The Goose Creek Stormwater Management Project

Removing direct stormwater discharges to the Peconic Bays by eliminating outfalls.

photo of goose creek beach in the peconic estuary

Goose Creek Sub-Catchment Discharge Elimination in the Town of Southold:

Goose Creek, located in Southold, is struggling with the effects of stormwater runoff due to infrastructure developed without stormwater pollution in mind.

During any precipitation event, water flows over impervious surfaces and into bodies of water. The stormwater runoff picks up pollution along its path like trash, chemicals, oils, and sediment that can harm out water bodies. The introduction of harmful pollutants from stormwater runoff and sewer discharge is damaging water quality and ecosystem function, leading to the loss of habitat and aquatic diversity.

photo of the goose creek sign in the peconic estuary

With funding from the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA),

PEP is allocating $98,000 for the Town of Southold Stormwater Outfall Elimination Project and Discharge Removal Plan in the sub-catchment boundary of Goose Creek, Southold.

Outdated stormwater infrastructure leads to increased flooding and coastal erosion. NYSDEC identifies Goose Creek as an impaired waterbody, in compliance with The Clean Water Act. The Goose Creek Sub watershed is approximately 569 acres, 15% of which is impermeable.

photos of the firehouse in goose creek apart of the peconic estuary

CCMP Related Actions

Project Sites

Project Status

Project Goals

Project Funding

Project Partners

CCMP Related Actions

The Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) is the guiding framework for protecting and restoring the Peconic Estuary and its watershed.

PEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) 2020

Action 21

Expand non-point source sub-watershed management plans to all pathogen impaired waterbodies and continue to use existing plans.

pROJECT sTATUS

what we have accomplished so far, and What’s to come!

Stormwater discharge remediation efforts in this area have been completed!

This project has been completed due to PEP collaboration with the Town of Southold to identify seven major outfalls as sources of pollution in need of remediation.

These outfalls were permanently shut down or replaced with a subsurface infiltration chamber, allowing water to flow through a pretreatment system before being discharged back into the watershed.

To complement these efforts, educational activities on the impacts of stormwater discharge and the actions that people can take to prevent polluted runoff have been implemented into the area.

Outfall Elimination

There are seven outfalls in the sub-catchment of Goose Creek, that have been deemed as ‘outdated infrastructure’. The Town of Southold eliminated three minor outfalls with an existing funding source, while the Peconic Estuary Partnership funded the elimination of the remaining four “major” outfalls by utilizing IIJA funds.

reduce stormwater pollution to the Peconic Estuary

Eliminating the identified outdated outfalls will remove direct discharges into Goose Creek, decreasing pollution entering the Peconic Estuary.

remove direct
stormwater discharges to the Peconic Bays

The existing outfalls often discharge stormwater directly into the creek. Eliminating these outfalls will remove direct stormwater discharge into the Goose Creek sub-catchment.

improve water quality to a priority one area under the Suffolk County Sub-watershed
wastewater Plan

Implementing these stormwater management practices will reduce non-point source pollution entering the Peconic Estuary.

Outreach

To accompany these efforts, increased education on stormwater related pollution has been implemented to prevent future polluted runoff.

Project Goals

Outfall Elimination

reduce stormwater pollution to the Peconic Estuary

Eliminating the identified outdated outfalls will remove direct discharges into Goose Creek, decreasing pollution entering the Peconic Estuary.

remove direct
stormwater discharges to the Peconic Bays

The existing outfalls often discharge stormwater directly into the creek. Eliminating these outfalls will remove direct stormwater discharge into the Goose Creek sub-catchment.

improve water quality to a priority one area under the Suffolk County Sub-watershed
wastewater Plan

Implementing these stormwater management practices will reduce non-point source pollution entering the Peconic Estuary.

Outreach

To accompany these efforts, increased education on stormwater related pollution has been implemented to prevent future polluted runoff.

Learn more on the PEP DataHub

Goose Creek Stormwater Management Project

The Goose Creek Stormwater Management Project

Goose Creek Sub-Catchment Discharge Elimination in the Town of Southold:

With funding from the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA),

CCMP Related Actions

Sites:

Stormwater discharge remediation efforts in this area have been completed!

This project has been completed due to PEP collaboration with the Town of Southold to identify seven major outfalls as sources of pollution in need of remediation.

Outfall Elimination

reduce stormwater pollution to the Peconic Estuary

remove direct
stormwater discharges to the Peconic Bays

improve water quality to a priority one area under the Suffolk County Sub-watershed
wastewater Plan

Outreach

Project Goals

Outfall Elimination

reduce stormwater pollution to the Peconic Estuary

remove direct
stormwater discharges to the Peconic Bays

improve water quality to a priority one area under the Suffolk County Sub-watershed
wastewater Plan

Outreach

Meet Our Partners

The Town of Southold

The Goose Creek Civic Association

North Fork Environmental