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SANDY POND CHANNEL MAINTENANCE ASSO
SANDY CREEK, NY · EIN 371457826 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE C32 · Environment · Micro (<$100K) · spcma.homestead.com
revenue
$27K
expenses
$48K
net assets
$4K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

MAINTAIN CHANNEL FOR BOATS

profile · synthesized from sources

SANDY POND CHANNEL MAINTENANCE ASSO is a nonprofit organization based in Sandy Creek, NY, focused on maintaining a navigable channel for recreational boating by dredging and managing sediment. The organization coordinates with local, state, and federal agencies to conduct seasonal dredging operations while addressing environmental concerns such as endangered piping plover habitats. It operates through member support, town funding, and volunteer efforts.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Inlet Channel Dredging
Seasonal mechanical dredging of the Sandy Pond channel to maintain navigability for recreational boats, typically conducted in spring or fall depending on environmental clearances
Permit Coordination and Environmental Compliance
Engages with DEC, Corps of Engineers, NYS Parks, and US Fish and Wildlife to secure permits and monitor piping plover activity to ensure compliance with environmental regulations
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advocates for regulatory changes and early dredging permissions
      Engages in advocacy to modify permits and secure variances for mechanical dredging, including contacting the Town Supervisor, sending letters to the Sandy Creek Town Board and federal/state agencies, and requesting supporting documentation to enable earlier start times for dredging operations.
  • Nonprofit Organizational Management 1 activity
    • Manages organizational operations and financial administration
      Conducts board and annual meetings, maintains financial reserves ($48,724.33 as of July 2016), files taxes and sales tax refund claims, and reimburses third parties (e.g., $240 to Greene Point Marina for website maintenance).
  • Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
    • Organizes and coordinates volunteer labor for dredging operations
      Mobilizes and manages volunteer efforts for dredge setup, operation, discharge hose monitoring, boat traffic direction, worker support, fuel transport, and volunteer coordination during channel maintenance projects.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Conducts channel dredging and maintenance operations
      Performs periodic dredging projects to maintain a navigable water channel into Lake Ontario, including removing and placing approximately 6,000 cubic yards of sand on the barrier beach, conducting contract dredging, and using owned equipment such as a dredge and 1,800 feet of discharge hose to support operations. Activities have been ongoing since 2003, with specific projects documented in 2012 and 2014.
    • Secures funding and financial support for channel maintenance
      Obtains financial resources for dredging operations through government funding ($75,000 secured), municipal support ($15,000 from the Town of Sandy Creek), and public donations (over $13,440 via GoFundMe), as well as generating minor event revenue ($700 from a beach party).
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$27K
Contributions & grants$7K26%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$48K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$4K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$4K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -84.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • CHRIS REXFORD — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  • DAVE CATANIA — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  • DAVID BANACK — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  • EDMUND P BACKUS — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
relationships · 35

Who they work with

  • Assemblyman Will Barclay Government — Notified as part of outreach to elected officials regarding channel dredging importance.
  • Bob Coffin Partner — Contracted by the Town to assist with hauling dump truck loads during the dredging project.
  • Corps of Engineers Government — Holds a 5-year permit expiring July 14, 2018, requiring resubmission upon expiration.
  • Corps of Engineers Government — Permitting agency involved in regulating dredging activities.
  • County Legislator Margaret Kastler Government — Facilitated communication between SPCMA and federal/state offices to support early dredging request.
  • DEC Government — Permitting agency with approved permits through May 21, 2023, requiring minimal 30-day advanced notice.
  • DEC Government — State agency that supports the association's dredging permit changes.
  • Greene Point Marina Partner — Received reimbursement for website maintenance services provided to the association.
  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Required to file a TRP permit with NYS DEC for channel maintenance work.
  • NYS Parks and Recreation Government — Responsible for marking navigational channels; contacted by SPCMA for channel marking efforts.
  • NYSPRHP Government — Agency mentioned in discussion about beach closures and endangered species protection.
  • Nature's Conservancy Partner — Discussed potential collaboration on placing sand from the channel back onto the barrier beach using SPCMA permits.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Agency involved in permitting and oversight of channel dredging activities.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Agency to which SPCMA sent letters requesting early dredging authorization.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Approved permits for dredging activities through May 21, 2023, with requirement of 30-day advance notice.
  • New York State Department of State Government — Agency involved in the permitting process for dredging activities.
  • Office of Congressman Owens Government — Contacted by County Legislator Margaret Kastler to support SPCMA's request for early dredging.
  • Office of Senator Patty Ritchie Government — Assisting in coordination of interagency approvals for early dredging; staff member Patty Holst is leading the effort.
  • Office of State Senator Patty Ritchie Government — Secured state funding and supported permit changes for dredging the Sandy Pond Channel.
  • Ralph Wagoner Partner — Leased piping equipment and provided dredge deployment services for the association.
  • Sandy Creek Town Board Government — Engages with the Sandy Creek Town Board through formal letters and requests regarding channel maintenance.
  • Senator Patty Ritchie Funder — Provided funding support for barrier beach restoration.
  • Senator Patty Ritchie Government — Secured $75,000 in state funding for the Sandy Pond Channel dredging project
  • Town of Sandy Creek Government — Has $40,000 set aside in the budget for the association and signed a contract on July 12, 2016.
  • Town of Sandy Creek Government — Has a signed contract and provided funding through its waterways navigation budget for dredging projects.
  • Town of Sandy Creek Government — Receives financial support from the Town of Sandy Creek.
  • Town of Sandy Creek Partner — Collaborated on funding and support for barrier beach restoration.
  • Town of Sandy Creek Partner — Provided monetary support of $15,000 and assistance with dredging operations through its Highway Department.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Government — Agency to which SPCMA sent letters requesting a waiver to begin dredging earlier than permitted.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Government — Holds a 5-year permit for dredging activities, with paperwork submitted and managed by the association.
+ 5 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Advocacy Through Constituent and Member Mobilization
    methodology: advocacy_through_constituent_engagement
    By organizing members and stakeholders to submit letters and engage with elected officials, the organization amplifies its advocacy for channel maintenance, because collective constituent pressure increases the likelihood of favorable government action and funding support.
  • Community-Driven Maintenance with Volunteer Labor
    methodology: community_volunteer_engagement
    By engaging community volunteers in dredging and piping operations, the organization sustains channel maintenance activities with reduced reliance on contractors, because local participation lowers operational costs and strengthens community ownership of the waterway.
  • In-House Dredging Capacity for Responsive Maintenance
    methodology: self-directed_dredging
    By owning and operating its own dredging equipment, the organization enables timely and flexible channel maintenance, because self-directed operations reduce dependency on external contractors and allow rapid response to siltation events.
  • Integrated Dredging and Ecological Restoration
    methodology: ecological-integration
    By combining mechanical and hydraulic dredging with the strategic reuse of dredged sand for dune restoration and beach nourishment, the organization maintains channel navigability while simultaneously enhancing coastal habitats, because repurposing sediment supports both infrastructure and ecosystem resilience.
  • Seasonally Adaptive Dredging Scheduling
    methodology: seasonal_coordination_with_wildlife_protection
    By coordinating dredging activities around protected wildlife nesting cycles, such as the Piping Plover season, the organization ensures ecological compliance and habitat protection while maintaining navigability, because timing interventions avoids harm to endangered species and builds regulatory goodwill.