Volunteers are needed to walk north-facing beaches after high tides and strong northwest winds, when endangered loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles wash ashore, unable to navigate out of rapidly cooling waters.

“So, as they’re here and waters continue to drop, they become lethargic and unable to navigate out of the waters. Eventually, they become so listless that they float to the surface and kind of are just floating, waiting for prevailing wind, strong northwest winds that will push them to shore,” said Maxine Montello, executive director of the rescue center.

These animals are not actively swimming to the beach to strand. Instead, it is the wind that is pushing them to the shore. The three species that are found here are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act.

“We tend to find them with those prevailing winds right after a high tide. That combo of a high tide of strong winds will actually indicate that these turtles will most likely be up on the beach,” said Ms. Montello.

There are two tiers of volunteer rescuers. The first tier is trained via a lecture that is presented over Zoom. Once trained, these volunteers know when to patrol to be most effective, how to identify each species and how to reach out for help.

Tier two volunteers receive the tier one training plus field training. This allows the volunteer to assist the rescue team when they arrive.

“We show them how to — once they find a turtle — take GPS coordinates, take photos, be able to identify that species, and then we teach them how to handle that turtle in the field so that we have more hands to help us get these animals back to our facilities,” Ms. Montello said.

One volunteer has been a cold-stun patroller for the last five years and found his 29^th turtle on Nov. 17.

“I would encourage anybody that lives by a north-facing beach on Long Island to get out and walk. These turtles typically wash up between November and January. So any help that the public can give us is greatly appreciated,” said Rob, who didn’t want his last name used. “All of these turtles are endangered species; Kemp’s ridley are the most critically endangered, and we typically find a lot of juvenile Kemp’s during the wintertime, during the cold stun season.”

There are volunteer opportunities inside the rescue center’s facility as well, for those who are unable to patrol the beaches.

“They can help with us in the field, but we also need help here at the facility. We’re located in Riverhead, New York, and we maintain a sea turtle and seal rehab hospital. We’re one of the largest in the network, which is Virginia all the way to Maine. Last year, I believe we processed over 200 animals throughout the year,” said Ms. Montello. “So it gets pretty busy. It’s definitely for somebody that has some time on their hands and wants to work with how they preserve these really critical species.”

Individuals interested in applying can visit nymarinerescue.org/.

New York Marine Rescue Center set up a stranding hotline for anyone who happens upon a cold-stunned, often dead-looking sea turtle. The first step is to call 631-369-9829. Biologists will be on the line to ask questions and give instructions.

The post Marine Rescue Center seeks volunteers to save sea turtles during cold-stun season appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Charlie Manwaring, owner of the popular Southold Fish Market, said he has about 30 to 40 bushels right now and expects a few more later this week, but doesn’t expect a good year.

“The season sucks. Period. There’s not a lot. It is what it is,” Manwaring told the Suffolk Times. “We will have some scallops tomorrow. For a couple days, we’re probably going to have some scallops for sale, but it’s probably going to be hit or miss.”

Bay scallops can be harvested from the first Monday in November to March 31. According to the state regulations, they must be 2-1/4 inch length from mid-hinge to mid-bill and display an annual growth ring.

The dwindling population in Peconic Bay has been attributed to a number of factors, including warming water due to climate change, low oxygen levels and new parasites. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, In 2019 and 2020, an average of 97% adult scallops died off after spawning. Similar mortality events have happened each year through 2024.

These mass die-offs have consistently occurred after the first annual scallop spawn, allowing populations to sustain themselves. CCE is working to restore the population by spawning scallops in their hatchery, the Suffolk Times previously reported. 

According to the CCE website, the program established a large spawner sanctuary with scallops stocked at high density in nets to protect them from predators, so that when scallops reproduce they contribute larvae to the Peconic Bays and help rebuild populations and commercial fisheries.

Mr. Manwaring declined to speculate as to why the harvest is poor again this year.

The post 2025 Peconic Bay scallop season harvest ‘sucks’ appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Suffolk County and Riverhead Town are following the issued burn ban, as an increase in potential wildfires is “a great concern that could unexpectedly and rapidly increase, endangering the health, safety and property of residents.”

During this period, outdoor fires for brush and debris disposal, as well as any uncontained campfires and open fires used for cooking and recreation, are prohibited in Riverhead.

