What’s in store for these two ponds that were struck by tragedy last summer?
The word devastating is an understatement when describing the tragic Long Island events caused by a historic rain storm during the night of August 18, 2024 and the early morning hours of August 19. Unprecedented amounts of rain fall inundated Long Island, in some locations exceeding 9 inches in a matter of hours. Flood conditions resulted in many towns and villages across Long Island.
Catastrophic Rainfall
Two of the most tragic environmental outcomes of that storm were the destruction and total draining of the Mill Pond in Stony Brook and Stump Pond in Blydenburg County Park. Both bodies of water are iconic landmarks, and both ponds have contributed immensely to Long Island’s recreational fishing community. These two freshwater ponds have long been places of refuge for a diverse cross-section of outdoor enthusiasts: anglers, hikers, birders, kayakers, canoers, photographers, and nature watchers. Within the realm of angling, Mill Pond and Stump Pond have been classic “fishing holes” where parents and grandparents taught sons and daughters how to fish. They are places where many anglers caught their first fish. However, the ability to continue those traditions came to a screeching halt once the overwhelming flow of floodwaters caused catastrophic breaching.
Stony Brook Mill Pond
Following that night of torrential rain, I awoke to the news that a cataclysmic event had taken place at the Stony Brook Mill Pond, which is a part of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. Flood waters had breached the dam and undermined an adjacent roadway. Having been a member of the 67-year-old Mill Pond Fishing Club, I needed to take a ride down to witness the travesty for myself. It was a brutal experience to witness the aftermath of ravaging rainwater. A once vibrant ecosystem was now devoid of any life. Vast amounts of water rapidly exited from the pond and took with it most of the resident fish species that called the pond home: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, panfish, and a legacy variation of common carp that had inhabited the pond for more than 60 years. Many of those specific carp had reached trophy size, in excess of 30 and 40 pounds. And those carp that escaped being washed into Mill Creek sadly lie dead in the mud and muck of the empty pond. The only one of those species that might tolerate the salinity levels of the Long Island Sound and its backwaters is the rainbow trout. The others will have perished.
A Rescue Effort
I walked as much of the pond’s perimeter as possible, and in doing so, I came upon a small area of the pond where I noticed about 40 trapped fish. Almost all those fish were carp, along with a couple of largemouth bass. The fish were in a small, confined space and obviously quite stressed. A sad sight indeed. I immediately dialed a fellow club member and asked if it might be possible to capture and transport those fish to some other location. We agreed to discuss acceptable options with the folks at Region 1 of the NYS DEC. The advice we received was that the fish could be netted, but they could not be transplanted into any body of water other than one that was connected to the Mill Pond. After much discussion, it was decided that whatever fish could be captured would be transported to a private pond. A team of volunteers was quickly assembled and gathered two days later at the pond to net as many of the stranded fish as possible. The effort was well attended by many volunteers and media and resulted in the successful netting of about 20 carp. Those fish were immediately transported to a private pond. While just a small sampling of the pond’s carp population, the genetics of those legacy carp were preserved for, hopefully, future repopulation. But that eventuality is a long way off.
Restoration Thoughts
Considering the magnitude of damage incurred at the pond and the adjacent dam and roadway damage, it will be many more months before all the involved agencies agree on a strategy and develop a plan of action. Due to the complexity of the damage, the DEC, EPA, town and village authorities, and vested groups will all have a say in the final analysis. Compounding the problem is the involvement of nature and conservation groups that have suggested not repairing the dam and allowing the pond to revert to its pre-mill state. In essence, not refilling the pond with water and not restocking fish. The outcome of those issues remains to be seen, and total restoration of the pond could be years away.
While there may be differing opinions regarding the fate of Mill Pond, there is no doubt in my mind that the pond should be restored to its “mill” origins. There are many significant reasons for this. First, although Long Island is surrounded by salt water, there are precious few freshwater lakes and ponds on the island that support diverse ecosystems. Mill Pond, for example, has been a habitat for resident and migrating waterfowl, as well as numerous other species of birds, including herons. It was home to a community of long-lived snapping turtles and many other aquatic creatures, including trout, largemouth bass, and huge common carp. It had been a fishing hole long recognized for its popularity among area residents, where traditions of fishing had been passed down from generation to generation. Above all else, that is Mill Pond’s real legacy, and it needs to be preserved.
Similar Tragedy At Blydenburg
As tragic as the circumstance at Mill Pond, an equally unfortunate and similar event occurred at Stump Pond in Blydenburg County Park. A structural breach during the rain storm also caused that pond to drain. This park is a jewel among many gems that comprise the assets of Suffolk County Parks. Stump Pond has long been a favorite gathering place and recreational destination for diverse groups of outdoor enthusiasts. The pond was one of the most productive freshwater bass fishing locations on Long Island. It, too, was a place where the traditions of fishing were passed from one generation to the next, often involving an earthworm, a bobber, and a small panfish. It is a place where many fishing memories have been made. Hikers, bikers, photographers, bird watchers, canoeists, kayakers, and those just wanting to commune with nature would flock to the park, where Stump Pond was the anchoring centerpiece. One of the differences between the Stump Pond and Mill Pond breaches is that when the draining occurred, many of the resident fish species washed into the Nissequogue River. While mortality effects on those fish are unknown, it is possible for largemouth bass to survive in brackish water if the salinity levels are not too extreme. One can hope that some of those fish, especially trophy-size bass, can endure those conditions.
Talks of Restoration
With its origins extending back to 1798, there is no doubt whatsoever that Stump Pond must be restored. And restoration will occur. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine has offered his support to rebuild and restore Stump Pond. Romaine has also prompted the Suffolk County Legislature to amend the county’s operating and capital budgets to include $6.6 million for the reconstruction of the spillway dam, thereby allowing the pond to eventually refill. It is anticipated that the new dam will be a much improved and enhanced structure that will offer greater resilience to withstanding similar weather-related events should they occur in the future. Yet, there is a degree of uncertainty at this point regarding how the fish stocks that inhabited the pond prior to the draining event will be restored. While there is some hope that fish that may have survived the event will migrate back to the pond, it is likely there will be a need to engage in some form of restocking activities. A fish ladder could help in the process of migration back into the pond. Nonetheless, there is broad support for the total restoration of Stump Pond. This past December, the funding resolution to rebuild the dam passed by a 16-0 vote in the Suffolk County Legislature. That unanimous vote is a significant step forward toward resurrecting Stump Pond to its prior status as one of Long Island’s major recreational destinations.
At this juncture there appear to be two separate paths that will be taken to address the revival of both the Stony Brook Mill Pond and Stump Pond. Uncertainty surrounds the current status of Mill Pond, while legislators appear committed to expedite the restoration of the spillway dam at Stump Pond. Regardless of the support that may lie ahead, it is apparent to all vested parties that a full and complete return to the pre-storm state of both ponds could be years away.
