Supporters and Friends of the Bay gathered at the Frank M. Flower & Sons, Inc. dock on Mill Neck Creek, Saturday, Oct. 30. The occasion was the launching of the Baywatch II, FOB's brand new research, education and watchdog boat funded by Mr. and Mrs. Donald McAllister Jr. and Miss Liane McAllister of Centre Island. The boat was donated in memory of their parents, Donald and Betty McAllister.

Liane McAllister said, "Our parents lived on Centre Island for 40 years. They traveled all over the world and said Oyster Bay was the most beautiful harbor in the world. We are so happy with what you are doing here and delighted to be involved."

The McAllisters generously offered to fund the purchase of Baywatch II after hearing of the need. The boat will be used by FOB for Environmental Education and Monitoring Program. The boat will enable FOB to continue its on-the-water programs including weekly water quality monitoring at six sites around Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor from April through November.

It will also be used to support community events such as the annual North Oyster Bay Baymen's Association Cleanup; FOB's "Row Around Oyster Bay" and the Red Cross Swim-A-Cross.

In its "down-time" the boat will be used for programs at the Marine Education Center, said Jack Williams, president of FOB. Attending the event was Fritz Coudert III who is spearheading the fund raising for the MEC.

For the McAllister family, who have been residents of Centre Island for over 40 years, this donation marks another milestone in a long tradition of supporting vessels to protect Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor. "We are proud to continue the McAllister family tradition of supporting the protection of Oyster Bay and the work of FOB," said Liane McAllister.

In 1990, in memory of Betty McAllister - Donald Sr., Liane, Donald Jr. and Maureen helped the United States Fish and Wildlife Service purchase a boat. That boat enabled the service to become more actively involved in protecting the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Three years later, in the memory of Donald McAllister Sr. - Liane, Donald Jr. and Maureen purchased Baywatch, Friends of the Bay's first boat. The boat was critical in establishing FOB's on the water programs.

"As a personal friend of Don and Betty, I know how much their son's and daughter's continued efforts to keep Oyster Bay beautiful would mean to them," said Jack Williams.

This new boat enables FOB to expand its water quality monitoring programs to include a partnership with the Village of Bayville and the Nassau County Department of Health to sample coliform bacteria in Mill Neck Creek. The presence of coliform bacteria is used by the DOH, as an indicator of the presence of disease-causing organisms to ensure beaches and shellfish areas are safe for human use. High bacteria levels indicate the presence of intestinal waste from warm-blooded animals such as humans, which may contain disease-causing organisms.

Mayor Victoria Siegel said she was delighted with being able to work with FOB. "It came about as a result of the Bayville Local Water Revitalization Plan. One of the cornerstones of the plan is the preservation of the quality of water in Mill Neck Creek, Oyster Bay and Long Island Sound. In order to do that, one of the things we proposed was the water monitoring. We met with FOB and we discussed it. They were heading in that direction - getting the county involved to use their labs."

Their first project to keep stormwater from getting into the bay was their Perry Avenue Project, she said. Now extensive efforts have been made and today they capture 75 percent of the stormwater from Bayville.

"This program will build on the remarkable work Mayor Siegel has done on behalf of the Village of Bayville to protect and improve the quality of local waters," said Rob Crafa, environmental analyst for FOB.

"This testing will help officials to understand why Mill Neck Creek is currently closed year-round to shellfishing; identify potential sources of bacterial contamination and make recommendations to improve water quality," said Mr. Crafa.

FOB has found the overall condition of the water in the OB/CSH area is healthy. They are concerned that their monitoring site in southern CSH has failed to meet the dissolved oxygen standard on several occasions and that Mill Neck Creek is closed year-round to shellfishing. FOB is investigating the reasons for these problems.

Dave Relyea, of the Flower's company said he wants to see Mill Neck Creek cleaned up so that they can sell shellfish from there. Currently they move the shellfish from MNC to Oyster Bay Harbor where the shellfish naturally cleanse themselves in the clean water.

Nassau County Legislator John Canning was at the event representing the county. He said, "Add my voice to the chorus thanking the McAllisters."

Town Councilman Tony Altimari, a Bayville resident, said the quality of life in the Town of Oyster Bay is made possible because of the talent, resources and volunteer spirit of the residents.

Jack Williams presented certificates of appreciation to Dave Relyea for allowing the boat to dock at Flower's free of charge as well as being able to hose it down and store gear there.

Carol DuBois and her daughter Caroline were presented with a certificate for financing the operation of Baywatch II. Caroline quipped, "My mother writes the checks - I drive the boat." She is a FOB volunteer. She said the members of the Long Island Sound Watershed Alliance keep watch on what other areas do - they take inventory of every program going on - which will include this one.

She said the health of the harbor is important for the oysters but it is also important to people who live here - so that they can swim and sail and not be concerned with such things as sore throats and eye infections from polluted water.

Les Marbles of Pine Island Etch was presented a certificate for donating the decals on the side of the boat. He summed up his attitude by saying, "This spring thousands of sea turtles were here. The clams and oysters grow to the water's edge because of the thousands who give what they can. I'm glad to be one of them."

John McGrane of the Oyster Bay Marine Center earned his certificate for moving the boat; John Hickey of Bay Marine Services earned his for preparing the boat for launching: painting and for installing the engine; Mitch Kramer of Tow/Boat USA and North Shore Diving Services got one because he "helps any way he can." As the thank yous ended, there was one last hurrah - that was for Rob Crafa, who organized the event.

The six sites are monitored one day per week, once at sunrise and again in the late afternoon - for dissolved oxygen. The test locations include: Mill Neck Creek; West Harbor midway between the east and west shores; Roosevelt Beach two hundred yards off of the flag pole in Roosevelt Park; Buoy "4" near Plum Point at the entrance to Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor; and two sites in Cold Spring Harbor.

At sunrise dissolved oxygen is expected to be at its lowest because the oxygen producing plants have been dormant through the night. In contrast the late afternoon dissolved oxygen levels are noticeably higher - showing the effects of a full day of oxygen production by aquatic plants.

A total of four bacteria samples are collected consisting of two stations within the main channel of the Mill Neck Creek and one from each branch of the creek.

The Baywatch II is the perfect solution for FOB's diverse activities, said Mr. Crafa, "It's virtually unsinkable." The engine is Y2K compatible, state-of-the art compliant; it sips gas and doesn't drip oil." The "semi-v" hull provides a stable work platform for volunteers to conduct water quality monitoring, education programs, harbor cleanups and for members of the press to photograph events. Low side-walls make it easy for volunteers to collect water samples, pick up floating debris (they found a large 1 ft. x 8 ft. plank floating in the water near the Bayville Bridge on Saturday), as well as assist in annual FOB boating events. The lightweight durable Carolina Skiff will provide years of dependable service and tremendous savings in operating and maintenance costs, from the smaller, more fuel-efficient engine required.

Carolina Skiff provided the brand new boat at a 50 percent discount. The boats are available at 766-0080.

The engine is an Evinrude (by OMC) 70 hp 4-stoke fuel injected outboard engine. Its government sales office enabled FOB to purchase the engine at 40 percent off the regular price. It burns 31 percent less fuel than a 2-stoke engine, does not discharge oil into the bay and meets the EPA 2006 emissions regulations.

"I look forward to increasing FOB's friendly presence on the water. If you see us out there please stop us and ask how's the bay doing," said Rob Crafa.