Spring Coastal Clean-ups

Helping protect, restore and enhance Manhasset Bay

The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is hosting two Spring Volunteer Beach Clean-up days: one which took place Sunday, April 30, at Whitney Pond Park in Manhasset and one that will be held Saturday, May 20, at Baywalk Park in Port Washington. The upcoming clean up starts at 9:30 a.m. and lasts for an hour to two hours. This is the second year the Committee is hosting spring beach clean-up days, as they previously only hosted clean-up days in the fall to coincide with the annual International Coastal Clean-up, sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy.

The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is dedicated to addressing water quality and coastal issues around the Manhasset Bay area. The Committee’s goals are to protect, restore, and enhance Manhasset Bay so as to ensure a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem while balancing and maintaining recreational and commercial uses. Tasks that help toward these goals include the annual volunteer beach clean-up.

After the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee was formed in the ‘90s, local municipalities around Manhasset Bay came together to create the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee.

“The local municipalities realized they could leverage more working together than working independently,” said Sarah Deonarine, Executive Director of the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee.

The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is made up of 15 municipalities, including Nassau County, the Town of North Hempstead and 13 villages. Villages involved are: Baxter Estates, Flower Hill,

Great Neck, Kensington, Kings Point, Manorhaven, Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Port Washington North, Sands Point and Thomaston.

With the committee’s mission of protecting Manhasset Bay in mind, Deonarine decided to move the clean-up locations around to cover different parts of the area. While last year’s first spring clean-up days took place at Manorhaven Town Beach and Baywalk Park, both in Port, this year was the first time one was held in Manhasset.

Residents of any age, groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, families and friends from Port Washington, Great Neck, Manhasset, or Roslyn are invited to participate in the coastal clean-up days. “Scout groups make up the bulk of groups that come out to the clean-ups,” said Deonarine.

In the fall, participants tally the trash collected and the data is sent to the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society, which tracks and monitors changes in the trash collected each year.

“We send people out in teams and there’s one person who’s the data recorder. So while they’re out there, somebody’s tallying what they’re picking up, like cigarette butts, lighters and face masks,” said Deonarine. “Then we weigh all the trash when we get back together. Then all the data goes to the American Littoral Society.”

The information about the amounts and types of trash collected goes into the American Littoral Society’s database and has been used to create legislation around the world.

“For the spring, we will do less tallying, but we’ll still weigh the collected trash. Then I’ll use that information for educational materials to use locally,” said Deonarine.

In addition to the annual clean-ups around the bay, the Manhasset Bay Committee has been working on crafting a new Water Quality Improvement Plan. A Water Quality Improvement Plan is a guiding document of projects, activities, and other actions that will lead to improvements in water quality.

“[The new plan] includes a big public input component. So, we want people to get involved and send in comments about the day or something they’re worried about concerning the bay,” said Deonarine.

The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is asking people to think about things like possible sources of pollution and how residents can help improve the bay. Deonarine has set up an email for comments, thoughts and concerns to be sent to baycomments@gmail.com

This spring’s clean-up is sponsored by the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society, the Town of North Hempstead and the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee. Latex gloves and trash bags are provided to those participating in the clean-up. Participants are encouraged to bring sunscreen and tick spray to keep themselves safe while collecting trash. Clean-ups are rain-or-shine events, so dress appropriately for the weather.

While registration isn’t necessary, it is encouraged to help keep track of participant numbers and to ensure communication is available in case a situation arises where the clean-up needs to be canceled. Register with Sarah Deonarine at mbpcexec@gmail. com. Visit manhassetbayprotectioncommittee.org for more information.