Dear Danielle,

Welcome to our October newsletter. As we transition to autumn, CCOM continues to push for progress on the topical environmental projects that matter most to our community, from important projects securing the resiliency of our coastlines, to tracking and management of our water quality, to sustainable development advocacy. CCOM remains committed to keeping our community informed and helping to voice the perspectives of those who love Montauk.

We are grateful to our members and residents for remaining engaged and concerned about the critical environmental issues in our town that we work on persistently.

Let’s take some time to enjoy the season, get outdoors in these last warmer days, and make lasting memories with our loved ones.

Warm Regards,

Rebecca Holloway | Manager of Environmental Advocacy

Phase 2 of the Ditch Plains Beach Recovery Project is in its final design proposal stage. Find the latest information from our community update letter here. CCOM will continue to update the community as we hear about the final proposed design, and when available, dates for upcoming town meetings with opportunities for public comment.

There is one question on the ballot in Suffolk we can all get behind. Whether you’re a business owner, parent, or individual who enjoys the best part about living on the East End—our amazing water resources— we all want clean water and a clean environment!

Early voting is underway! If you have yet to cast your vote, a last reminder:

Flip your ballot and vote YES on ballot proposition 2, the clean water question. As you’ve probably heard, passing this legislation would increase sales tax in Suffolk County by 0.125% (that is $1.25 for every $1,000 spent) to create long-term funding for septic and sewer upgrades. This change is invaluable for us all. Let’s build a clean water future together!

Community members can still add their voice to our CCOM record for historic water advocacy here. What beaches, lakes, ponds, and wetlands Out East are most special to you?

This month, results from our water testing indicated that enterococcus bacteria levels were clear overall but elevated at four Lake Montauk locations. We also found high bacteria in Tuthill Pond, likely due in part to waterfowl influence. In East Hampton, Accabonac Harbor: Landing Lane, Three Mile Harbor: Settler’s Landing, and Northwest Creek showed elevated levels. View the complete results from this month, and CCOM's historical East Hampton water quality dataset on our website.

For a comprehensive map of CCOM testing sites, see here. Our work is made possible by our dedicated Blue Water Task Force team at CCOM and individuals who contribute their time year-round, like Jane Weissman and CCOM's Jessica James.

This month, East Hampton Town announced that proposed amendments to our Town zoning and building construction codes will be on the agenda for the upcoming critical public hearing meeting on Thursday, November 7^th at 6:00PM at Town Hall.

CCOM is hopeful that zoning upgrades will improve our future construction decisions in accordance with the town’s sustainability and growth management commitments, and help to counter community concern about unfettered development.

We encourage those in our community to submit a written statement, attend, or call in to this Town Board Meeting as individuals. Contact Rebecca @RHolloway@PreserveMontauk.org for a written statement template or additional resources. We also urge residents to consider adding your supportive voice in the public comment section, to endorse positive community changes and stop the degradation of our natural environment caused by overdevelopment.

See the agenda packet here, and please contact CCOM for resources and assistance with questions you may have about the meeting.

Plum Island “…preserve this national treasure and its future.”

Exciting news: A U.S. Senate bill entitled the “Plum Island Preservation Act,” S. 5099 has been sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT), co-sponsored by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) and Senators, Chris Murphy (CT), and Kristen Gillibrand (NY). The legislation, if passed, would permanently preserve Plum Island, a 840-acre home to a number of species, including Osprey, Bank Swallow, Piping Plovers as well as many plants. According to the final Environmental Impact Statement, a vast number of species may be impacted by possible development scenarios, including at least two endangered species – the piping plover and the roseate tern. Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand have long-opposed the sale of Plum Island and have supported legislation to preserve the island for conservation purposes. “I will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect and preserve this national treasure and its future,” said Majority Leader Schumer who has been in the forefront of efforts to preserve the island for more than a decade.

You can view the bill at https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5099 and join the Preserve Plum Island Coalition here: https://www.preserveplumisland.org/.

Instead of tossing your pumpkin in the regular trash, opt to compost!

After Halloween, composting your pumpkin is a fantastic way to keep it out of the landfill and return valuable nutrients to the soil. When pumpkins decompose in a landfill, they produce methane—a potent greenhouse gas. By composting instead, you can cut down on waste and contribute to healthy, enriched soil for gardens and plants. Just remove any candles or decorations, break the pumpkin into smaller pieces, and add it to your compost pile or bin!

Montauk Community Garden accepts compost Saturdays 10AM-noon. Find additional details and composting, made easy resources here.

Instead of tirelessly collecting and disposing of autumn leaves, you can opt to leave the leaves!

"Leaving the leaves" in autumn is a simple, sustainable choice that benefits your yard and the environment. When you let fallen leaves stay on the ground, they decompose naturally, adding nutrients back to the soil and creating habitat for insects and small animals. Raking and bagging them up not only wastes potential nutrients but also contributes to landfill waste. Environmentalists recommend leaving the leaves because it supports biodiversity, enriches your lawn, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

Appreciate some images from the many celestial delights this month on the East End: from northern lights, to the Orionid meteor shower, to rare comets, and the brightest full moon of the year known as the Hunter’s Moon… it was definitely a great month to look up at the night sky. 

It wasn’t a trick, it was a treat for East End bird watchers! This month, if you noticed crowds of close to 100 visitors peering through binoculars on the north side of Fort Pond, it was because an iridescent Purple Gallinule (P. martinica) was spotted in the grassy edge of Industrial Road. The general range of the species is Central and South America, the southeastern United States, and the West Indies.

The uncommon sighting was documented at the pond through Monday the 21st. Vagrancy in birds can be due to storms, shifts in food sources, changes in Earth’s magnetic field, or navigational quirks, giving us a rare chance to see something unexpected.

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