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THREE LAKES COUNCIL INC
South Salem, NY · EIN 132873769 · Form 990 · FY2025 · Micro (<$100K) · threelakescouncil.org
revenue
$90K
expenses
$26K
net assets
$528K
employees
0
volunteers
35
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

The mission of the Three Lakes Council is to preserve and protect the waters and watershed of the three lakes through outreach, research, stewardship, and community action.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Three Lakes Council Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in South Salem, NY, dedicated to preserving and protecting the waters and watershed of three lakes—Waccabuc, Oscaleta, and Rippowam. The organization conducts scientific research, monitors water quality, and leads community efforts to control invasive species and reduce nutrient pollution. It engages in outreach, stewardship, and advocacy to promote lake-friendly practices among residents and influence local land-use decisions.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $5K
    Lake Studies and Research -- Assess the current state of the watershed and water bodies to identify trends and critical factors impacting the area. Studies done with NYS DEC CSLAP program, independent lake managers and certified laboratory. Communicate study findings and sampling results. Notify residents of any visible harmful algal blooms. Evaluate trends in plant growth and density over years. Assess lake management actions based on research data. Contribute data to statewide assessments.
  2. #2 $7K
    Invasive Species Program - Lead efforts to detect and eradicate or control new invasive organisms in the watershed. Continue monitoring for aquatic invasives Egeria densa (found in 2008) and Trapas natans (2014). Long Pond preserve invasive control activities for phragmites and mile-a-minute vine.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Invasive Species Program
Monitors for and controls invasive species such as Egeria densa and Trapa natans in the watershed; conducts invasive plant removal in preserve areas including phragmites and mile-a-minute vine
Lake Studies and Research
Conducts water quality monitoring and lake assessments in partnership with NYS DEC CSLAP, independent lake managers, and certified laboratories; tracks harmful algal blooms, plant growth trends, and evaluates management actions based on data
Lake-Friendly Living Outreach
Educates shoreline residents on reducing phosphorus runoff through lawn care, septic system maintenance, native plant buffers, and pet waste management
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Lake Stewardship Education & Outreach 2 activities
    • Community education on nutrient pollution prevention
      Provides guidance to residents on reducing phosphorus runoff into lakes through best practices such as using phosphorus-free fertilizers, regular septic system maintenance, establishing native shoreline buffers, mowing at higher grass heights, leaving clippings, overseeding lawns, and picking up pet waste. Uses quantitative data on pet waste phosphorus output to inform outreach.
    • Stewardship communication and community engagement
      Operates a Google Group for lake stewardship communication, issues boat stickers to promote invasive species prevention, hosts annual meetings to report on lake conditions and gather community feedback, and conducts user surveys to assess outreach effectiveness and inform programming.
  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 2 activities
    • Lake health improvement initiatives
      Implements targeted interventions to improve lake ecosystem health, including facilitating aerator installation in Lake Waccabuc and managing Canada goose populations to reduce nutrient loading and enhance water quality for residents.
    • Watershed preservation and management planning
      Preserves and protects the watersheds of Lakes Oscaleta, Rippowam, and Waccabuc through coordinated environmental efforts, including assuming stewardship of Long Pond Preserve from The Nature Conservancy and preparing a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Three Lakes region.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
    • Invasive species detection and control
      Leads monitoring and eradication efforts for invasive species in the watershed, including Egeria densa, Trapas natans, phragmites, mile-a-minute vine, Brazilian elodea, and water chestnut. Conducts active removal programs such as the Brazilian Elodea Eradication Project (BEEP) and maintains surveillance at Long Pond Preserve and other key areas.
  • Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
    • Lake water quality and watershed research
      Conducts scientific research on lake water quality and watershed health in collaboration with the NYS DEC CSLAP program, independent lake managers, and certified laboratories to assess ecological trends and inform management decisions. This includes long-term monitoring and data analysis to support environmental stewardship.
