Dear Friend,

On December 15, the Peconic Land Trust hosted a virtual presentation titled “Restoring the Health of Sagg Pond” by Dr. Chris Gobler, Stony Brook University’s Endowed Chair of Coastal Ecology and Conservation. This presentation was for residents living within the Sagg Pond Watershed.  
 
For those who missed the conversation, please click on the following link to view the Zoom presentationPlease help us spread the word by sharing this presentation with your friends and neighbors! 
   
Attendees learned about Chris’s preliminary findings regarding the health of Sagg Pond. This study was launched in 2019 to understand the root causes of hazardous blue-green algal blooms in the pond and was underwritten by $224,000 of private funds from Sagg Pond neighbors. Southampton Town/ Town Trustees have committed an additional $112,000 to this research. Chris’s work, and additional research to be conducted in 2021 by Ron Paulsen of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), will inform the preparation of a Sagg Pond Revitalization/ Management Plan by the Southampton Town Trustees.  
 
Above all we learned that everyone in the watershed has a role to play as we work together towards a healthier, safer Sagg Pond! 
 
The Peconic Land Trust is privileged to be playing a coordination role toward the revitalization of Sagg Pond thanks to a $100,000 grant over 2 years from the Joyce & Irving Goldman Family Foundation. Other donors have contributed $30,000 as a match to date. Since there is much more to be done, including research, restoration and remediation measures, we collectively need to raise more private funds from more people within the watershed that can be matched with public funds. The Trust has set up the Sagg Pond Restoration Fund for this purpose. 
 
Our goal is to raise $120,000 by January 30th, 2021. These funds will complete our match of the Goldman grant ($70,000) and underwrite 50% of the CCE research ($50,000), the balance of which we hope will be matched by our public partners (e.g. Southampton Town/Town Trustees). Your support is needed to fund this important work. Please go to the link below to make your gift to the Sagg Pond Restoration Fund. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Bruce Horwith who is coordinating this Sagg Pond initiative.  
Thanks again to Dr. Christopher Gobler for his ongoing research for Sagg Pond and beyond! And thank you to all who were able to attend our special presentation! You truly make our work possible! Wishing you and yours a Safe and Healthy Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

John v.H. Halsey
President
631-283-3195
Peconic Land Trust | 631.283.3195 | Info@PeconicLandTrust.org
 
Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island's working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities now and in the future. 

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Please note: The Peconic Land Trust does not collect or distribute the funds from the 2% real estate transfer tax. Click here to learn more.

Financial Disclosure Statement: A copy of the last financial report filed with the New York State Attorney General may be obtained in writing to: New York State Attorney General's Charities Bureau, Attn: FOIL Officer, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 or Peconic Land Trust, PO Box 1776, Southampton, NY 11969.