What are we going to do about the lakes?

On Monday, Aug. 5, the Village of Brightwaters Board of Trustees held an open public discussion regarding ongoing irresponsible fishing practices on the lakes and increasing vegetation, erosion, and algae blooms.

Fishing on the lakes

On two separate occasions this year, swans in Brightwaters lakes were found with fishing hooks lodged through their necks. With the help of local wildlife experts, including resident Christine Micelli, the swans were rescued and transported to veterinarians, but not without suffering extreme pain. Birds have been found this summer tangled in fishing lines along the surface of the lakes, ultimately drowning, while others were rescued from fishing lines stuck in trees, surviving.

The frequent nature of these incidents resulted in mayor John Valdini inviting all residents to attend the Monday night meeting to discuss effective solutions.

The only people permitted to fish in Brightwaters lakes are Brightwaters residents under the age of 18. Valdini shared that while some may believe that only adult, non-residents are causing these issues, that is simply not the case. He often spots teenagers fishing on Nosrekca Lake—the one lake that fishing is prohibited—despite the prominent signage displaying “no fishing.”

“I drive around the village constantly, and just about every time I am out, I see people doing something wrong on the lakes,” said Valdini.

While the mayor shared that he received many emails advocating for a total fishing ban, residents in attendance pleaded for the longstanding village tradition to not be taken away due to what they perceive as a code-enforcement issue.

“I love wildlife, I love protecting the wildlife. I get emotional about this because my grandson fished those ponds since he was five. He is 16,” said resident Jack Curtis.

For code-enforcement officers to distinguish non-residents from residents, mayor Valdini presented the idea of having all those with permits wear a specific Brightwaters bright-neon vest. The permit process would require kids who would like a fishing license to go to Village Hall, fill out a form regarding safe fishing practices, and sign up for a fishing clinic to get a permit and vest. The clinics would ideally be held once a month for kids to learn the basics of safe and responsible fishing practices. Valdini will be putting together a resolution to put before the board to vote on to require this practice to begin next spring.

If implemented, code-enforcement officers would be able to easily identify who is permitted, and who is not, while driving by. Those fishing would not have to be constantly approached by different code-enforcement officers asking to see their permits.

“I am not looking to do a money grab for this. We could do this for free,” clarified Valdini. “But I would not give anyone a form until they filled out the form saying, ‘I will use my head and not be stupid.’”

The board also approved the hiring of two new code enforcement officers, officially titled parking attendants, that will assist in ensuring those currently fishing are permitted to do so.

Keeping the lakes healthy

The discussion of fishing practices segued into a greater discussion of the condition of the lakes. Trustee Patrick Fawcett put together a packet assessing and reviewing the current state of the lakes, noting past history and potential options for fixing the lakes moving forward.

Over time, the nitrogen rich sediment, leaves, dead trees, geese excrement and other pollution has entered the lake system. This, along with lower water levels, stagnant water flow, and high levels of nitrogen have created the perfect medium for the current growth in our lakes system. This growth includes an increasing excess of lily pads, which thrive in high nitrogen environments, and the expectation is that decreasing the nitrogen in the lakes would eliminate the lily pads.

A fishing line receptacle was built at the lakes as an Eagle Scout project, in which the discarded line is recycled. Residents say the increase in lily pads is preventing the kids from being able to reel the line in to be discarded.

“I live on the lakes and see kids always having a great time fishing. But the kids have a hard time reeling back their lines because there are so many lilies in the way, and they get frustrated,” said resident Jeri Cordes. “We have fishing line pieces in the lakes because they could not get their lines back out, so they cut them, get a new one, and throw it back in. One problem creates another problem.”

The lakes also have structural issues. According to Fawcett, cement was used in the past to fix for several failing banks on Lakeview Avenue West. This choice allows nutrients a ramp directly into the lakes, and over time they were underpinned and are now slowly falling into the lakes. Erosion of the lakes creates a stream for unfiltered nitrogen to enter. Without natural barriers, nitrogen and other pollutants slowly eat away at the lake banks.

“If we had the money and approval the lakes would have been drained, the vegetation removed, banks restored and we would be good for another 50 years,” stated Fawcett. “Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. We have to abide by the laws of the NY State and the DEC.”

In 2020, the board used a chemical treatment with Department of Environmental Conservation approval to slow the progress of the lily pads and phragmites. The man who was hired has since sold his business to a large company with no footprint on Long Island, who Fawcett said has been unresponsive and ineffective. The board has also been told that the dead material sinks to the bottom and is used as nitrogen for future plants.

In 2023, a company was hired to essentially “mow” the lakes by using a WeeDoo boat to get rid of the top layer of lily pads and algae. The lakes were clean and looked great, though the WeeDoo boat is only a temporary solution, and the lily pads and algae slowly return. The board spent $40,000 for two weeks with the WeeDo boat. That included the cost of the boat and driver, tipping fees, the DPW men removing the material from the lake banks, loading the material and dumping it at Islip composting dump.

The board considered purchasing their one WeeDoo boat in the 2024-2025 budget. The initial cost would have been $120,000, plus the cost of insurance, yearly maintenance, storage costs, and hiring someone to run the boat. The board opted not to purchase the boat, in favor of spending $200,000 in roadwork to pave service roads, and not raising taxes over the New York State tax cap.

The DEC has recommended removing the cement around the lakes and creating a natural bank with porous materials. In place, Fawcett suggested using some type of stone and soil mixture along with a spray on seed in the fall, when it will have the best chance of survival. Alternatively, a bio log can be used by combining soil, native plants and biodegradable rolls that would create bumpers at the water’s edge slowing the water rate, decreasing runoff and erosion.

In several areas, the effects of the erosion have gotten to the point that the banks need to be rebuilt.

“I suggest we do this like the village of Babylon did. They place metal baskets filled with stones and covered with soil and vegetation,” said Fawcett. “Instead of using these baskets, I would add stone using our backhoe to create a new bank. I would then add soil and a bio log. I’d let that sit over the winter, add more soil and plant vegetation in the spring or let nature do its thing.”

A resident asked, given the red tape and DEC restrictions surrounding how to remove the roots of weeds and algae at the bottom of the lake, what can volunteers do to help the lakes?

“Go by hand, literally,” said Fawcett.

Indeed, in 2019, trustee Zepf, trustee Fawcett, past trustee Dopsovic, and many resident volunteers hand pulled phragmites, garbage, dead wildlife, and tons of underwater algae as a temporary fix to the lake’s health and appearance.

With many proposed temporary and long-term solutions, the board is open to suggestions, and continuing their persistent efforts to restore the lakes to their iconic glory.