Dear Danielle,

Happy spring, everyone! It’s wonderful to see Montauk coming alive again — with visitors returning to beaches and trails and new wildlife activity occurring with each passing day. We hope you’re finding time to get outside and enjoy all this vibrant season has to offer.

Here in Montauk, CCOM has helped preserve two-thirds of Montauk’s land — a rare achievement in Suffolk County, where open space is increasingly hard to come by. We’re proud of this legacy, and prouder still to carry it forward with your support. But even as we protect these local landscapes, we’re reminded that natural areas across the country face growing and persistent threats. The need to safeguard public lands and fragile ecosystems has never been more urgent — not only for future generations but also for the health and resilience of our communities today.

Progress begins at home. So many East End residents' lives are closely tied to our waters, lands, and natural resources — the very features that draw countless visitors to Montauk each year and make our community so special. This year, CCOM is renewing our commitment to advancing water quality remediation efforts in our town, with a 2025 focus on Fort Pond and its watershed. Ongoing water testing by CCOM continues to reveal sustained and increasing water quality impairments in this vital waterbody, central to Montauk. Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved with related events and programs throughout the summer. 

Together, our concern becomes action — thank you for helping guide Montauk’s future.

In partnership,

Rebecca Holloway

Rebecca Holloway | Manager of Environmental Advocacy

East Hampton’s Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee (WQTAC) has recommended eight projects for funding through the first of two rounds of the 2025 Community Preservation Fund (CPF) Water Quality Improvement Project grants. CCOM’s Rebecca Holloway serves on the committee, which collaboratively reviews proposals.

Funded by a one-time 2% real estate transfer tax, the CPF is a voter-approved program supporting land and water conservation. Since 2016, up to 20% of annual CPF revenue has been dedicated to water quality projects. Click here to learn more about CPF and Town of East Hampton's Clean Water East Hampton Program.

A majority of this round’s recommended projects involve upgrading wastewater treatment systems in areas where groundwater impacts nearby waterbodies. Two projects also focus on habitat restoration: one provides reef-building equipment to support aquaculture operations across East Hampton, and the other is an enhanced wetland project aimed at improving water quality at Hog Creek.

Businesses and residents are encouraged to apply to biannual Water Quality Improvement Project grants, provided projects meet the eligibility criteria. Round 2 of the 2025 Requests for Applications opens June 2, 2025. Learn more about the grants and criteria here.

April water quality results showed clean water quality across CCOM’s sites, with the exception of three locations where slightly elevated enterococcus bacteria levels were detected: Lake Montauk: West Creek; Fresh Pond: Creek (Amagansett); and Three Mile Harbor: Head of the Harbor (East Hampton). 

Rainfall over the weekend before sampling may have influenced the elevated results, as runoff can carry bacteria from surrounding land into the water. 

Thanks to our local volunteers and community support, our year-round water quality monitoring and reporting continues. As we head into warmer weather and more recreational use of our waters, our Blue Water Task Force program will increase testing frequency. Starting in May, we will test twice monthly, with weekly testing resuming for the season in June.

Next month, CCOM will also resume regular harmful algal bloom (HAB) testing in Fort Pond in partnership with the Gobler Lab at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. 

See our detailed reports, CCOM’s site map, and results from across the East End here. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers for supporting year-round sampling.

On Earth Day, CCOM’s environmental partners, including Citizens Campaign for the Environment, rallied in Mineola to urge federal leaders to move the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project forward. CCOM proudly stands with Wind Works New York, a coalition including the NRDC, Save the Sound, the Climate Reality Project, civic organizations, and many others, in supporting vital local renewable energy initiatives.

The rally called on federal leaders to accelerate offshore wind development as part of a clean energy future. 

Experts widely agree that the primary cause of whale mortality is vessel strikes, not offshore wind activity. At the rally, speakers addressed this common misconception (and potential disinformation), emphasizing that there is “no known link between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities, period.”

Renewable energy and marine conservation can and must go hand in hand. Stony Brook University oceanographers are conducting ongoing research, including acoustic monitoring off Long Island’s south shore, to investigate potential impact.

