Hello!

Welcome to CCOM’s first newsletter of the new year. As we settle into the heart of winter, this quieter season offers an important moment to reflect, prepare, and take meaningful action to protect our local waters and coastline.

Even in the off-season, CCOM remains hard at work supporting our community. This month’s newsletter highlights several timely opportunities to make a real impact. We’re sharing news about Septic Upgrade Grants, making it easier than ever for homeowners in Montauk and East Hampton to access up to $55,000 in combined grants—with free, one-on-one support from CCOM every step of the way. You’ll also learn how to Become a Clean Water Steward, joining a growing network of neighbors pledging to take simple but powerful actions to protect clean water.

We’re excited to share the successful completion of the Ditch Plains dune restoration, a critical project that strengthens coastal resilience following the severe winter storms of recent years. Speaking of storms, we’re also taking a closer look at how climate change is supercharging winter weather and what that means for our region. Finally, we’ll highlight new Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) funding opportunities now available through the Town of East Hampton to support projects that improve water quality and restore aquatic habitats.

As always, your support makes this work possible. Together, we can continue building a healthier, more resilient future for our community.

With gratitude,

Kay Tyler | Executive Director

It’s never been easier to upgrade your septic system and protect our local waters.

Homeowners in Montauk and East Hampton can now receive up to $55,000 in combined grants from the Town, Suffolk County, and New York State.

CCOM offers free, one-on-one assistance from start to finish: from answering initial questions to navigating grants, vendors, and installation.

You’re free to explore options and come curious, with no commitment required at any stage.



Email info@preservemontauk.org with the subject line Septic Upgrade Application to schedule a meeting.

Join a growing movement of neighbors protecting clean water in East Hampton and Montauk. Your name helps show the strength of local support and builds momentum for clean water solutions.

Take a quick pledge to support simple but powerful clean water actions. You’ll receive a yard sign to help inspire neighbors, helpful resources, and 1:1 support — with no fixed commitments. Actions include...

✅ Decreasing fertilizer use

✅ Upgrading your septic system

✅ Planting native lawn plants

✅ Picking up pet waste

✅ Redirecting rainwater to garden beds or rain barrels

✅ Spread the word to a neighbor!

Sign up in about a minute! BECOME A CLEAN WATER STEWARD HERE

The new dune at Ditch Plains is now successfully installed. The dune project, launched after the severe winter storms of December 2023 and January 2024, strengthens coastal resilience for the Ditch Plains neighborhood and roadway.

The rebuilt dune stands approximately 16 feet tall and extends roughly 1,800 linear feet, from just east of the “Dirt Lot” parking area to west of the Seaside Avenue lot. A break in the rebuilt dune, of approximately 375 linear feet, remains east of Otis Rd., or "Ditch Witch" lot, and west of the Dirt Lot, where the Town did not receive property easements. Construction began in November 2025, with up to 20,000 cubic yards of compatible sand sourced from an East Hampton dredging project placed by contractor Bistrian Materials.

The dune’s final slope, height, and configuration were developed by coastal science experts at Stony Brook University in coordination with the engineering firm Coastal Science and Engineering, with funding support from the Town of East Hampton and New York State.

The dune’s size and placement were specifically selected to meet FEMA eligibility requirements, allowing the Town to qualify for federal funding for dune repair or restoration following a federally declared disaster.

Sand fencing has been installed at both the seaward toe of the dune and along the landward side to reduce wind erosion and promote sand retention.

In late December 2025, native American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) plugs were planted along the full length of the constructed dune, including the seaward face, back slope, and plateaued crest. These important plantings will stabilize the dune as they begin to establish this spring. Vitally, “Keep Off the Dune” signage is now being posted to protect the plantings as the dune becomes fully established.

CCOM congratulates the Town of East Hampton and all project partners on the completion of this work and for demonstrating how nature-based solutions can play a critical role in protecting coastal communities.

For more on the Ditch Plains Beach Dune Restoration Project, watch the Town’s public presentation on January 13th and browse additional background and CCOM advocacy on the project. 

A colossal, frigid winter storm swept from the Southeast to the Northeast last weekend, leaving heavy snow across the U.S. You might be wondering: What does climate change mean for winter storms?

What to know:

• Winter storms, including nor'easters that impact Montauk, draw much of their intensity from the contrast between warmer, wetter air from the ocean and cold air over land. Warmer ocean temperatures can amplify this contrast, fueling heavier snowfalls, such as the large storms we experienced in early 2024.

• In cases where temperatures rise but stay below freezing, snowstorms can become heavier. One reason is that warmer air holds more moisture—about 4% more per degree F in temperature rise. Scientists have measured a significant increase in water vapor over land and oceans since the 1970s. This extra moisture can contribute to more intense snowfall when conditions are right.

Stay tuned for a 101 on climate and extreme weather and arm yourself with the facts in next month’s Science Explained newsletter. In the meantime, read more here.

The Town of East Hampton is now accepting applications for Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) RFA Grants for water quality improvement projects eligible for funding through the Community Preservation Fund (CPF). Eligible projects are those on commercial, multi-family or high-density residential, municipal, and not-for-profit properties. Through this program, the Town is able to fund projects ranging from wastewater treatment improvements to the abatement of pollutants from point and non-point sources, as well as aquatic habitat restoration.

Applications are considered twice a year by the Town’s Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee, and current applications are due February 16, 2026 by 3:00 PM. Learn more and access the application here.

This grant program is intended for the eligible entities listed above. Separately, individual homeowners are eligible for the Town’s Septic Incentive Program (SIP) grants, which provide funding for septic system upgrades. Questions? Contact info@preservemontauk.org for support.

For questions related to WQIP grants, please direct inquiries to the Town’s Natural Resources Department at CPFGrant@ehamptonny.gov.