The ban does not apply to barbecue grills, maple sugar arches and similar outdoor cooking devices. Contained campfires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width or diameter in a fireplace, hibachi or fire ring with flames is also allowed.

Long Island is currently at a moderate risk level for fire danger, according to the DEC. This means fires can start from most accidental causes, though this number is generally low. The island is also on drought watch, but no statewide mandatory water use restrictions are in place.

Fires in open cured grasslands will burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days, the DEC said. Timber fires spread slowly, but can pick up to a moderate speed. An average fire burns at a moderate intensity, but heavy concentrations of fuel may burn hot.

For a moderate risk region, short-distance spotting may occur but is not persistent. Fires are not likely to become serious and can be controlled relatively easy.

The state will reexamine the burn ban before its expiration to determine if it needs to be extended.

For more information, visit the NYSDEC’s Wildland Fire Safety and Prevention page or the National Weather Service for updates.

The post Riverhead follows statewide burn ban until Oct. 15 appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Garbage frequently accumulates at Reeves Beach when the container is overfilled, said NFeC board member Susan MacKenzie.

“We picked up most of the stuff that was on Reeves Beach, the big stuff,” Ms. MacKenzie said. She implored the public to be more careful with their refuse. “We don’t see those ads all the time like we did back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Don’t be a litter bug. Pick it up.”

There are litter collection baskets at both Bailie Beach and Reeves Beach, so visitors can do their part all year round. 

Big Bee installed to fight litter

Installed earlier this year, NFEC commissioned ‘The Big Bee,’ a 4-by-7-foot wire sculpture that serves as a collection site for bottle and cans. It’s located at the intersection of Main Street and Griffing Avenue. 

NFEC is always looking for more volunteers in general, and specifically for the upcoming Repair Cafe in Jamesport.

Riverhead Parks and Recreation and the NFEC rescheduled their Repair Cafe for Saturday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the George Young Community Center, 446 South Jamesport Ave., Jamesport.

The event offers the opportunity to either sign up to repair broken items in a specialty of your choice or to bring items in need of repair and get professional advice. Previous Repair Cafes have also proven to be places to build community. Next month’s event also features a Halloween costume swap.

The Repair Cafe needs volunteers, helpers, skilled coaches and people with broken items. To volunteer, or for more information, email Schandel@townofriverheadny.gov or Margaret@nfec1.org.

The post NFEC volunteers clear refuse on International Coastal Cleanup Day appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

“I have been a rock hound probably my whole life. I used to like to go on walks with my grandpa to pick up shiny rocks and keep them in my bag,” said Ms. Walker. “I have been collecting crystals just forever. It’s just fun to share that with people who also get excited about rocks.” 

The members of the Long Island Mineral And Geology Society, or LIMAGS, are as diverse as the geological marvels they collect. As you would expect, there are retired earth science teachers, but also artists and those interested in the minerals’ metaphysical properties. Regardless of their origin story, these rock hounds gather on the second Tuesday of the month at the George Young Community Center, 446 South Jamesport Ave., Jamesport, to celebrate their shared enthusiasm for the mysteries and beauty of the Earth.

“It’s people in different careers, different interests, who find geology and things related to geology fascinating and interesting. In our meetings, we have presentations that go down a lot of different paths in terms of minerals and fossils,” said Gene Genova, president of the club.

Ellen Wiener, a local artist, cited the love of natural history as the root of the members’ common interest. 

“What we all have in common is a love and a fascination with natural history. Beyond that, there are many branches to the tree,” said Ms. Wiener.

Rock out, together

LIMAGS is one of three geology clubs on Long Island and the only one based on the North Fork. Their monthly meetings are an opportunity to gather, discuss their finds and learn from expert speakers. Topics range from Indigenous history to assessing how accurately earth science is presented in film, complete with rankings. 

They also plan a number of field trips, both close to home and farther afield. Local beach walks are a favorite, but members also travel upstate to a club-owned mine for Herkimer diamonds. They have an annual trek to a geologically significant site, often out of state, to collect special samples. 

The group also hosts an annual gem and mineral show that brings vendors from all over the country and features science activities for children. The show is the main outreach and fundraising effort for the club, and many members mentioned it as their gateway into joining.

