I’d like to share with you LIBAG’s new Bumper Sticker.

It's FREE, Just like the beach should be.

So if you see one of our trucks out there with a sticker; just ask ... we’ll give you one for yours.

Or if you send a stamped self addressed envelope to...

Long Island Beach Access Group

P.O. Box 787

Babylon, NY 11702

We’ll send you a new one for free; just like the beach.

Looks like a great Fall in Long Island: Be safe.

Thank you, to all our supporters.

Coast Guard: Fire Island inlet too shallow for rescue boat - U.S. - Stripes

LIBAG believes this inlet is important? This is why we have been meeting with the office's of United States Senator Sen. Gillibrand, and Schumer. We will continue our work with the Governor's office, the NYS Parks leadership, and the Town of Babylon.

As mentioned in previous posts. Several members of LIBAG  met with Commander Tim Woody, of the Fire Island Coast Guard Station. In addition, they took a ride aboard the 47 foot  United States Coast Guard rescue vessel. While going for a boat ride in a Coastie RIB Rescue boat certainly is fun; this trip was all business. We helped the Coast Guard in their assessment of the Inlet. 
 Unfortunately " The Coast Guard's $1.2 million Motor Lifeboat, designed for rescue operations in hurricane-force winds and rough seas, will be transferred from Station Fire Island to the Shinnecock station." 

This makes this situation more urgent. This is not just an economic situation... this is about the safety of our fellow  recreational and commercial watermen.
By continuing to work with all the various Fed, State, and local parties we hope to be able to help find a solution to what has now clearly become more complicated than just a beach access issue.

The following are two news stories on the subject.

Coast Guard: Fire Island inlet too shallow for rescue boat - U.S. - Stripes

Fire Island shoaling impacts Coast Guard response ability

September 21st, 2012

NEW YORK – Due to severe shoaling impacts, the Coast Guard announced Friday that Coast Guard Station Fire Island will have limited ability to respond to emergencies offshore Fire Island Inlet, N.Y.

Station Fire Island’s boat crews’ response capabilities are greatly affected by severe shoaling, which has been reported to extend the entire width of Fire Island Inlet and in the vicinity of buoy #4 and #5. There have been reports of water depths as low as four feet at high tide, and less than one foot at low water in these areas.
As a result of the shoaling, Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Woody, commanding officer of Station Fire Island, temporarily suspended the unit’s offshore response capabilities utilizing the unit’s 47-foot Motor Lifeboats, since it draws more than four feet. The smaller 25-foot response boats from Station Fire Island are still able to transit the inlet to respond to emergencies.
“While there is concern about our response capability, we are still able to patrol the area and advise mariners to operate their vessel safely,” said Woody. “Since the shoaling may limit the Coast Guard’s response, other local agencies may be available to render assistance.”
The station, whose crews respond to an average of more than 200 search and rescue cases annually, will work with nearby resources, including Stations Jones Beach and Shinnecock, N.Y. to assist in responding to mariners in distress.
In the meantime, the Coast Guard is taking preventative safety measures to ensure mariners are informed of the risks when transiting the inlet.
“We are relocating aids to navigation to mark best safe water,” said Lt. Ben Duarte, Waterways Management Division chief at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound in New Haven, Conn. “We recommend transiting Fire Island Inlet at high tide and proceeding with extreme caution. Pay close attention to the Local Notice to Mariners and daily broadcasts made over VHF-FM channel 16 for the latest information on channel conditions.” The inlet remains open for vessel traffic, but mariners are reminded to consider the dangers of operating a vessel near shallow water and to have all required life jackets and safety equipment aboard their vessel before transiting the inlet.

