Gobler Lab Research Gives Suffolk County a Path Forward on Water Quality

Christopher Gobler, distinguished professor and endowed chair of coastal ecology and conservation in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, delivers his lecture, "The State of the Bays 2025: Keep Calm and Carry On," April 2 at Stony Brook Southampton.

Record-breaking temperatures, dangerous bacteria, and worsening water quality are all affecting Long Island's bays, according to the latest annual "State of the Bays" lecture delivered April 2 at Stony Brook Southampton.

Christopher Gobler, distinguished professor and endowed chair of coastal ecology and conservation in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), presented the findings in his lecture, "The State of the Bays 2025: Keep Calm and Carry On."

"We're seeing concerning trends in both groundwater and surface waters across Long Island," said Gobler. "The sole-source aquifer that provides our drinking water is also the primary source of nitrogen and other contaminants flowing into our coastal ecosystems."

The lecture highlighted several alarming developments, including a more than 60% rise in groundwater nitrogen levels since the late 20th century. This has contributed to a 90% decline in critical marine habitats, such as eelgrass and salt marshes, along with a similar drop in shellfish populations.

2024 was particularly challenging for Long Island's waterways. The presentation revealed that harmful algal blooms (HABs) appeared in more than two dozen lakes and ponds across the region. Even more concerning was the discovery of 36 individual "dead zones" with oxygen levels below state standards - the highest number ever recorded.

"What we're witnessing now is clear evidence of the effects of climate change," Gobler said. "2024 was the warmest year ever recorded on Earth, with ocean temperatures also reaching all-time highs."

The extreme weather patterns associated with climate change were evident in August 2024, when a record-setting rainfall eventdestroyed dams and forced the closure of shellfish beds across Long Island. Additionally, Vibrio vulnificus- commonly known as "flesh-eating bacteria" - reached high levels in local waters, which feed on the region's high wastewater contamination.

Despite these challenges, Gobler emphasized that solutions are being developed right here at Stony Brook. "We've become a hub for innovative approaches to mitigate water quality issues and address climate change impacts," he noted.

"This work at Stony Brook Southampton has been and will be critically important to the future of water quality in Suffolk County," said Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker, who was in attendance.

The lecture began with a student poster display showcasing ongoing research.

Welker said she is encouraged by the overwhelming passage of Proposition 2by the residents of Suffolk County in November 2024. The ballot question asked voters to approve an eighth of a percent sales tax increase - 12 cents per every hundred dollars spent - to create a wastewater fund to pay for the replacement of nearly 300,000 aging septic tanks and cesspools, and the expansion of wastewater treatment plants, where appropriate. These initiatives would help to mitigate nitrogen pollution in Suffolk County.

The New York State Center for Clean Water Technologyat Stony Brook University is leading research on cost-effective technologies to reduce nitrogen and contaminant runoff from homes into coastal waters.

According to Gobler Lab, these solutions include "in-the-water" remediation using seaweeds and bivalves, which have shown promise in reducing nitrogen loads, controlling algal blooms, and combating ocean acidification. Recent shellfish restoration efforts have also contributed to ecosystem recovery in some estuaries, including Shinnecock Bay.

"Implementation of these technologies, combined with 'in-the-water' solutions, will be essential if we want to restore water quality and fisheries," Gobler said. He estimated that Suffolk is the only county in New York State with a policy to raise billions of dollars over the next decade to upgrade the region's wastewater treatment.

"We are grateful for the support and expertise of Christopher Gobler and the Gobler Lab," Welker added.

The annual State of the Bays lecture, held at Stony Brook Southampton's Chancellor's Hall, began with a student poster display showcasing ongoing research.

For students concerned about Long Island's waterways, the presentation offered both warning and hope: while climate change and pollution present significant challenges, innovative local solutions may help protect and restore these vital ecosystems for future generations.

"The data shows we're at a critical point," said Margot Eckstein, a laboratory technician in the Gobler Lab. "But the methods being developed here gives me hope that we can make a difference in our community."