A phenomenon known as ?brown tide? is ravaging Long Island?s Great South Bay, experts say. However, there are groups that are trying to reverse the trend.

Brown tide is the formation of dark, mud-like algae. Scientists say it is killing plant life, as well as scallops and clams, which help keep the water clean. It?s been having a detrimental effect on Long Island?s waters for 23 years, but this year it?s the worst, they say.

Scientists are working to restore the clam population over 21-square miles of the Great South Bay.

?When these populations are abundant and healthy, so is the bay,? Carl LoBue, of the Nature Conservancy, says. Suffolk Executive Steve Levy says the county has spent $1.6 million over the past 10 years trying to fix the problem by preventing pollutants from getting into the waterways.

?There are potential solutions to brown tide like introducing a virus to the water or clay into the water to make it settle out," Cornelia Schlenk, of Sea Grant, says. Sea Grant is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The group has worked on several brown tide research initiatives.

Peconic Baykeeper Kevin MacAllister says everyone can pitch in to help tackle the problem by not using fertilizers.