As we wind down yet another summer, the MCKC has been quite busy. We put funds we raised last summer to work in a new oyster reef and help our annual gathering at the Shanker home at 12 Tarkettle Road. We continued our fourth year of data monitoring and are working to help our friends and neighbors understand the benefits and grants available for new IA septic systems. Below is a summary of activities/accomplishments from this past year.
105,000 Oysters!
MCKC & Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Back to the Bays –Menantic Creek Oyster Project
On August 21, the MCKC, together with CCE’s Marine Program and its Back to the Bays Initiative, planted a brand-new oyster bed along the eastern shoreline of Menantic Creek. The project was made possible by the funds we raised last year.
Despite the cold, wind, and rain, we had a great turnout and a terrific day on the water.
A total of 105,000 oyster spat were set in 30 cubic feet of recycled shell to create the new bed!
This is our second oyster installation in Menantic Creek. The first bed is doing very well after its first year.
Please visit the Menantic Creek page on the Back to the Bays website for further information on Back to the Bays’ Shelter Island and specifically, Menantic Creek initiatives. https://backtothebays.org/menantic
Menantic Creek Water Quality Monitoring
This summer marked our fourth year of water quality monitoring in the Creek. With your financial support and the support of the Water Quality Improvement Advisory Board and Shelter Island’s Town Board we have three established monitoring systems in place.
Our dedicated team of monitoring volunteers download data and clean fouled monitors on a weekly basis June 1st through November 30th each year.
We have learned that excessive bacteria and phytoplankton consume oxygen, leading to dangerously low disolved oxygen levels (hypoxia) that can kill marine life and create dead zones in water bodies (eutrophication). We are seeing these events occuring somewhat regularly in our data monitoring.
So what can be done? There are 4 primary actions that can be taken:
Improve our septic systems - install I/A septic systems. Take advantage of the state, county and town grants.
Restore oyster reefs and habitat - both dredging and restoring oyster reefs can help improve water quality.
Reduce runoff - use native plants, rain gardens and buffer strips to filter runoff.
Limit fertilizer use - apply only what plants need and never before rain.
Peconic Estuary Partnership (PEP) - Stony Brook Studies
Over 2024 and 2025, Stony Brook studied oyster growth, seaweed, eel grass and kelp across various locations in the Peconic Bay and Menantic Creek. Oysters have done well but seaweed, eel grass and kelp have been unsuccessful in the Creek.
Menantic Creek and West Neck Harbor Dredging
Suffolk County completed dredging in West Neck Harbor, Dickerson and Menantic Creeks during winter of 2025. The dredging into the entrance to Menantic Creek extended just past the Island Boatyard to the Tarkettle Road Town Landing, but no further into the creek. We are hopeful that we will see some improvement to Creek water quality with increased tidal flow. Our 2025 data and observations will be compared to previous years at the conclusion of this year’s monitoring.
Shelter Island Water Quality
Shelter Island Water Advisory Committee (WAC) meets once a month and continues to schedule information sessions to discuss water quality challenges. https://www.shelterislandtown.gov/
Thank you for your continued support of water quality initiatives in Menantic Creek.
We’re dedicated to studying the water quality of Menantic Creek, and educating people about environmental stewardship.
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