Flax Pond is a tidal estuary located in Old Field, New York, on the north shore of Long Island. As a 146-acre (0.59 km2) salt marsh, Flax Pond is a natural site of great biodiversity and natural beauty.[1] Flax Pond is owned by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and is accessed by researchers at Stony Brook University as a Marine Lab for the state [2]

Flax Pond in August 2007.

In addition to research, Flax Pond also serves as a recreational beach for Long Islanders, though its location prevents many from utilizing the facility, which has served as a point of contention.[citation needed]

The property is located on Shore Drive in East Setauket in the Town of Brookhaven. Users can park at the Flax Pond Marine Lab. A short accessible 0.3-mile trail leads from the parking area and into the wetland, following along a boardwalk across the water.[1]

All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.

In recent years, the management of Flax Pond has become a very important issue. The environmentally conscious group Friends of Flax Pond has used the facility to educate those in the community through lectures, workshops, and science programs.[citation needed] However, the NYSDEC has sought to make the Pond more accessible to residents, thus risking the environmentally pristine nature of the Pond.[3]

State Assemblyman Steven Englebright, who has roots in geology,[citation needed] has repeatedly stressed the importance of Flax Pond as an environmental sanctuary. He has funded projects for Flax Pond, such as their summer learning institute [4] and has held lectures to promote these ideals.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Home". flaxpondfriends.org.
  2. ^ "The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences | School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences".
  3. ^ "Flax Pond Unit Management Plan - Public Review Draft" (PDF). NYSDEC. January 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "FPSI 2008 - Environmental Survey". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  5. ^ "CEN 514 - Fall, 2007". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
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40°57′47″N 73°08′24″W / 40.963°N 73.140°W / 40.963; -73.140