Source Control of Pollution

Conducts advocacy and education efforts to promote science-based, non-political management of the Great South Bay. Focuses on reducing nitrogen pollution through public support for replacing failing septic systems and cesspools with denitrification systems or sewering in targeted areas.

Hosts public events such as "Guardians of the Water: Long Island’s Waterkeepers" and the Second Annual Oyster Ball in 2025 to raise awareness and funds for bay restoration. Appoints local Creek Defenders to advocate for specific waterways.

Organizes local residents, schools, and civic groups through the Creek Defender Program to clean and protect creeks from Lindenhurst to Mastic. Activities include debris removal and invasive species monitoring across 50 creeks flowing into the Great South Bay.

Restores native vegetation and wildlife habitat through initiatives like the Bay Friendly Yards program, native plantings along Pattersquash Creek, and the revival of the Bayview Park Native Pollinator Garden. Includes stormwater management and pesticide-free landscaping practices.

Reintroduces oysters and ribbed mussels into the Great South Bay and its estuaries through the Great South Bay Oyster Project to improve water quality via natural filtration. Plans include planting 225,000 oysters in a single summer and maintaining oyster gardens through cleaning, monitoring, and submerging crates.

Engages volunteers in monthly stewardship sessions at the Skip Gardner Native Forest and Butterfly Garden, community oyster gardening events, and staffing information tables at public events to promote awareness and hands-on restoration of the Great South Bay.

Provides educational programming for youth through the Day in the Life Program and produces a web-streamed show on Long Island’s surface and groundwater issues. Also facilitates community conversation through a Facebook group with over 13,000 members.

Collaborates with municipalities, state agencies, and partner organizations to develop long-term environmental strategies, including a remediation plan for Lake Agawam and efforts to protect over 13,000 acres of land and working farms on Long Island.

Raises private funds to finance ecological restoration initiatives, such as the $700,000 campaign for the Gin Lane wetlands restoration project, ensuring no cost to taxpayers.

Designs and installs infrastructure to intercept and treat nitrogen pollution from septic systems and stormwater runoff, including construction of a Permeable Reactive Barrier with three injection wells at the north end of Lake Agawam and redevelopment of key impervious surfaces such as the West Main Street and Village main parking lots to include bioswales and increased stormwater storage.

Provides information to residents about nitrogen pollution from aging septic systems and available financial incentives, including up to $30,000 in combined government grants for system upgrades. Hosts educational events on sustainable landscaping practices.

Operates and maintains a real-time monitoring buoy in Lake Agawam that collects and publicly shares data on dissolved oxygen, blue-green algae, temperature, and pH levels to inform public health and environmental decision-making.

Documents and communicates scientific findings on nitrogen pollution in local water bodies, citing a 2017 Stony Brook University study identifying aging septic systems as the primary pollutant source to Lake Agawam.

Conducts on-the-ground restoration and conservation work to improve water quality and ecological health of Lake Agawam in Southampton, NY, including bioswale construction, native vegetation planting, and stormwater management. Projects include a 7,000 square foot bioswale along the lake’s south shore, replanting 30,000 native wetland species along 1,000 feet of shoreline, and maintenance of multiple bioswales throughout the village.

Organizes Bag-A-Thon events where volunteer teams clean up litter in selected neighborhoods or sites while raising funds through sponsor pledges. Supplies all necessary cleanup materials and promotes environmental education through downloadable interactive lessons.

Operates the Report-A-Litterbug Program, which sends warning letters to vehicle owners reported for littering, and maintains a system for the public to report littered sites in Rockland County. Annually distributes over 2,000 mailers to promote campaign participation.

Manages the Adopt-A-Road program, maintaining over 26 miles of roadway through volunteer efforts, resulting in cost savings for Rockland County. Also runs the Clean Communities Partnership Program in collaboration with local public organizations, offering up to 2 community service hours per cleanup and supporting community-led cleanup projects.

Plans and executes two major annual cleanup campaigns — the Great American Cleanup in spring and Clean Sweep for Clean Streams (or Fall Cleanup) in autumn — to remove litter and debris from public spaces, streets, parks, and waterways across Rockland County. In 2024, these efforts engaged over 3,000 volunteers and removed 27 tons of trash.