“Especially on the north shore, we can find examples of all three types of rocks. Is there anything that’s worth a tremendous amount of money? No,” said Mr. Genova. “We try to go collect fossils in upstate New York. We’ve been to New Hampshire, where we’ve collected a number of times, different kind of minerals. We’ve been to Pennsylvania, collecting fossils and some minerals there as well. We go in the tristate and New England area as much as possible to do collecting trips. Not everybody goes, but there’s quite a few people interested doing collecting like this.”

Many members listed the field trips as the highlight of their time with the club. 

“That was like a big thing for us because we’ve only done it a few times and really enjoyed it. We did mining up at Herkimer and then, come to find out, the club has a claim at Herkimer upstate, which is really unique. And we went down south to North Carolina to a big mine and had a great time, so it’s more reasons for us to get out and go do more of that, because we just really enjoyed it,” Ms. Walker said.

Rock inspiration

It was TV science personalities like the Mythbusters and Bill Nye who inspired Jonathan Moore’s interest in earth science. “All of them shared that same quality of just wanting to be like, ‘Look how cool the world is.’ … That group helps facilitate that my mind, where you can better appreciate the fact that … sure, the sand at the beach seems kind of boring, but have you really ever actually looked at it?” he said.

For Angelica Radacinski, a family history of rock hounding lead her to join LIMAGS. She attended gem shows with her father and watched her mother craft jewelry out of beads made from precious stones. Her own interest also encompasses the metaphysical characteristics of crystals and gems.

“When you think about the history of Long Island, whether it’s pirates, whether it’s bootlegging, all the way back to this huge crack that created the North and the South forks. So many people love to spend time on the beach, and when you think of what the beach is actually made up of, it’s really magnificent,” said Ms. Radacinski. “You have all of these different minerals, and whether you believe in healing properties or not, they’re what we use in our day-to-day lives, and it’s important to kind of recognize their part in our world.”

Ms. Wiener came to LIMAGS by way of her work. She was researching the history of the notion of purgatory for a project and began visiting caves. She sought out local experts, and this led her to the club.

“I began to distinguish between kinds of rocks and where they happened in the landscape,” said Ms. Wiener. “Then I started looking into the science. And the people in the Long Island Mineral and Geology Society, many of them are still science teachers, former science teachers, especially earth science. So, I figured that was a great way to learn more.”

The geological story of Long Island begins 20,000 years ago, when the Laurentide ice sheet pushed debris from upstate, New England and Canada to what is now the east coast during the Wisconsin glaciation. This jumble of rocks, soil and sediment, in sizes from boulders right down to sand, was left behind when the ice receded in something called a terminal moraine, forming Long Island. The club’s local lens magnifies the global story rocks tell, which is ultimately the story of all of us.

“Rocks are the book, right? They are the book,” said Ms. Wiener. “They are the pages of time, of this planet, and they can be read. 
And it’s right there. It’s on our beaches, it’s in our cliffs, it’s right there. And most of it is free.”

Can you find the quartz?

1 | 6

Can you find the pudding stone?

1 | 6

The post Local geology enthusiast society knows how to rock appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The issue is dredging Case’s Creek, known locally as Dreamer’s Cove. Everyone agrees it should happen, but the question is — What happens to the sand?

The town says it’s too expensive to haul away, and the homeowners counter that they have no place to put it. They argue that without dredging, the estuary running north to the Main Road will become a mosquito breeding ground, ruining the environment and reducing property values. 

The argument has been going on since 2016, the last time the creek was dredged. Local residents say that even at high tide, the creek’s mouth is less than t3 feet deep, not enough to navigate a boat into Flanders Bay. They believe that dredging will also help prevent flooding during a storm and deepen the water, helping fish breed. 

 In 2015, the homeowners split the $600,000 cost of rebuilding the bulkhead, with the understanding that the town of Riverhead would dredge every few years. “The town forced us to spend more than a half million to rebuild the bulkhead, with the promise that they would dredge the creek,” said Anthony Terraciano, one of several homeowners on the waterway. Standing on the bulkhead at the eastern side of his property, Mr. Terraciano said the 10-foot-wide channel’s mouth is about three-quarters filled with sand. “When it’s low, people can walk across it.”

The town agrees the work should be done. In an April 15, 2024, letter to the director of waterways for Suffolk County, Riverhead Town engineer Drew Dillingham said, “Dredging Case’s Creek is essential for navigational safety in this area. The danger to boaters if this creek is not properly dredged would be tremendous.”