FROM LI NEWSDAY

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/coast-guard-inlet-too-shallow-for-rescue-boat-1.4027074

Coast Guard: Inlet too shallow for rescue boat

September 21, 2012 by BART JONES / bart.jones@newsday.com

The Coast Guard will no longer allow a specialized 47-foot rescue boat to use Fire Island Inlet because it's become dangerously shallow, but some charter fishing boat operators said Friday they're not letting the shoaling stop them.
The Coast Guard's $1.2 million Motor Lifeboat, designed for rescue operations in hurricane-force winds and rough seas, will be transferred from Station Fire Island to the Shinnecock station. Fire Island Inlet has become too difficult to traverse, the agency said in a statement.
The boat draws more than 4 feet of water, while water in the Fire Island Inlet is as low as 4 feet at high tide and less than a foot at low tide, the Coast Guard said.
"It's not safe for our vessel to transit in and out of there," spokesman Lt. Jeff Janaro said.
Janaro said two 25-foot rescue boats based at the Fire Island station will still use the inlet.
Those, along with Motor Lifeboats at Jones Beach and Shinnecock stations and Coast Guard helicopters and aircraft, will be adequate to handle any rescue operations, officials said, adding that local agencies may also assist.
On Wednesday, the Coast Guard issued an advisory instructing boaters to seek alternate routes to the inlet due to sand buildup.
Captains of charter fishing boats based at Captree State Park said Friday the Fire Island Inlet is in dire need of dredging, and some of the buoys need to be moved to more accurately mark deep water since sands in the area have shifted.
But most said they've a found a way to avoid the most shallow parts of the inlet by going outside of some buoys, and they've been operating their businesses as usual.
"We have no problem getting in and out of the inlet," said Neil Delanoy, captain of the Laura Lee. "We safely go in and out three or four times a day with a 72-foot boat."
"I've seen it a lot worse years ago," said Robert Andresen, captain of the 85-foot Captree Princess, which, like the Laura Lee, took fishing parties out to the Atlantic on Friday.
But Andresen said "you have to proceed with caution." He praised the Coast Guard for transferring its Motor Lifeboat, noting that the self-righting boat is taller than the inlet is deep and could be damaged.
"It's safe and smart to not let that boat go out," he said.
While the Coast Guard said it's in the process of moving some buoys, Andresen said he won't stop using the waterway in the meantime.
"I do this for a living," he said. "I'll find a way out."

2012 Gilgo Beach clean up results

Thank you to everyone who helped at Saturday's clean-up, on 9/15/2012.

                                                                                                                                   We picked up 451 lbs of trash, with over 50 volunteers, in 3 hours, covering 2.5  miles of beach. Here is the final tally. 

290 plastic bags

155 balloons

277 plastic bottles

143 glass bottles

617 caps/lids

477 food wrappers

216 straws/stirrers

18 bait containers

20 buoys/floats

21 fishing lines

11 fishing lures/light sticks

63 ropes

905 cigarettes

32 cigar tips

13 car parts

We hope you did as well at your local beach clean ups.

Remember: carry in; carry more out, every time you visit the beach.

Thanks again. LIBAG

Gilgo Beach Clean-up, Saturday 9/15, 9-noon

Subject: Gilgo Beach Clean-up, Saturday 9/15, 9-noon

Come join us Saturday for this clean-up at Gilgo town Beach. The waves are supposed to build again by Saturday, and the LIBAG people forgot what you look like, kinda.

 

This is the real deal clean-up where every cigarette butt and bottle and cap and plastic fork, etc. are accounted for, and weighed. We are partnering with New York State, The American Littoral Society and Town of Babylon.

Rain date is Sunday, but the weather looks great for Saturday.

 

BTW, Free entry into the lot with a small sign on your dashboard saying that you are there for the Clean-up.

 

Hope to see you.

 

PS: Have you checked out our website lately? We have been busy working with NYS and have gained some more access. We will continue to advocate for increased access to our Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries.

As always...we appreciate your support.

So we are being asked nicely by the State to respect the local authorities (lifeguards etc) when it comes to ocean access with this weeks swell. So be good and have fun.

The following is from Ron Foley, Director NYS Parks Long Island.

