The Georgica Pond watershed is large—nearly 4,000 acres—with some 2,000 homes within it. If you live in the Georgica Pond watershed, you can make a difference to its future. Your actions matter and I’m counting on you.
As one of the great coastal salt ponds on eastern Long Island, Georgica Pond has a fascinating history and like many nearshore water bodies, its water quality has deteriorated over time.
Founded in 2015, the Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation (FOGP) was organized to stop the deterioration and created an action plan to restore the pond. Based on cutting edge science from the Gobler Lab at Stony Brook University and the New York State Center For Clean Water Technology, today, Georgica Pond has gone from having one of the highest cyanobacteria (blue green algae) counts in 2015 to one of the lowest.
This improvement in the water quality is a result of actions FOGP, our partners and you have taken over the last few years. The aquatic weed harvester has removed 322,669 pounds of pondweed and algae reducing the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions in the pond. Annual dredging overseen by the East Hampton Town Trustees has improved tidal flushing during the periods the pond is open.
And lastly, upgrading to the I/A low nitrogen septic systems. Forty of you have already installed them and 25 are in the planning/consideration process. I/A systems remove 80% more nitrogen from wastewater than conventional septic systems.
- In the works are two projects that will significantly reduce the amount of stormwater runoff into the pond. Working with our partners, FOGP has spearheaded the planning at the Rt. 27 Rest Stop and Cove Hollow pipe end in East Hampton Village. FOGP has provided seed money and a Suffolk County Grant to kick start the technical plans required to implement these critical projects.
- FOGP has also led the charge against the proposed 50-lot commercial/industrial subdivision in the former Wainscott sand pit—just 500 feet north of Georgica Pond.
With so much to be proud of, I am delighted to be the new Executive Director of FOGP, but I need your help.
Here’s what you can do to keep us moving in the right direction.
- Sign up and support FOGP. A tax-deductible gift will help fund our research and pond management. Just click on the donate button and you’re done!
- Install a low-nitrogen, innovative/alternative (I/A) septic system on your property. Tax free government incentive grants are available to all homeowners in the Georgica Pond watershed.
- Eliminate toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers from your landscape. What may be considered safe on land can be highly toxic to aquatic or marine organisms that live in the pond.
- Never flush pharmaceuticals or chemicals down the drain. Unused pharmaceuticals can be taken to our local drug stores, White’s Apothecary, and both CVSs in East Hampton or the EH Police Department on Wainscott Northwest Road and disposed of safely.
- Enjoy the pond! Georgica Pond offers some great kayaking, paddle boarding, birding, and scenic vistas.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Fred Thiele
Executive Director
You can give online by clicking on the Donate Today button or mail a check to us at,
Friends of Georgica Pond
PO Box 1393
Wainscott, NY 11975