1-13-2009

HAUPPAUGE – Suffolk County Executive Steven Levy Friday announced two projects designed to protect the waters around the county’s North Fork.

Both of the projects will occur along County Road 48 in the town of Southold, and will provide drainage system improvements along the road to filter out contaminants.

The first project provides $300,000 for the design of ground water improvements and drainage system modifications to CR 48 – known as Middle Road – in Southold. These modifications will eliminate salt water intrusion into a Suffolk County Water Authority public water supply well and pumping station adjacent to one of the county’s recharge basins located in the vicinity of Middle Road where it intersects with Ackerly Pond Lane.

Heading further east, the county will spend $170,000 to complete the final design needed to upgrade a storm water remediation drainage system also along CR 48 – which changes its name to North Road upon entering the village of Greenport. Storm water currently enters Moore’s Drain at a high point along North Road, approximately 3,500 feet west of where the county road intersects with Queens Street, and runs just past the intersection of Moore’s Lane.

The funds for this project will be used to upgrade and modify the drainage system along the stream, preventing storm water from directly discharging into Moore’s Drain. The storm water will instead be diverted into a recharge basin for better filtering, protecting the surrounding estuaries from storm water contamination.