Friends of the Bay Executive Director Robin Kriesberg, Board Vice President Matt Meng and Patricia Aitken, FOB Associate Director were among the joyful crowd of environmental advocates, citizen activists and politicians who gathered at Sunken Meadow State Park on April 9 to hear Governor Paterson announce his decision to reject Broadwater. Governor Paterson also announced a renewable energy task force, which will create a new state energy planning board, and which will focus on renewable energy. State Senator Carl Marcellino promised this initiative would receive bipartisan support, and pointing to the sun said, "That big bright ball is an energy source we have not begun to tap."

In his speech announcing his rejection of Broadwater, the governor stated, "One of my goals as governor is to protect Long Island Sound, by preserving it as a valuable estuary, an economic engine for the region, and a key component to making Long Island's quality of life one of the best in the country. Broadwater does not pass that test. Shame on us if we can't develop a responsible energy policy without sacrificing one of our greatest natural and economic resources."

He cited many of the reasons Friends of the Bay and other environmental groups have given as their reasons for opposing Broadwater - that Long Island Sound is not an industrial park; that Broadwater would have set a precedent and would change Long Island Sound from a resource important for recreation, tourism, and traditional maritime activities to a site with the potential for increased industrial development; Broadwater would use public land and water for a private industrial facility, and that Broadwater would cause damage to the ecosystem.

"It is a great day for Long Island Sound. We are very grateful to Governor Paterson for his wise decision," said Robin Kriesberg, Friends of the Bay executive director.

Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment received a standing ovation for her role in galvanizing and spearheading the opposition to Broadwater. She and her staff have worked tirelessly to defeat this unsound project. The successful outcome to this story is proof once again of what can be accomplished when citizens work together to make their voices heard.

Friends of the Bay volunteers work together to monitor the water throughout the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary. They resumed this task on a very cold and windy April morning. Hank Kasven, Carla Panetta, and Lorna Mann were joined by Eric Maas, a new volunteer this season. We were all glad to have worn multiple layers of clothing!

DO: The Dissolved Oxygen readings were high this week, with levels of 9.0 or greater in all the areas. We could not go into Mill Neck Creek due to tidal conditions. Water temperatures were chilly at 45 F.

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Our water quality monitoring season began on April 7 and will continue until the end of October. If you would like to become one of our water quality monitoring volunteers, are interested in other ways of assisting in our effort to preserve and protect the waters of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary, or want to report an activity that may be threatening the estuary/watershed please visit us online at www.friendsofthebay.org or give us a call at 922-6666. Friends of the Bay's mission is to preserve, protect and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary and the surrounding watershed.