A petition complaint filed with the Brookhaven Town board, charging
that the sluice gates at the outlet of the lower Yaphank Lake, or
Mill pond, opposite the former Anson Hard property, are being
improperly operated, has been referred to the Suffolk Highway
department for investigation, on the grounds that the gates adjoin a
county highway.
The petition
containing 47 signatures, stated, “We residents of Yaphank owning
property bordering on the banks of Carmen River, petition you to
take steps to have the following conditions corrected.
“Through improper
or irregular operation of the Yaphank eastern sluice gates and
incorrect construction thereof, our stream has been reduced to an
unsightly weed-laden and scum-covered body of water. The sluice
gates are constructed with a covering of wire screening, without
doubt for the purpose of holding all seaweed and waste of every kind
within our body of water and thus permitting only the screened water
to flow into the body of water beyond the dam.
“This has been
going on for a number of years and we, as a group of property owners
, feel that it is unjust the one portion of this stream should be
subject to this accumulation of weeds and refuse, and refuse through
the closing off of power outlet. We object to the continuance of
this unjust procedure, which is running part of the river.
“We also desire
that the water’s height be maintained at a uniform level, a level
which will permit proper use of the water for bathing and row
boating. Often during the summer months, the water is run so low
the stream is a mess of exposed seaweed, making the water
particularly useless for bating and even for row boating.
“At other times,
it is allowed to become so high that the properties on the north
bank are submerged. Recently this condition prevailed. It was so
high it overran the south bank, which is higher ground than the
north bank. It left a deposit of thick slimy scum, with a bad odor,
along the edge of the south bank, and on the north bank not only
badly flooded lands but likewise deposited this smelly scum, a
condition which is very apt to be detrimental to the health of the
community.
“We understand
these control gates were installed some years ago by Anson Hard, who
then owned the property to the east of these gates. The property is
now owned by Mrs. Deane, whose caretaker is now in charge of the
gate.”