By Scott Brinton
The machine sucks dirt and garbage from the pond's bottom. Road silt and trash get flushed into the pond via storm-water drainage pipes. Over time, the debris collects at the bottom of the pond, reducing its depth -- and the rate at which water flows through it. As water stagnates, algae growth accelerates, reducing dissolved oxygen in the water and potentially killing fish.
In short, without the county's intervention, the pond would eventually become a swamp.
Nassau Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat of Merrick, recently toured Mill Pond with a reporter to show the progress of the county's $2 million dredging project. "The overall goal is to restore the pond to drinking-water quality," Denenberg said. "This literally is one of the prettiest ponds we have. But it's been plagued by overgrowth of vegetation."
Environmental testing of the pond began last December. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation gave the county the go-ahead to begin dredging on July 24, Denenberg said. He expects work to continue through next April or May.
In dredging the pond, silt is removed, tested for insecticides and petroleum, cleaned if necessary, and sent to a certified composting facility. The invasive plant species that are strangling the pond will be removed and incinerated, Denenberg said. He added that special filters would be installed at the drainage culverts that lead into the pond to get rid of floating garbage and chemicals that pollute the pond.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