I checked with parks where swimming is being sporadically prohibited due to the current Oceanfront conditions. At this moment swimming is allowed at RM and JB as are the other water activities, but Hither Hills is closed to swimming. As to surfing and related activities, these are being allowed or prohibited as local conditions dictate. Lifeguards and other park staff are making the determinations as conditions change. We will not be making a universal decision unless widespread conditions deteriorate to a point where that is justified. So – be ready for anything when you visit a park and please be understanding of the local expertise where the decisions are being made.

Ron

Ronald F. Foley

Regional Director

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Meetings

Members of LIBAG meet with United States Senator Chuck Schumer's staff to discuss waterman's rights, and issues on Long Island.

In addition we are working with  United States Coast Guard Commander Tim Woody, of the Fire Island Coast Guard Station.

Official version of 2012's additional access

Official version of 2012's additional access effective June 1. 2012 

Yes it does make a difference when it is finally printed on the State's official letterhead.

We at LIBAG would like to thank everyone who we met with; who worked with us;  who supported us; and made this happen;.

The members of the State Assembly, US Congress, and US Senate ;

The members of the NYSOPR&HP's , Board and staff;

The members of Governor Andrew Coumo's office and team;

All the businesses, local and National who lobbied for more equal access;

 

Finally all our members; who wrote countless letters, and spent too many hours in meetings with Public Officials, lobbying for fair and equal access in our collective State Parks. 

Thank You

For more information visit the NYS Parks Website


http://nysparks.com/regions/long-island/default.aspx

Progress

Members of LIBAG meet with Senator Owen Johnson to thank him for decades of leadership in protecting the long island coastline.

Senator Johnson was environmentally aware, and a conservationist, long before it became fashionable.

He has been sponsoring the longest continuing Beach Clean Up in the State of NY. Sometimes these events have over 500 participants, from all walks of life.

We wish to thank the senator for preserving, as well as expanding shoreline access for all Watermen.

More Windsurfing and SUP'ing news

If you want your voice heard go to the re- publishing in Newsday that was picked up by Associated Press.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/windsurfing-paddleboard-ok-at-state-parks-1.3726362

If you are a Newsday, Cablevision, or Optimum on line subscriber, you can take the poll which currently stands at...

Vote

Are you in favor of windsurfing and paddleboarding getting the OK at state parks?

Yes. It's about time. (70) votes or 77%

No. They just get in the way. (14) votes or 15%

No opinion. (7)votes or  8%

 Results not scientific

Thank you

More News on LIBAG's progress with the State

http://online.wsj.com/article/APd5cc351577134f4c9132e44681b94b52.html?KEYWORDS=windsurfing

• May 18, 2012, 8:50 p.m. ET

Windsurfing OK'd at NY's Jones Beach, some others

Associated Press

WANTAGH, N.Y. — Windsurfers and paddleboarders will be welcome at Jones Beach and several other state-run Long Island beaches this summer. But kiteboarders are still out of luck.
Newsday (http://bit.ly/JYE683 ) says the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced Friday it would allow windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding at ocean beaches where surfing is already allowed. Besides Jones Beach, they include Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island and some beaches in Montauk, on Long Island's East End.
The changes take effect June 1.
Paddleboarding was already allowed at Heckscher State Park in East Islip, and windsurfing was already OK at Orient Beach and Wildwood State Park in Wading River.
The sports are limited to certain areas and date ranges at some spots.
The new policy doesn't cover kiteboarding, so it's still out.
___
Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com
—Copyright 2012 Associated Press

SmartMoney Glossary:

• Island

Copyright 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only.

Newsday

Windsurfing, paddleboard OK at state parks

Originally published: May 18, 2012 3:44 PM
Updated: May 18, 2012 7:17 PM
By BILL BLEYER  bill.bleyer@newsday.com

Photo credit: Newsday/Ed Betz | loria Neumair, of Port Jefferson, Paddles on a paddle board in Port Jefferson Harbor in Port Jefferson, NY. (May 13, 2012)

Galleries

Parks and preserves across Long Island

Windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding will be allowed at more Long Island state park beaches this summer.

The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on Friday announced its decision to allow the two sports at ocean beaches where surfing already is permitted. The change is effective June 1.