But what to do with the sand?

“It would be a major ordeal to truck it somewhere else,” Mr. Dillingham said recently. “Logistically, every feasible option has been exhausted. There’s no municipality that would pay to come to pick it up.”

The county says it’s stuck, too. 

“Over the last several years, Suffolk County Department of Public Works has worked diligently to identify a suitable disposable location for the dredge material from Dreamer’s Cove,” public works commissioner Charles Bartha said in a February letter to Riverhead Town Supervisor Timothy Hubbard. “At this time, there is no suitable disposable location identified for this project.”

Anthony Cravotta is president of the Ock-a-bock Homeowners Association, representing 11 homes on the private street south of Peconic Bay Boulevard.

“The town dredges all the nearby creeks east and west of here every two years, like Baywoods and Miamogue canal, but they don’t have an estuary there. It’s probably because the people there have boats,” said Mr. Cravotta.

Neighbors Dennis D’Alessandro and Ray Rieder said the Ock-a-bock Beach Association would take the sand, but that strip is too close to the canal, meaning the sand would just migrate back into the creek.

The homeowners in Simmons Point, just to the east, were approached several times about using the sand to replenish their beach, but each time, they declined, according to Mr. Dillingham. “We actually asked them three times in separate occasions,” he said, “They didn’t give us a reason. More time went … by, probably a year, and they said ‘No’ again.”

The upper part of the creek, north of Peconic Bay Boulevard, runs through 41 acres of town-owned wetlands, bordering the Golden Earthworm Organic Farm and the vineyards of Paumanok and Jamesport wineries. By the bay, there’s the Aqua Hotel, where a dock mostly sits on sand, even at high tide.

It’s estimated by the homeowners that the volume of sand to be dredged is worth $15-$50 per cubic yard, or approximately $100,00 to $250,000. 

It’s unclear what happens next. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a dredging permit, but said in an email, “It is up to the permit holder to decide whether or not they wish to complete a project. If they don’t complete it during the permit’s time frame, they may have to apply for a new DEC permit.”

“The town has yet to find a suitable location,” said a spokesman for Riverhead Town Legislator Catherine Stark. “Residents can speak to the town’s trustees. The town has been trying to find a place for the spoils.”

As the search goes on, Mr. Terraciano and his neighbors are increasingly frustrated. “Maybe I should put it on Facebook Marketplace,” he said. 

The post Sand dispersal blocks dredging in Dreamer’s Cove appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The first confirmed case for New York state was identified in Northport when a homeowner noted a dying sassafras on their property and sent samples to Cornell for diagnosis. The disease was then further confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Originating in Asia and first identified in the U.S. in Georgia in 2002, the disease is deadly to plants and present in multiple southeastern states, with the northernmost cases prior to New York’s detection in Kentucky and Virginia.

Laurel wilt is a fungal pathogen that kills trees and shrubs in the laurel family. The beetle introduces the fungus when it tunnels into the stems and branches of host plants, leaving behind the fungal spores. The native species at risk in New York are sassafras and spicebush. Despite its name, mountain laurel is not in this family and is not impacted by the disease.   

According to the DEC, the loss of sassafras and spicebush could have wide-ranging impacts on southern New York’s forests and wildlife. Both species provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators and mammals. Spicebush berries are a critical fall food source for migratory birds, while the leaves of both spicebush and sassafras support the larvae of native butterflies such as the spicebush swallowtail. Their decline would reduce forest diversity, weaken natural food webs and increase native forest susceptibility to invasive plants.

Laurel wilt causes rapid decline in sassafras and spicebush. Signs and symptoms to look for include sudden wilting of leaves; dark streaking of sapwood beneath the bark; and small entry holes on the branches, trunk, or roots, which are sometimes surrounded by fine sawdust-like “toothpicks” pushed out from the bark.

To learn more, visit the DEC Laurel Wilt webpage. 

The post Check your trees: Laurel wilt confirmed on Long Island appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

10th Street Motocross is proposing to redevelop an existing 15-acre property at 2822 River Road in Calverton, about a half-mile west of Edwards Avenue. The parcel is currently occupied by a two-story single-family residence and once operated as a vineyard. It is located in the Light Industrial zoning use district, which allows for commercial sports and recreation facilities.

