State Parks Spared, More Work
Ahead On Environmental Fund

Early in the year, the State of New York was poised to close Orient Beach State Park along with a number of other parks and historic sites across Long Island. Our community held strong against these closures along with proposed major cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). We rallied together at Orient Beach State Park and traveled to Albany to talk directly with state leaders about the EPF cuts. Though the Governor eventually pitted state parks against the EPF, cutting this fund by $79 million, Orient Park and others remain open as a result of the citizen action Group for the East End organizes and promotes everyday.

Justice Is Served In Montauk

The Group uncovered an illegal dredging scheme in Lake Montauk in 2010. It turned out to be one of the worst environmental violations in the last 15 years, which resulted in $130,000 in fines including environmental restoration funds to help Lake Montauk. Those who sought to recklessly exploit the fragile ecosystems in Lake Montauk were stopped and penalized for their actions because Group for the East End was on the scene and willing to take action.

Calverton Grasslands Moving Toward Preservation

Developers proposed a massive 800-acre Riverhead Resorts project at EPCAL in Riverhead, but they did not count on the massive opposition raised by the Group. They claimed they would break ground in 2010 on the largest development ever contemplated for eastern Long Island. Riverhead Town rejected the Riverhead Resorts proposal and the entire property has been added to the New York State Open Space plan. Now, the Group and its Calverton Grasslands Coalition have a new opportunity to press for a responsible land use and conservation plan for this expansive property.

Plum Island Could Become A National Wildlife Refuge

The Federal government announced its intention to move ahead with the sale of the 850-acre Plum Island research facility in 2010, despite the island's rich abundance of natural, historic and cultural resources. The Group has joined with dozens of conservation partners to form a new Preserve Plum Island Coalition. The coalition has opposed the sale of Plum Island and pressed for the creation of a Federal refuge for as much as 85% of the island. A new refuge would protect the land used by one of the greatest concentrations of wintering seals on the eastern seaboard.

Planning For Orient's Future

The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) launched an effort to funnel millions of Federal stimulus dollars into a 4-mile water pipeline for Orient in 2010. The new water service could have opened up hundreds of acres of unprotected farmland to potential overdevelopment in Southold's most rural hamlet. After the Group filed a formal complaint with the New York State Inspector General's office and successfully rallied alongside citizens to oppose local permits needed for the project to proceed, the water main project was abandoned by the SCWA. In the wake of a pretty close call, we will continue urging Southold Town leaders in 2011 to create a water conservation and management plan for any future development in Orient and preserve the hamlet's rich culture and agricultural history.

Thank you again for all the support in 2010. We look forward to sharing more good news with you in the coming year!

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