On Saturday, October 16 community members joined DEC employees planting trees in front of the DEC bldg. Tours of the bldg. were available to the public. On October 7th Governor Kathy Hochul announced the opening of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s new Marine Resources headquarters located in the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Nissequogue River State Park, Kings Park. The new building, which features a range of sustainable green features, will serve as a central hub for DEC’s Division of Marine Resources and its essential work to manage and conserve New York’s marine fisheries, shellfish, and other protected marine life habitats.  

“From recreational anglers out for a day to commercial shellfish harvesters who have fished our state’s waters for generations, the health of New York’s marine ecosystem is critical to the economic health of our coastal communities,” said Governor Hochul. 

The facility is LEED Silver-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for energy efficiency construction. It includes water-use reduction and rainwater management features, environmentally conscious and low-pollution-emitting building materials, and facilitates the production of up to 100,000 kWh/year of solar-generated energy. Construction of the new $26 million facility was supported by funding from NY Works and is aligned with the goals of the Nissequogue River State Park Master Plan.   

Nightime view of DEC building at Nissequogue River State Park in Kings ParkSustainable features at the new facility include:   

• Ground- and roof-mounted solar panels equipped to generate more than 100,000 kWh of energy each year;   
• LED lighting, energy-efficient electrical systems, and optimized water process use to reduce consumption;  
• Indoor environmental air quality controls, outdoor heat-reduction materials, and reflecting paint to minimize energy use;  
• Low-impact refrigerants;    
• Environmentally friendly, low-emitting, and recycled construction materials;  
• High-quality indoor daylight and views of natural outdoor spaces to reduce the use of electrical lighting;  
• Green and electric vehicle parking and charging stations for visitors and staff;  
• Bike rack and a connection to a nature trail;  
• Rainwater bioretention and rain gardens to help reduce storm water runoff; and  
• Native and adaptive plants and trees to promote the health of the local ecosystem.  

DEC plays a crucial role in the management of commercial and recreational fisheries, such as striped bass, black sea bass, summer flounder, and blue crabs, among others.  DEC remains committed to protecting vulnerable and encroached marine habitats that include tidal wetlands, bays, estuaries, the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, and Atlantic Ocean. Maintaining healthy marine environments helps to support Long Island’s coastal communities and industries that rely on sustainable and productive marine resources. New York’s marine resources are critical to the State’s economy - supporting nearly 350,000 jobs and generating billions of dollars through tourism, fishing, and other industries. The region’s growing marine economy accounts for approximately 9.7 percent of Long Island’s total gross domestic product. 

DEC oversees the management of shellfish and aquaculture to ensure productive, healthy, and safe shellfish are harvested for consumption from New York’s waters. The new headquarters operates the state’s only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-certified shellfish microbiology laboratory to ensure that the more than one million acres of shellfish growing areas throughout New York’s marine waters meet the stringent requirements of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP). The lab must complete FDA-approved proficiency testing twice per year to maintain its FDA certification and is evaluated by the FDA every three years for NSSP compliance and recertification.   

“On behalf of the of the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, I welcome the DEC to the park and look forward to working with the DEC to build a meaningful long-term partnership that will help to create value for all the park constituents,” said John McQuaid, President, Nissequogue River State Park Foundation.   

Nissequogue River State Park connects to Sunken Meadow State Park, allowing visitors to explore 521 riverfront acres of trails, saltwater wetlands, and wildlife habitats. Located on the north shore of Long Island, the park overlooks the Nissequogue River and provides scenic views of the river and the Long Island Sound and provides valuable habitat to a variety of shore birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The park offers a canoe and kayak launch, fishing, birdwatching, interpretive signs, guided tours, and group tours by reservation. In addition to green building features, the new facility offers improved meeting spaces, staff workspaces, and laboratories. The facility also provides opportunities to expand DEC’s environmental education and I FISH NY programs, while enhancing joint initiatives with State Parks, such as I Love My Park Day, First Day Hikes, and Outdoors Day.