"We're very appreciative of all the access changes that they were able to create," said Jack Riordan of the Long Island Beach Access Group, which has been lobbying for the changes.

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More: newsday.com/towns | Sign up for community newsletters
On Twitter: @BillBleyer | @LI_Now

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Parks regional director Ronald Foley said "paddleboarding and windsurfing were determined to be forms of surfing because the board is relatively the same and it doesn't have any propulsion. So after discussion with our counsel's office and others, it was deemed that we could allow these activities without changing our rules."

However, kiteboarding is not covered by the new policy, so it is still not permitted.

Last summer the parks agency allowed paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing at Heckscher, windsurfing at Orient Beach, and windsurfing at Wildwood on weekdays during the swimming season.

The changes affect the following beaches:

Jones Beach -- year-round at the west side of West End 2, at Field 10, beyond 100 feet east of the Field 6 picnic area, and at the West End boat basin; at all open parking fields from Oct. 16 through May 14; and west of Field 2 from June 1 through Oct. 15.

Montauk -- year-round from sunrise to sunset at Shadmoor and Hither Hills outside bathing areas; and at Montauk Point Dec. 15 through March 31 from sunrise to sunset.

Robert Moses -- year-round west side of each open field beyond the lifeguard-protected areas and Democrat Point west of jetty; Field 5 year-round on the west side; at Fields 2, 3 and 4 by permit only when fields are closed between Sept. 15 and Dec. 31, during daylight hours only.

"We look forward to continuing to work with" park officials to gain additional access to more remote beach areas accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles and now used only by fishermen, Riordan said. The group would also like access for windsurfing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding at Caumsett State Park.

The parks agency last year approved car-top launching of canoes and kayaks at Caumsett after a new parking lot near the beach is constructed.

Foley said it would continue to talk with the access group.

The Long Island Beach Access Group 
is pleased to report the following. 

 Friday, May 18, 2012
Subject: NYS Parks announces additional beach access.

Effective June 1st, NYS OPRHP will permit stand-up paddle board and windsurfing in designated surfing zones. Incremental progress is still progress. The Commission will monitor the expansion program. A successful program provides a strong argument for further consideration of expansion.

SURFING, paddle boarding and wind surfing oceanfront locations

          Jones Beach

·        The surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing area is open year-round at West End 2.  The area is located on the west side of the beachfront, avoiding protected species.

·        Off-season surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are permitted at all open parking fields from October 16^th thru May 14^th. 

·        In-season surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are permitted west of Field 2 from June 1^st thru October 15^th.

·        Surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are permitted beyond 100 feet east of Field 6 picnic area year-round.

·        Surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are permitted at the west end boat basin.

·        Surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are permitted at Field 10.

Montauk State Parks Complex

·        Surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are open year-round from sunrise to sunset at Shadmoor and Hither Hills (outside bathing area).

·        Surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing area at Montauk Point State Park is open December 15th thru March 31st from sunrise to sunset.

Robert Moses

·        In-season, surfing, paddle boarding, and wind surfing area is located on the west side of each open field beyond the lifeguard protected bathing areas. (closed fields)  Including Democrat Point west of jetty.

·        During the off-season, surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are authorized within Fields 2, 3 and 4 by permit only when fields are closed.  Effective dates are September 15^th thru December 31^st daylight hours only.  Field 5 surfing, paddle boarding and wind surfing are authorized year-round on the west side.