The developer is considering excavation and removal of approximately 120,000 cubic yards of soil and gravel across 12.3 acres of the parcel for noise mitigation. Aside from its LI zoning district, the property is within the Pine Barrens Compatible Growth Area, as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Area.

Greg Bergman, senior town planner, discussed the special permit and site plan application at an Aug. 21 town board work session. Four involved agencies in the project were consulted about the site plan, including the Suffolk County Pine Barrens Commission, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Suffolk County Department of Health and the Suffolk County Planning Commission.

As lead agency, Mr. Bergman recommended town officials issue a positive declaration to kickstart a draft environmental impact study, along with public scoping and all necessary public hearings. He also expressed the need to explore alternate noise mitigation measures that would avoid damaging the property’s prime agricultural soils.

“In the event the motocross track goes out of business or closes, then we’re basically left with a defunct sand mine,” Mr. Bergman said. “There would be no permits from the DEC required, so [the applicant] wouldn’t have a reclamation plan. We would basically be just left with a big pit in the Compatible Growth area.”

The NYSDEC Mined Land Reclamation Law permits operators to return land affected by mining to its original state after the operation ends. Since the DEC is not requiring a permit from the motocross developer, reclamation of the land is not required, Mr. Bergman said.

“The fact that this is in the Pine Barrens Compatible Growth Area and the DEC Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers Area … [mining] has the potential to degrade the quality of those environmentally sensitive areas,” the senior planner added.

Victor Prusinowski, the applicant’s real estate consultant, stressed the most efficient way to achieve noise mitigation is through excavation and building a berm around the track. Mr. Bergman said the applicant did provide a basic noise study from an outside consultant.

“This is a project, this is not a sand mine,” Mr. Prusinowski said. “There will be some revenue that will be used to build the track. Whatever sand we take off the town gets three dollars a [cubic] yard of that.” He added that would generate an estimated $400,000 to $500,000 for the town.

The Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission noted the proposal “appears to lack conformance with one or more standards, including the open space standard to set aside a minimum of 40% of the site as natural open space.” Mr. Prusinowski said the developer intends to apply for a hardship waiver.

Councilman Bob Kern said that “every business risks going out of business,” however he said from talking to community members he understands there is a great demand for motocross racing in the region. Dan Duffy Sr., the company’s owner, said there has been an 18% growth of the sport in the last few years, and the need continues to be “off the charts.”

“I’m not a rich guy. I’ve literally sacrificed my entire retirement program, sold my house — I am fully committed to this project,” Mr. Duffy said. “My son [Dan Duffy, Jr.] is an integral part of the motocross community. He builds tracks all over the country. One of our major investors knows that there is a need for this.”

The post Environmental concerns raised over proposed motocross track in Calverton appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

These species were reintroduced in the 1990s after being extirpated, or removed, from their original range on Long Island. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, turkeys on Long Island disappeared throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries due to habitat fragmentation from farming. The Department of Environmental Conservation trapped approximately 75 wild turkeys in upstate New York and released these birds at three locations in Suffolk County. 

That population continues to grow. The birds are now so well established that there is a spring hunting season. 

“Turkey populations on Long Island are very healthy. The population on Long Island the last few years [has] been increasing, which has led to the department’s ability to open up a spring hunting season on turkeys in Suffolk,” said Chip Hamilton, New York State DEC wildlife biologist. 

One of the methods the DEC uses to track turkeys is the Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey. According to their recent newsletter, the DEC has conducted the survey to track wild turkey productivity (the proportion of young of the year to adult hens) across the state since 1996. This allows the DEC to gauge the turkey’s reproductive success and predict future populations. 

“[The survey is] one of the sample methods that that we use to track wild turkey population trends. Some of the other stuff that that we’ll use is a bow hunter sighting log, which is a survey that bow hunters [harvesting deer] will use during the hunting season or when they’re out in the field. We also will use harvest data from both the spring and fall seasons to inform our structured decision-making process,” Mr. Hamilton said. 

These birds are opportunistic by nature. While they do eat ticks, the insects do not make up a huge part of their diet. They also eat other insects, nuts, and grasses. Though turkeys do not provide significant pest control, they are still vital to the overall ecosystem.

“Turkeys are historic to the northeast. The population here on Long Island is doing very well,” said Mr. Hamilton. “When you have good habitat, you’re going to have a good turkey population. When we have good weather in the springtime, they’ll have successful poults … so they will be able to raise them. Having turkeys on the landscape is a good thing for biodiversity.”

