, businesses and industries, and academic institutions charged with carrying out the goals of improved water quality and ecosystem health. Through involvement and education, the Peconic community will continue to share in the responsibility of conscious land use to benefit our precious marine waters. Exercise your right as a stakeholder of the PEP – the coordinating entity that works toward clean water and healthy bays in our community.

For more information on the Peconic Estuary Program’s Citizens Advisory Committee, please contact Christie Pfoertner, PEP Education and Outreach Coordinator at cac@peconicestuary.org 631-727-7850 Ext. 337 or visit the PEP CAC Facebook page: www.facebook.com/calltoactionconference2015

For more information on the Peconic Estuary Program, please visit http://www.peconicestuary.org and follow @PeconicEstuary on Twitter, Peconic Estuary Program on Facebook, peconic_estuary on Instagram, and www.vimeo.com/peconicestuaryprogram.