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Superstorm Sandy Brings Cleaner Water, Native Marine Life Back To Long Island

KING'S PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - If you've been waiting for superstorm Sandy's silver lining, wait no longer.

You can credit the storm for improved water quality and the return of native marine life in several areas of Long Island, specifically Fire Island and, on the north shore, Sunken Meadow.

"We can already see benefits, benefits that the water is clearer. you can see the bottom," Nicole Maher, senior coastal scientist of the Nature Conservancy of Long Island, told WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs.

Superstorm Sandy Brings Cleaner Water, Native Marine Life Back To L.I.

Sandy breached areas of Fire Island and Sunken Meadow Creek, allowing for cleaner water and new marine life to return.

"There are going to be dramatic improvements to those conditions and for kayakers who want better water access," she said.

The benefits, Maher said, are huge and don't create additional flooding risk for the coastal communities.

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