named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality Monitoring Program
Volunteer-run program that collects and tests water samples from over 80 sites on the East End for bacteria pollution, with results shared publicly to inform waterway users and guide protection efforts.
Diadromous Fish Restoration
Effort to restore native river herring populations by identifying and removing barriers such as dams and culverts that block fish migration from saltwater to freshwater spawning grounds.
Educational Programs
Hands-on programs for schools and community groups including classroom visits, beach seining, oyster garden tours, and the “Day in the Life of” watershed education events reaching over 2,500 students.
Project R.I.S.E.
Community science initiative using time-lapse photography at 15 coastal sites to document and raise awareness about sea level rise, coastal erosion, and climate change impacts in the Peconic Estuary.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Oyster and Shellfish Restoration 2 activities
- Diadromous fish population monitoring and restorationLeads volunteer monitoring at Southampton's Alewife Creek to track diadromous fish populations and supports restoration by tracking and transporting alewives to freshwater spawning grounds above dams, including moving 61 fish to Massapequa Lake in April 2017.
- Oyster restoration programGrows 150,000 oysters annually in Cold Spring Pond for local restoration and established two oyster restoration sanctuaries in the same location in 2023 to enhance water filtration and habitat recovery.
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Lake and River Advocacy 2 activities
- Environmental advocacy and legal actionUses science, education, and legal action to defend critical watersheds in the Peconic Estuary and Eastern South Shore Bays, including halting Suffolk County’s wetlands ditching program for mosquito control, closing 54 cesspools in NY state parks (36 on Long Island) violating the Safe Drinking Water Act, and blocking or limiting large-scale development in environmentally sensitive areas across Suffolk County.
- Waterway patrols and pollution responseConducts regular patrols of local waterways using an 18-foot vessel to identify water quality issues and respond to citizen reports of pollution, illegal development, and fish kills.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Community science initiatives for coastal change monitoringLeads Project R.I.S.E., a community science program documenting climate change and sea level rise impacts at 15 sites in the Peconic Estuary, and operates a photo-based time-lapse program using Chronolog at shoreline monitoring stations to track long-term environmental changes.
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Marine and Coastal Education Programs 1 activity
- Environmental education programsLeads hands-on educational programs for schools and community groups on aquatic ecosystems, water quality, and stewardship, reaching over 2,500 participants through the “Day in the Life of” program across Long Island, including new sites in Forge River and Fire Island.
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Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 1 activity
- Water quality monitoring and public alertingCollects water samples year-round, weekly during summer months, from beaches on the East End and processes them at its Hampton Bays lab to monitor for bacteria pollution. Expands monitoring coverage to the North Fork, Western Peconics, and Shinnecock Bay, and posts water quality alerts on its website and social media platforms to protect public health and local waterways.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Enforcement coordination for environmental violationsMaintains a database of enforcement contacts to facilitate reporting of environmental violations such as pollution and illegal development to appropriate regulatory agencies.
- Horseshoe crab population monitoringMonitors horseshoe crab populations at spawning sites across coastal New York as part of a regional network, conducting counting and tagging operations at Meadow Lane in Southampton, NY during full and new moon tides from May through June.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$279K
Contributions & grants$225K81%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$11K4%
Other revenue$43K
expenses
Total expenses$360K
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$252K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$564K
Cash$90K
Investments$221K
Liabilities$13K
Net assets$552K
Liquid reserves10.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -15.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETE TOPPING | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $131K |
board members · 10
- DIANA TAYLOR — DIRECTOR
- GABRIELLE BACON — DIRECTOR
- KIM WHITE — CHAIRMAN
- MAUREEN SHERRY — SECRETARY
- MEGHAN MAGYAR — DIRECTOR
- MICHAELA KESZLER — DIRECTOR
- NANCY HEBERT — DIRECTOR
- PHILIP SMYTH — TREASURER
- STEVEN REISS — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM MCLANAHAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- Advanced Wastewater Solutions Partner — Supported the launch of the Community Oyster Restoration Program in 2020.
- East Hampton Town Trustees Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- Long Island Community Foundation Funder — Provided grant support in 2021 to expand water quality monitoring to new areas
- Long Island Horseshoe Crab Monitoring Network Partner — Collaborates with Peconic Baykeeper on monitoring horseshoe crab populations at spawning sites across coastal New York.
- New Suffolk Waterfront Fund Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- New York Community Trust Funder — Provided a grant in 2023 to support marking and monitoring of oyster restoration sanctuaries.
- Peconic Estuary Partnership Funder — Funds Project R.I.S.E. in support of the 2020 Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan
- Peconic Estuary Partnership Partner — Collaborates on monitoring, stocking, and improving access for native diadromous fish.
- Peconic Land Trust Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- Riverhead Parks and Recreation Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- Seatuck Environmental Association Partner — Collaborates on monitoring and transporting alewives and other diadromous fish.
- South Shore Estuary Reserve Partner — Partners with Peconic Baykeeper to conduct horseshoe crab counting and tagging at a spawning site in Southampton, NY.
- Southampton Arts Center Partner — Collaborates to host a screening of The Bonackers documentary and panel discussion.
- Southampton Historical Museum Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- Southampton Town Trustees Partner — Provided permission for the program in Cold Spring Pond and collaborated to establish oyster restoration sanctuaries in 2023.
- State and municipal enforcement agencies Government — Collaborates with enforcement agencies by reporting violations identified during patrols.
- Suffolk County Government — Subject of litigation over wetlands ditching program and large-scale development approvals.
- Suffolk County Parks Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- The Butterfly Effect Project Partner — Collaborates on Marine Discovery Day events.
- The Nature Conservancy Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- The Surfrider Foundation Partner — Proud partner in the Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-run water quality monitoring program
- Town of East Hampton Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partner — Hosts a Project R.I.S.E. monitoring site
- Waterkeeper Alliance Network — Member of the international Waterkeeper movement.
strategies · 4
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.
- Community-Based Monitoring and Engagement as Educationmethodology: community_scienceBy involving the public in water quality monitoring and restoration activities, we foster stewardship and awareness because hands-on participation creates deeper ecological understanding and sustained behavioral change.
- Ecosystem-Based Restorationmethodology: ecosystem-based restorationBy restoring keystone species and habitats such as diadromous fish populations and oyster beds, we improve overall ecosystem health because these species play critical roles in maintaining ecological balance and resilience.
- Integrated Science, Education, and Legal Advocacymethodology: integrated-science-education-lawBy combining scientific research, public education, and legal action, we produce sustained improvements in water quality because this multi-pronged approach ensures both systemic enforcement and community-driven stewardship.
- Legal Enforcement as Environmental Protection Strategymethodology: legal enforcement of environmental permitsBy enforcing compliance with environmental permits and initiating litigation when procedural safeguards fail, we ensure accountability because legal action compels regulatory adherence and deters violations of environmental law.