Citing the Carman Avenue Sumps property as an historic treasure, Legislator Norma Gonsalves has announced that she is pushing proposed legislation to perpetually preserve the land.

Westbury residents whose homes surround the sumps in recent weeks had expressed opposition to the sale of the property, after County Executive Thomas Gulotta issued a request for bids on it. The Carman Avenue Sumps, also known as Storm Basin #51, is composed of approximately 30 acres of land consisting of two large twin basins and one smaller basin, adjacent to the Bowling Green Water Supply Pumping Station and Water Holding Tank in Westbury. The surrounding residents became alarmed after hearing that a $10 million bid had been received for 20 acres of the property, for a housing development. The residents have urged that the entire area be preserved, noting that recharge basins serve a vital purpose in the county's water management system, and that the land is an essential environmental resource.

Gonsalves, in pushing the legislation to preserve the sump land, is now describing the property as not only environmentally sensitive, but also historically significant. She noted that the 30 acres is the third largest parcel of the approximately 150 acres remaining of the original Hempstead Plains. The rest of the plains, which was once 60,000 acres of prairie land, has been developed, she said. The area also contains the largest stand of bird-foot violets in Nassau County outside of Eisenhower Park, according to Gonsalves. The bird-foot violet was named the official flower of Nassau County more than 20 years ago.

"This is not only an environmentally sensitive piece of land, it is historic," she said. "So what better reason do we need to perpetually protect it?"

According to Gonsalves, the land contains many other species of vegetation which are indigenous to the county, as well as other wildlife. The area is of particular natural beauty, and could be used as an educational resource for local students, she added.

The perpetual preservation bill is being co-sponsored by legislators Dunne, Gonsalves, Schmitt, Ciotti, Becker, Muscarella, Nicolello, Pontillo and Mangano.

The legislation designates the 20 acres which had been bid on as perpetual preservation land. The bill notes that the land contains recharge basins, which are necessary to prevent street and property flooding and to replenish the drinking water aquifer, as well as for managing storm water runoff. It further finds that the land serves, "important environmental and aesthetic functions by replenishing the groundwater supply, by contributing to a feeling of openness and by providing a soothing green edge that is welcome in undeveloped parts Nassau County."

The legislation also cites the presence of the bird-foot violets and other indigenous plant species, including bush clover, blue toad flax, joint weed, lechia, and two species of frostweed hellanthium. "The subject property owned by the county is of particular natural beauty, is characterized by geological, ecological and environmental significance, and is a natural resource to be preserved for public use," the legislation concludes.