The Town of Oyster Bay has adopted the South Oyster Bay Harbor Management Plan, according to Oyster Bay Town Councilman Angelo A. Delligatti.

"The South Oyster Bay Harbor Management Plan focuses on South Oyster Bay located between the south shore of the Long Island mainland and the Jones Beach barrier island in the Town of Oyster Bay," Councilman Delligatti stated.

"The Harbor Management Area (HMA) encompasses the waters of South Oyster Bay, including the bay islands, the bayside portion of the barrier island and the adjoining coastal mainland area of Long Island. The goals of the plan are to protect and improve the quality of surface waters; to ensure public and vessel safety during the use of surface waters of South Oyster Bay; to provide for public access to, and the recreational use of, coastal waters, public land and public resources of the South Oyster Bay area; to ensure continued and enhanced public enjoyment of the bay; and the ensure that the integrity of significant natural resources in the HMA are preserved and, where practicable, improved. With the adoption of this plan, the Town can now apply for grants to implement various recommendations of the plan."

Councilman Delligatti went on to say that the Town of Oyster Bay was awarded a grant by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund to develop a harbor management plan for the south shore. An advisory committee comprising members of groups representing community waterfront interests, as well as municipal representatives and consultants, was formed to assist the Town in creating the plan. A public hearing was held on November 14 to give the general public an opportunity to comment before the plan was formally adopted.

Councilman Delligatti noted copies of the entire plan are available at the Town Clerk's Office in Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa; both branches of the Massapequa Library; and at Massapequa Park Village Hall.