named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Low Nitrogen Septic System Upgrades
Encourages homeowners to install Innovative/Alternative (I/A) septic systems that significantly reduce nitrogen discharge into Georgica Pond; provides guidance and assistance with grant applications
Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring
Operates a telemetry buoy in Georgica Pond in partnership with Stony Brook University’s Gobler Lab to continuously monitor parameters such as dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, salinity, pH, and blue-green algae levels
Watershed Stewardship Initiative
Educates property owners on actions to improve pond health, including eliminating synthetic fertilizers, reducing irrigation, planting native buffers, and proper disposal of chemicals and pharmaceuticals
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 2 activities
- Conducts science-based policy and restoration activities for Georgica PondEngages in science-informed policy development and ecological restoration efforts to preserve and improve the Georgica Pond ecosystem, including monitoring and advising on water quality and nutrient management.
- Promotes and supports low-nitrogen septic system upgradesAdvocates for the adoption of low-nitrogen septic systems to improve watershed water quality and provides direct support to homeowners, including education, grant application assistance, and guidance on selecting engineers and installers.
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Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 2 activities
- Conducts scientific research on Georgica Pond’s ecosystemPartners with academic experts, including Dr. Christopher Gobler and Dr. Bradley Peterson, to conduct studies on water quality, bacterial threats, fish species, and algal blooms, and uses findings to inform conservation strategies.
- Operates real-time water quality and pond level monitoring systemsFunds and maintains a telemetry buoy and pond level gauge in Georgica Pond to continuously monitor water quality, chemistry, and water height relative to sea level for ecological and public health assessment.
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Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocates for and monitors pond opening and watershed managementSupports and observes the biannual mechanical opening of Georgica Pond to the Atlantic Ocean by East Hampton Town Trustees to manage water levels, flush nutrients, and improve ecosystem health, while promoting sustainable land-use practices to reduce nutrient runoff.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Maintains and supports the Georgica Pond ecosystem and recreational accessManages conditions to sustain a brackish ecosystem supporting endangered and migratory species, commercial trapping, and public recreation including sailing races and paddlecraft rentals.
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Wildlife Monitoring and Field Research 1 activity
- Monitors and reports on ecological and wildlife conditionsTracks the presence and habitat use of indicator species such as piping plovers, documents bird species using eBird data, and reports wildlife mortality events like avian flu outbreaks to state authorities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$697K
Contributions & grants$680K98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$17K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$636K
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead27%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$202K
Grants paid out$25K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.31M
Cash$380K
Investments$885K
Liabilities$87K
Net assets$1.22M
Liquid reserves23.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +31.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA DAVISON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $140K |
board members · 7
- ANNA CHAPMAN — SECRETARY
- ANNIE GILCHRIST HALL — VICE PRESIDENT
- JONATHAN WAINWRIGHT — PRESIDENT-OFF DEC 2024
- KATHERINE J RAYNER — BOARD MEMBER
- LARRY CANTWELL — PRESIDENT - ON DEC 2024
- PRISCILLA RATTAZZI — BOARD MEMBER
- SID PERKINS — TREASURER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- CCWT Partner — Collaborates with CCWT to assist homeowners with septic system upgrades, including education, grant application support, and technical guidance.
- Center for Clean Water Technology Partner — Provides scientific data and analysis on nitrogen removal effectiveness of septic systems used in outreach materials.
- Dr. Christopher Gobler Partner — Consulted to verify and contextualize research on bacterial presence in Georgica Pond.
- Dr. Christopher Gobler Partner — Consults with Dr. Christopher Gobler, a scientific expert, to evaluate water quality and bacterial threats in Georgica Pond.
- Dr. Christopher J. Gobler Partner — Engaged to lead a two-year study and provide scientific analysis and recommendations for remediation of Georgica Pond.
- East Hampton Police Department Partner — Hosts a medicine drop box for safe disposal of unused pharmaceuticals.
- East Hampton Town Landfill Partner — Hosts S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing Out Pollutants) events for safe disposal of hazardous household chemicals.
- East Hampton Town Natural Resources Department Partner — Collaborates on documenting fish species in Georgica Pond.