Thank you to the NYS OPRHP, Ron Foley and especially

Scott Martella

Suffolk County Representative

Office of the Governor

Hon. Andrew Cuomo

250 Veterans Memorial Hwy

Hauppauge, NY 11788

I Love My Park Day

http://malverne-westhempstead.patch.com/articles/clean-ups

Park Lovers Address Pollution at Hempstead Lake In honor of "I Love My Park Day" volunteers remove trash from state park in West Hempstead-Rockville Centre. By Tara Conry | May 9, 2012 "I Love My Park Day" brought some much-needed TLC to Hempstead Lake State Park.
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 5, volunteers toiled away on the shores of the park's Northwest Pond and some fisherman, clad in knee-high rubber boots, even headed into the water, to remove as much trash as they could.
The community clean-up event at the 775-acre state park, which straddles West Hempstead and Rockville Centre, was hosted by the newly formed non-profit organization, Hempstead Lake State Park Alliance.
"I've been coming here for about 10 years and it's a great park, it's huge but it doesn't get the recognition it deserves," says Chris Carter, president of the HLSPA.
As a lifelong West Hempstead, Carter, 27, says he and his friends have wanted to do something like this for years to bring more awareness to what the park has to offer and address its severe pollution problem. Inspired by the good turnout at the clean-up event that was held at the park in November, which was coordinated by Alex Jacobson, owner
of the nearby Lakewood Stables, and the Parks Department, Carter, along with fellow West Hempsteaders Joel Ruiz and Adia Bethel, and Teresa Reid, of Floral Park, decided to form the non-profit.
"We wanted to get more people involved," Carter said. "Now, we're just doing some clean-ups and trying to get the word out."
For now, the group is focused on coordinating more clean-up events and "getting the word out," but going forward, he says, they'd like to team up with local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, community organizations, and schools, including science clubs and sports teams.
"If all goes well we can get some more art events, craft fairs, kayaking on the lake ... bird watching, just to get people more immersed in nature right in their own backyard," he says.
Based on enthusiastic feedback from the community so far, Carter is optimistic adding, "Hopefully, we're the catalyst that can start bringing people down here more."
For Saturday's clean-up project, HLSPA partnered up with park manager Bill Brown, who supplied the pickers, garbage bags and vehicles and manpower to haul away the trash.
"We're looking for all the help we can get from the community and volunteers," Brown told Patch. He also explained what's causing the pollution problem.
"It's street run-off from local villages that ... end up here in North East Pond and North West Pond," he said. "It's stuff that people throw out of their cars, bottle caps..."
All the trash discarded along Peninsula Boulevard for instance runs off into a creek that flows past Hempstead High School and into the park's two north ponds, Hempstead Lake and then eventually the South Pond and the bay.
"Ideally, if we can get some sort of education about where the pollution goes, that would be great long term," Brown says. "Right now, we're just trying to clean it up."
Despite Saturday's dreary weather, roughly 50 volunteers pitched throughout the day. They came from the immediate area, but also from Hempstead, Glen Head, East Meadow, Bay Shore and Wantagh.
"I do the Summer Series, where you run in the parks, and this was a way for me to help clean up one of the parks I run in," said Ellen Caravella, who along with her young daughter, Emily, spent the morning picking up trash along the shore of the pond.
Osman Canales, of Hempstead, came down with fellow members of the Long Island Civic Civic Participation Project, after finding out about the event online.
Seven year-old John, of East Meadow, was one of the youngest volunteers but was the most eager to get his hands dirty. His aunt and uncle, Glen Head residents Kevin and Michelle, brought him to the park, but once there, he wanted to take charge and even goaded them to help him retrieve a discarded car tire that was buried under some fallen branches. He then hauled it away himself.
His motivation was simple. "I wanted to help clean," he says.
Many of the residents recognized that the state parks are working with small budgets nowadays and were willing to lend a hand to offset this.
"It's either we pay for it in taxes or we come out every now and then," Jack Riordan, a fisherman from Bay Shore, said as he stood inside the pond fishing out trash. "I don't mind. I could use the exercise."
By the end of the day, the volunteers had removed tons of garbage from the area, but they weren't the only ones showing their love of state parks that day. Projects to address pollution and other environmental issues were also held at Caumsett, Hecksher and Bethpage state parks on Long Island, and others throughout the region.
To learn more about the Hempstead Lake State Park Alliance and how you can get involved, visit the group's Web site and Facebook page.
Please visit the Westhampton patch website for photos of those who participated, including  our own Jack Riordan.