People who are sharing their environment with turkeys should be aware of a few basic rules to keep themselves and the birds safe. As with all wildlife, feeding is a problem. They will become aggressive when their expected meal is not forthcoming.

“When they are intentionally or unintentionally feeding the birds, that’s where we’ll start to see some of those negative interactions. When the turkeys start associating humans to the food source, that situation can be a big problem,” said Mr. Hamilton. 

Turkeys can also be aggressive during their breeding season. They view any other turkeys as a threat to their success, and will attack their own reflection in an attempt to defend their space.

“Turkeys can be territorial during the breeding season. It’s not uncommon for us to hear at the office of complaints in the spring about turkeys pecking at cars and pecking at glass you know reflections in their sliding doors and stuff like that,” Mr. Hamilton said.

Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to redirect the turkeys’ attention elsewhere with hazing techniques. The birds learn and adopt new behaviors quickly.

“They’re super smart. To alleviate negative interactions without having to remove offending birds from the landscape, we can educate that bird if we don’t want that bird on this parcel or we don’t want that bird walking across this lawn,” he said. “With the homeowner’s commitment, those birds will learn in a relatively short timeframe that this is not a place that they want to be.”

The post Turkey talk: What’s the deal with them? appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

According to Nina Leonhardt, acting executive director of the society, Suffolk County has received a $5 million grant through the Regional Economic Development Council to purchase almost 100 acres on the east side of Fresh Pond Avenue, with a small carve-out for the charter school.

“It’s been a long, long struggle, but we are making great strides on Fresh Pond Avenue in Calverton,” said Ms. Leonhardt. “The remaining approximately 100 acres are about to be acquired by the county. So we will have a significant amount of preserved land, and it’s adjacent to [an already preserved] DEC property.”

The “Best of the Rest” is a multi-year effort aimed at protecting the most environmentally significant parcels remaining in the Pine Barrens region. Launched in 2022, it seeks to ensure that the Pine Barrens ecosystem remains undeveloped. 

“We identified 3,800 acres that are critical to preserving our water quality and essential habitat for many native species. And we are fortunate to have the support of the New York Community Trust Long Island to help us meet our goals,” said Ms. Leonhardt.

As previously reported, a number of the targeted properties are in Riverhead. Besides the two parcels in Calverton, there are also five parcels along the Peconic River, more than 100 acres within EPCAL, 150 acres of federal land east of Calverton National cemetery and north of EPCAL, and various smaller parcels near the Calverton Ponds area.

“We’ve managed to protect about 800 acres [out of the 3,800 for Suffolk County],” Ms. Leonhardt said. “Then we have another 1,100 acres that are somewhere in the process of being appraised, in negotiation or under consideration to be acquired.”

Any property owner with land in the Pine Barrens can sell a conservation easement for their property. This means they can no longer develop the property but they are allowed to continue living there. 

“Anything over there is in the core or in the compatible growth, we are interested in for acquisition. And some of these things are small parcels, and they’re on what we call old file maps. And so we work with the [Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission], and the commission solicits interest in obtaining conservation easements or selling the property outright,” said Ms. Leonhardt. “We’re making progress, but it’s slow progress. We’ve been at this for quite a while, and we’re very pleased with progress we’ve made and we do understand that it’s a lengthy process. We have to get owners to agree; you have to involve the lawyers and municipalities.”

Both the commission and the society are looking to construct a nature center nearby from which tourists can explore the Pine Barrens and learn about its ecosystem. The society is pushing for this nature center to be adjacent to one of the “Best of the Rest” properties in hopes that it will then spur further acquisition. 

“We’re very excited about this, because it will bring much wider attention to the importance of the Pine Barrens. People will come from all over, it will be a tourist destination for people, as well as for local people to really learn and appreciate [the land],” said Ms. Leonhardt. 

Ms. Leonhardt cited public support for the society’s mission as the key to reaching their goals. 

“Without the public’s interest and desire for the Pine Barrens to be preserved, it wouldn’t be happening. And that goes right back to the beginning. 
When the initial campaign was in place to protect the Pine Barrens back in the late ’80s, it was the public with average citizens who got behind us, and supported what it is that we do.”

The post Pine Barrens Society preservation campaign enters third year appeared first on Riverhead News Review.