2-9-24
Community Preservation Department 
Jacqueline Fenlon, Director

Governor Kathy Hochul announced in January nearly $3 million in grants for 43 projects to reduce the negative impacts of invasive species on New York State’s natural resources, economy, and communities. These grants are part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Invasive Species Grant Program, which provides funding for aquatic and terrestrial invasive species spread prevention, early detection and rapid response, lake management planning, research, and education and outreach. 

The Town of Southampton has received one such grant for developing a Lake Management Plan for the rare ecological communities of Little Long Pond and Long Pond in Sag Harbor. “The Long Pond Greenbelt is an ecological treasure, comprised of interconnected coastal plain ponds stretching from Otter Pond in Sag Harbor to Sagaponack Lake,” said Juliana Quant, Senior Environmental Analyst in the Community Preservation Department. “These ponds and the surrounding habitats support diverse communities of plants and wildlife, including some of the rarest species in the state. As is too often the case, invasive species are a dire threat to these natural communities. This grant will empower us to thoroughly understand the status of the ponds and the best management practices to protect them.”

Director of the Community Preservation Department Jacqueline Fenlon said, “We are very excited to receive this grant and we look forward to making a positive impact on these rare and beautiful habitats. Many thanks to our partners in the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt, the Town Trustees, LIISMA, the South Fork Natural History Museum, and the Town Board for their support in bringing this to fruition.”

"We are committed to protecting New York's waterways, forest lands, and agricultural crops from dangerous invasive species," Governor Hochul said. "This funding supports projects across the state that will help prevent the spread of invasive species in New York, protecting our natural resources, economy and public health from the negative impacts of this threat." Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “DEC is pleased to offer this comprehensive grant program to address the negative impacts of invasive species.”

The Invasive Species Lake Management Planning and Implementation grant was awarded to and will be carried out by the Community Preservation Department.