- East Hampton Town Trustees Partner — Collaborates on the management of Georgica Pond and the ocean beach, including the biannual opening of the pond to the ocean.
- East Hampton Town Trustees Partner — Collaborates with the East Hampton Town Trustees on matters related to the Georgica Pond watershed.
- East Hampton Town Trustees Partner — Collaborates with the East Hampton Town Trustees on the bi-annual mechanical opening of Georgica Pond to the Atlantic Ocean.
- Gobler Lab at Stony Brook University School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences (SOMAS) Partner — Collaborates on the operation of the real-time water quality buoy in Georgica Pond.
- New York State Government — Provides incentive funding for clean water projects including septic system upgrades.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Reports environmental incidents, such as avian flu outbreaks, to the NYSDEC for official response and monitoring.
- South Fork Natural History Museum Partner — Provides photographic documentation of wildlife, such as the snapping turtle, for educational use.
- Stony Brook University Partner — Collaborates through research by Dr. Bradley Peterson on fish species in Georgica Pond.
- Stony Brook University Partner — Collaborates with the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences to conduct scientific research and monitoring of Georgica Pond.
- Stony Brook University Partner — Tom Varley, Watershed Manager for CCWT, is affiliated with Stony Brook University, indicating a partnership through CCWT’s academic affiliation.
- Suffolk County Government — Provides incentive funding and regulatory oversight for low-nitrogen septic system adoption.
- Suffolk County Department of Health Services Government — Works with SCDHS, which approves low nitrogen septic systems and conducts inspections during installation.
- Town of East Hampton Government — Collaborates on incentive funding for clean water initiatives, including septic system upgrades.
- Town of East Hampton Government — Partners with the Town of East Hampton on preservation and restoration efforts within the Georgica Pond watershed.
- Town of East Hampton Natural Resources Department Partner — Coordinates with the Town’s Natural Resources Department on broader coastal habitat protection efforts, including those benefiting piping plovers.
- United States Geological Survey Partner — Owns and maintains the real-time pond level gauge in Georgica Pond, jointly funded with FOGP.
- Village of East Hampton Partner — Cofunds the real-time pond level gauge in Georgica Pond through a multi-year partnership with USGS and FOGP.
- Village of East Hampton Partner — Works collaboratively with the Village of East Hampton on watershed-related initiatives.
- White’s Pharmacy Partner — Hosts a medicine drop box for proper disposal of pharmaceuticals to prevent water contamination.
- eBird Partner — Collaborates with eBird to generate and share a bird species checklist for Georgica Pond using crowd-sourced birding data.
- local governments Partner — Works in partnership with local governments on implementing short- and long-term environmental remediation actions for Georgica Pond.
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.
- Barrier Reduction Through Homeowner Supportmethodology: barrier-reduction-through-homeowner-supportBy providing coordinated, hands-on assistance to homeowners, the organization accelerates the adoption of low-nitrogen septic systems because logistical and planning challenges are key barriers to implementation, and direct support increases participation and project completion rates.
- Nitrogen Reduction via Low-Nitrogen Septic Systemsmethodology: nitrogen-reduction-through-on-site-wastewater-treatmentBy replacing conventional septic systems with low-nitrogen Innovative/Alternative (I/A) systems, the organization reduces nitrogen pollution at its source because septic systems are the primary contributor to nitrogen loading in the watershed, and advanced treatment directly mitigates this input.
- Real-Time Environmental Monitoring for Early Interventionmethodology: real-time_environmental_monitoringBy using continuous, real-time monitoring of water quality, the organization detects early signs of ecological imbalance such as harmful algal blooms because timely data enables proactive management decisions and targeted interventions before crises develop.
- Science-Based Watershed-Wide Restorationmethodology: science-based_watershed_managementBy applying science-based, watershed-wide approaches, the organization informs policy and guides ecological restoration efforts to achieve long-term, systemic improvements in the Georgica Pond ecosystem because data-driven interventions are more likely to address root causes and produce sustainable outcomes.
- Source Control of Nutrient Pollutionmethodology: source-control-of-nutrient-pollutionBy advocating for advanced wastewater treatment systems and other source-control measures, the organization prevents nitrogen from entering the pond because addressing pollution at its origin is more effective than managing symptoms after contamination occurs.