Peconic River

Contamination of fish in portions of the Peconic River by the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS prompted the New York State Health Department this week to warn the public to limit consumption of fish caught in those areas.

The state for the first time this summer used the widespread application of herbicides in its ongoing — and previously “consistently ineffective” — effort to eliminate the invasive Ludwigia, which grows and spreads aggressively to form a dense mat on the surface of the water, upending the aquatic ecosystem and interfering with recreational activities.

For the first time, the State DEC will undertake the widespread application of herbicides to Ludwigia in the Peconic River, in the hope of eradicating the invasive, noxious weed that has infested about 50 acres of the river since it was first detected there in 2003.

Anglers of all ages lined the Peconic Riverfront last Saturday for the annual family-favorite, sponsored by the Riverhead Town Recreation Department. Photo slideshow.

The silvery herring make an annual early spring run from the waters of the northern Atlantic into the freshwater habitats of the Peconic River to breed. This year, the westward journey for about 250 of them extended all the way to the Bronx.

Just over 16 acres on the Peconic River on West Main Street will be preserved as parkland following the approval by the Suffolk County Legislature, which authorized the purchase for $1.14 million in a unanimous vote Tuesday.

Large schools of Atlantic Menhaden, known as bunker fish, are aggregating in the Peconic River in downtown Riverhead and east to the CR 105 bridge and Meeting House Creek. Low dissolved oxygen levels in the river are causing a die-off.

Results of recent sampling conducted by the health department indicate the water meets state water quality standards for contact recreation, health officials said.

An electrical problem caused the Raynor Avenue pumps to shut down and overflow last night, discharging an estimated 4,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into the Peconic River, Sewer District Superintendent Michael Reichel said.

Police Officer Richard Freeborn and Trooper Michael Masino entered the Peconic River behind 57 W. Main Street to retrieve an unresponsive man found floating face down in the water Wednesday evening. They pulled him to shore and revived him with CPR.