Research Insights from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University

The annual lecture by Dr. Christopher Gobler of Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences discussed worsening water quality across Long Island, driven by rising temperatures, excess nitrogen, and climate change impacts.

Among the key findings from 2024 were record-high water temperatures, 36 distinct oxygen-depleted “dead zones”—the most ever recorded—over two dozen toxic algal blooms, and elevated levels of dangerous bacteria such as Vibrio vulnificus. Gobler also highlighted a more than 60% rise in groundwater nitrogen since the late 20th century—fueling a 90% decline in critical marine habitats like eelgrass and salt marshes, along with sharp drops in shellfish populations.

In addition to ecological impacts, he reviewed a growing body of recent research linking nitrate contamination in drinking water to serious health risks—including certain cancers and potential adverse birth outcomes.

Dr. Gobler concluded his talk by highlighting promising solutions, including Suffolk County’s comprehensive and forward-looking plan to upgrade septic systems, as well as in-water solutions like kelp farming. While he emphasized that efforts like kelp farming won’t stop climate change or HABs, he noted their important role in improving local water quality.

Read the full 2024 East Hampton Water Quality Study Report here, and catch the full talk here.

Slow Food is a global movement that supports local food, sustainable farming, and traditional food cultures. A movement with roots in Italy in the 1980s as a response to the rise of fast life, today, it promotes “Good, Clean, and Fair Food for All”— supporting biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and local producers around the world. It’s about choosing food that is good for people and the planet, and finding connection to the people and places that provide it.

Here on Long Island, Slow Food East End (SFEE) brings these values to life by supporting local farmers, promoting food education, and connecting the East End community to healthy, sustainable food.

Spring’s in full swing and there’s so much to love about it, with birds beginning to nest and hatchlings and juvenile wildlife starting to emerge. Keep an eye out for hatchlings and new activity in your backyard!

Check out this video, captured by local naturalist “Fish Guy” Chris Paparo, showing wood ducklings making their first daring leap from the nest!

For more unforgettable glimpses of our local wildlife—this time, focusing on ocean life—be sure to catch Fish Guy at the Montauk Historical Society this summer for his talk, "Exploring Long Island’s Underwater World." Save the date! July 8th at 2:00 PM.

This month, CCOM led a nature walk at Big Reed Pond with our STEAM club, the Young Filmmakers of Montauk. The group learned about Big Reed County Park’s unique ecosystem, and how water quality is intricately connected to all life within it! Along the way, the group observed osprey, red-winged blackbirds, a great egret, and more; identified invasive species; learned about migratory fish alewives and American eels; collected water samples, and recorded their observations. Thanks to the Montauk School for making the day possible. It was a beautiful hands-on field day! 

Stay tuned next month for the STEAM Club’s final video — a student-produced call to protect clean water!

There’s still time to join the 2025 Sea to Soil Symposium, happening Friday, May 2, at the Stony Brook Southampton campus! Dive into a dynamic afternoon of expert talks on regenerative agriculture, restorative aquaculture, and climate resilience—featuring Paul Greenberg, Christopher Gobler, Sue Wicks, and more.

Cap off the day with an exclusive tasting dinner! Additional details and registration here.

Saturday, May 31 | 10am – 1 pm | 6 S. Elmwood Ave., Montauk

Due to rain this past weekend, we have rescheduled the Great Montauk Cleanup! All materials are provided and no registration is required. Please share with neighbors and friends, and join us in caring for some of our favorite places in Montauk!

SPECIAL PRE-SALE PROMOTION! $100 per ticket - ends May 10th | Full priced tickets ($150) starting May 11th.

Please join us for our 4th annual Summer Soirée at Gurney’s Montauk! Enjoy panoramic views of the ocean from Gurney’s spa terrace, open bar, hors d’oeuvres, seafood spread and a raw bar.

Kids ages 5-12 are welcome to join Gurney’s Kids Club for a movie and dinner for free! If you plan on bringing your child, please let us know when you purchase your ticket. There will be a section to add your child’s name and age.

Every order comes with a free tote bag too! Check out our website's SHOP PAGE.