2011 New York State Beach Cleanup results

LIBAG  works with environmental groups, as well as the State of New York Office of Parks and Recreation. In 2011 we were proud to work with Surfrider,Save The Beach dot Org, Senator Owen Johnson’s annual clean up at Robert Moses State Park field 2, Gilgo State Beach, the town of Babylon's Gilgo Beach,  and our annual cleanup with the American Littoral Society. This year it was held at Robert Moses field 5.

Thank you to all who participated.

This is 2011's tally of trash.


From: alsbeach <alsbeach@nyc.rr.com>
Subject: 2011 NYS Beach Cleanup Results / NJCCC 4th Annual Environmental Student Exchange
To: alsbeach@nyc.rr.com
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 12:42 PM

Dear Beach Captains,

I would like to thank each and every one who participated in the 2011 New York State Beach Cleanup for making my first year as New York State Beach Cleanup Coordinator such a success. It was a pleasure speaking and meeting with you all and I look forward to seeing you all again next year.

 
For the 2011 New York State Beach Cleanup there were 6,368 volunteers that cleaned 260+ miles of shoreline, removing 93,644 lbs. of debris. In the tally of items collected from the 24 New York counties participating in the 2011 New York State Beach Cleanup, this year’s “Dirty Dozen” is listed below.
 

Item	Total Items	Total Percentage
Caps, Lids	37,400	13.31%
Food Wrappers/Containers	29,095	10.35%
Cigarettes/Cigarette Filters	29,030	10.33%
Bags(Plastic)	22,952	8.17%
Straws, Stirrers	20,873	7.43%
Beverage Bottles (plastic) 2 liters or less	18,800	6.69%
Cups, Plates, Forks, Knives, Spoons	17,415	6.20%
Rope	14,735	5.24%
Beverage Cans	13,216	4.70%
Glass Beverage Bottles	10,596	3.77%
Balloons	5,421	1.93%
Cigar Tips	5,412	1.93%

 
This year we have listed the results for each site on our website in the form of a table which can be sorted by: Cleanup Date, Zone Name (county), Site Name, People, Debris (lbs), Distance (mi) or Bags Filled. Simply click the heading of the column to sort this year’s results. Visit our website (www.alsnyc.com) and click Beach Cleanup News. Follow the Beach Cleanup Results link.
 

Another new feature on our website is the 2011 New York County Map which depicts the ratio of sites registered to sites that submitted their results, by county. To view the map, visit www.alsnyc.org, click Beach Cleanup News, and scroll to the bottom of the page.

 
 
On a related note, the American Littoral Society is working with The NJ Clean Communities Council (NJCCC) to expand our coastal conservation efforts. This March, the NJCCC will host the Fourth Annual Clean Communities Environmental Student Exchange on March 22, 2012 in Palisades Park and a follow-up conference at the Teaneck Marriot in Glenpointe, New Jersey. The purpose of the event is to bring students together to work on an environmental project and discuss issues related to litter and the handling of waste.
 
To increase the impact of this annual event, the American Littoral Society is supporting the efforts by recruiting students from New York City to host a cleanup and data collection on the New York side of the Hudson River. After the cleanup, participating volunteers are invited to join the New Jersey volunteers for lunch and a roundtable discussion. NJCCC expects approximately 500 students from New Jersey to participate. In addition, students from Puerto Rico city schools have been invited to host a similar collaborative cleanup and data collection. All resulting data will be reported to the Ocean Conservancy
 
Attached, please find a flyer and an agenda. If you are interested in participating or recruiting volunteers, please contact Natalie Grant, Beach Cleanup Coordinator, at 718-474-2643 or by email at alsbeach@nyc.rr.com. You can also find more information about clean communities at www.njclean.org.
 
Sincerely,
Natalie Grant
American Littoral Society
New York State Beach Cleanup Coordinator
26 A West 9th Road
Broad Channel, NY  11693
Tel/Fax:  718-474-2643
Email: alsbeach@nyc.rr.com
Web:  www.alsnyc.org