There have been many changes to the Marine Program leading to 2007, more programs have been added and more staff as well. One of these programs that I am very excited about is the Bay Scallop restoration program. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy signed a bill giving Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program, in collaboration with Long Island University, 1.75 million dollars for the biggest restoration project the Country has every seen. This is good news for the health of the Peconic Estuary and the health of a crippled industry. The marine program has geared up the Suffolk County Marine Environmental Learning Center at Cedar Beach with an extensive Scallop Hatchery. The Hatchery at the Marine Center has been producing bivalves for over 15 years for local municipalities, with help from our SPAT volunteers and our staff we had to gear the hatchery up to accommodate the 5+million scallops we intend to release each year, over the next 5 years. Look for our new web link on the Scallop program.

The Marine Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension manages the Suffolk County Marine Environmental Learning Center. It is located at Cedar Beach in Southold, New York on the North Fork Peninsula called Great Hog Neck and is at the heart of the Peconic Estuary. A unique research and education facility, it is surrounded by a 70-acre salt marsh preserve. The Learning Center offers educational opportunities to eastern Suffolk County residents.

Another program and partnership we have with the County is the Suffolk County Stormwater project. Working along with the Department of Public Works, this very important project was started in 2005 and will look at the affects and causes of stormwater runoff. Education outreach will aid County residents to understand the impacts stormwater has on their community and economy.

The Marine Program offers a variety of diverse areas of research, support & education. With the interesting diversity of waters surrounding Long Island, the Marine Program offers the residents of Suffolk County an array of educational hands on experiences. With it's Cedar Beach location in Southold to our Cedar Beach location in Babylon (Sportsfishing Center) thousands of school children can have the opportunity of learning about their marine environment - getting a chance to touch a horseshoe crab or Sea star or just roam the beach collecting the different surprises that can be found ! -

Our goal for this Marine Program web site is to educate in a fun and interesting way. It's a work in progress, so keep coming back to see what's new. Like the Marine Program, it has a lot to offer. - Thank You.

Chris Smith, Marine Program Director