Aquatic Wildlife Rescue

Over the course of the late summer and early fall, Long Island received the effects of 3 large hurricanes. These hurricanes produced over 10” of rain in a very short period of time. The campus storm water basins on the Northwestern side of the campus reached very high levels. The University initiated corrective work to recharge basin number two to prevent the flooding of the LIRR tracks, surrounding neighbors and the campus. This project required pumping water from basin two to a northern basin, in order to allow for work to be done to remove the silt from basin two, install diffusion wells and allow for proper percolation.

However, over time, recharge basin #2 had become home to a large population of aquatic wildlife. Amy Provenzano, Executive Director of Campus Operations & Maintenance, concerned that the drainage remediation project would destroy the wildlife, contacted Cliff Jones, Facilities Manager at MSRC, for assistance in developing a rescue plan. When the water being pumped out of the basin receded to the 4-6 foot level, personnel from campus operations and MSRC used poles and nets to capture the fish and turtles who had made the basin their home. They were hand carried in buckets of fresh water up out of the basin and transferred to holding tanks provided by MSRC. Each time the holding tanks filled, they were driven to, and the fish and turtles were released into, a receiving basin on the Northeast side of main campus. This successful two day team effort resulted in the rescue and relocation of approximately 2000 fish (Largemouth bass, Bluegill sunfish & Pumpkinseed sunfish) and three turtles (Red eared sliders).

 

Page last modified on Sunday, November 21, 2004 by George E. Carroll