2015 PEP Ecosystem Status Report

The Peconic Estuary Program 2015 Ecosystem Status Report outlines the status and trends of thirteen environmental indicators to summarize the ecological health of the Peconic Estuary since the 2005 Environmental Indicators Report. The status of water quality in the estuary is based on harmful algal bloom presence, chlorophyll-a concentrations, water clarity, and nitrogen and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The status of living resources in the estuary is represented by eelgrass and wetland habitat, scallop, river herring, piping plover, and finfish populations. The status of pathogen pollution is represented by beach closures and shellfish bed closures.