Accabonac Protection Committee Annual Appeal
In 2023 The Accabonac Protection Committee (APC) continued its focus on protecting and enhancing the water quality of the harbor we all cherish.
Accabonac Harbor is our refuge: it is where we walk, meditate, swim, paddle, fish, and rake for clams and oysters. It’s vital that our community do everything we can to keep the harbor water clean and to preserve the beauty that surrounds it.
Contaminants, including excess nitrogen and harmful bacteria, continue to raise serious concerns. Almost half the harbor is permanently or seasonally closed to shell fishing. The potential for algae blooms that consume oxygen and block sunlight, killing plants and marine life, is ongoing. Groundwater and stormwater runoff are the main sources of these contaminants.
The APC provides funding for hydrologists and environmental scientists from the Cornell Cooperative Extension who monitor the harbor, continually testing contaminant levels and developing ways to mitigate excess nitrogen entering the harbor.
We collaborate with additional groups concerned with local water quality, including The Nature Conservancy, Stony Brook University, the DEC and the Surfriders.
To educate our stakeholders about these issues, in 2023 we sponsored a number of forums to report on the various water quality assessment efforts.
We have also worked with the East Hampton Land Acquisitions Department as they convert properties through the Community Preservation Fund (CPF) process. Their efforts have resulted in the reclamation of 73 acres around the harbor, including the acquisition of 23 properties, 12 of which are on Gerard Drive.
This year, through our “What You Do On Your Property Matters!” postcard campaign, we encouraged everyone living within the extensive—and fragile–Accabonac watershed to be mindful of the impact that lawn care practices have on water quality
We hope that you will participate next year as we continue this important outreach. As new residents build, live, and landscape here, we need to be vigilant about growing threats to the Harbor.
In 2024 we also plan to engage our local youngsters, who have a vested long-term interest in the health of our waters. We are working with the East Hampton High School, encouraging students to participate in projects related to preserving the harbor. We’re also exploring ways to use social media more effectively to communicate with the whole community.
Your donations are crucial in funding these ongoing projects in 2024. APC is a grass roots organization led by volunteers. We have no paid staff. If you would like to be part of the solution, please make an end of the year donation to the Accabonac Protection Committee. This kind of environmental action is as local as it gets. Thank you for reading this and caring about the Harbor.
We are a 501(3) (c), donations are eligible for tax deductions. You can make a donation on the Accabonac Protection Committee website accabonac.org or send a check to our PO box:
Accabonac Protection Committee
PO Box 4058
East Hampton, NY 11937
Kindly include your phone number and email address on your check.
Regards,
Len Rubin, President
