Unable to attend but you would still like to support the Long Pond Greenbelt?

Click here to donate or to become a member click here.

It's Official! LIPA board votes for Bridgehampton-to-Buell underground cable route that bypasses the Long Pond Greenbelt.

It’s definitely time for a big sigh of relief. By a unanimous vote on November 13, 2024, the Long Island Power Authority's board accepted PSEG's Final Environmental Statement showing the route for the new 69kV underground transmission cable between Bridgehampton and the Buell Lane substation in East Hampton as one following existing roadways and steering clear of the coastal plain pond ecosystem of the Long Pond Greenbelt. This most wonderful outcome is due to the sustained commitment of so many who labored tirelessly over the past few years for the protection of this rare and fragile preserve. Our heartfelt thanks.

Click here for the East Hampton Star article "PSEG Cable Will Bypass Greenbelt."

Thank You for Passing Proposition 2

In November, Suffolk County voters approved Ballot Proposition 2, the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, which will generate $4 billion to modernize wastewater infrastructure and protect Long Island’s waters from nitrogen pollution and $2 billion to protect clean drinking water by conserving open space and wildlife habitats. With the approval of Prop 2, Suffolk County now has funding to address local water pollution at one of its main sources, our septic systems. Kudos to everyone who voted to pass Prop 2, our state and local politicians, and in particular, Long Pond Greenbelt partner/owner, the Nature Conservancy for leading education and policy efforts. You can read the Nature Conservancy press release on the victory here: https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/suffolk-approves-prop2/

Wildlife Biologist Mike Bottini and Dr. Anna Thonis Team Up for Planned Long Island Turtle Study

In an effort to more effectively monitor Long Island's Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) populations, Anna Thonis, Ph.D., a Postdoctoral Researcher at New York University, and Mike Bottini of Seatuck Environmental Association, are in the process of establishing four Eastern box turtle long term monitoring sites across Long Island. As box turtles are notoriously difficult to find, they are partnering with turtle detection dog teams to increase their chance of locating turtles. Their sites will be located across an urbanization gradient, with one site in Queens, one site on Staten Island, one site at Brookhaven National Labs in Upton, NY, and they are considering the Long Pond Greenbelt for their fourth site. The project is slated to begin in June 2025, pending funding. 

A Special Thank You to Mr. Ben Conklin 

Ben Conklin, who died in October at age 88, traced his family roots back several generations on the East End, was born at home at Breeze Hill farm in Bridgehampton, schooled at the Bridgehampton School, and worked on the family farm for many decades. Ben was known for his love of recounting stories of his family history and, as a close friend commented, “his daily delights were so simple and pure, most often related to the beauty of nature.” As part of his end-of life-planning, Ben made a most generous gift of $5,000 to FLPG, where he was a contributing lifetime member. We deeply appreciate his kindhearted gift and extend our condolences to his family.