  • Lake and River Advocacy 1 activity
    • Wetland and development project advocacy
      Submits formal comments and positions to local, state, and federal regulatory bodies regarding development projects, wetland code changes, and environmental regulations that threaten the lake environment. Includes direct engagement with Planning Boards, Zoning Boards of Appeals, and coalition-based opposition efforts, such as filing appeals and offering property purchases to prevent harmful developments.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$90K
Contributions & grants$79K88%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$11K12%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$26K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$528K
Cash$96K
Investments$242K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$528K
Liquid reserves156.4 mo
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue +45.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 13
  • Ellen Bailey — Director
  • Janet Andersen — President, Director
  • Jean Lewis — Director
  • Jonathan Peter — Director
  • Judy Hausman — Secretary, Director
  • Kevin Karl — Director
  • Linda Broudy — Director
  • Nan Dale — Treasurer, Director
  • Paul Lewis — Director
  • Peter Hall — Director
  • Ron Tetelman — Vice President, Director
  • Susan Harris — Director
  • Tadeusz Rajwer — Director
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • Bedford Conservation Board Partner — Aligned with in opposing proposed wetland code changes.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Collaborates with residents to provide soil testing services for lake-friendly lawn care.
  • Cornell University Partner — Cited for research on soil nutrient levels in Westchester County, informing fertilizer recommendations.
  • Lewisboro Conservation Advisory Council Partner — Collaborated with in opposing proposed wetland code changes.
  • Lewisboro Land Trust Partner — Aligned with in opposing proposed wetland code changes.
  • Lewisboro Town Board Government — Submitted comments and expressed concerns regarding proposed wetland code changes.
  • NYS DEC CSLAP Partner — Collaborates with NYS DEC CSLAP program on lake water quality research and data collection.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Communicated concerns about the wetland development proposal to the DEC.
  • North American Lake Management Society Network — References NALMS publication "Your Lake and You" as a resource for lake stewardship.
  • North Salem Conservation Advisory Council Partner — Aligned with in opposing proposed wetland code changes.
  • Not specified Partner — Collaborates with unspecified partners on invasive species monitoring and lake stewardship efforts.
  • PayPal Funder — Platform used to process donations to the Three Lakes Council
  • Pound Ridge Conservation Board Partner — Aligned with in opposing proposed wetland code changes.
  • Somers Land Trust Partner — Aligned with in opposing proposed wetland code changes.
  • The Nature Conservancy Partner — Transferred stewardship of Long Pond Preserve to Three Lakes Council.
  • Town of Lewisboro Planning Board Government — Submitted multiple memos and advocacy materials to the Planning Board regarding wetland development concerns.
  • Waccabuc Country Club Partner — Represented on the Three Lakes Council Board of Directors.
  • Waccabuc Landowners’ Council Partner — Represented on the Three Lakes Council Board of Directors.
  • Westchester County Department of Health Government — Visited and reviewed septic system files with the DOH and submitted findings to the Planning Board.
  • Westchester Land Trust Partner — Aligned with in opposing proposed wetland code changes.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Pollution Prevention Through Behavioral Education
    methodology: pollution_prevention_through_public_education
    By educating the public on controllable pollution sources—such as pet waste, phosphorus fertilizers, and invasive species release—the organization reduces nutrient and biological contamination because awareness leads to behavior change when solutions are actionable and locally framed.
  • Pre-Regulatory Stakeholder Engagement
    methodology: pre_regulatory_stakeholder_engagement
    By engaging property owners before regulatory enforcement is required, the organization influences lake-friendly land use behaviors because early, voluntary cooperation prevents conflict and fosters stewardship identity.
  • Science-Based Watershed Stewardship
    methodology: science_based_watershed_management
    By integrating scientific research with community action and resident priorities, the organization produces effective watershed protection and lake health outcomes because data-informed decisions increase intervention accuracy and local buy-in.