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Water Quality Update | Sagg Pond Watershed: May 2023

May 11, 2023
Water Quality
Video

There are so many ways to help lead the charge for a cleaner, safer Sagg Pond. You can support this work by making a gift today, helping spread the word to your friends and neighbors, and working to reduce negative impacts to the pond from your home, lawn, and gardens.

Small changes in our landscaping practice can make a big difference on the health of Sagg Pond. Bruce Horwith, the Trust’s Natural Resource Consultant is offering free, at-home consultations to help homeowners learn best practices to reduce their impact on the watershed. Email Bruce at Bruce.Horwith@gmail.com to schedule a consultation today!

To make an even bigger difference, homeowners in the watershed can replace outdated septic tanks with new I/A systems that remove nitrogen from wastewater before it ever reaches the groundwater flowing into Sagg Pond! With up to $30,000 in public subsidies available to help offset the cost, there’s never been a better time to upgrade. Take advantage of this opportunity to access resources by setting up a free consultation with Thomas Varley, the newly hired Watershed Manager for Georgica and Sagg Ponds. His position as Watershed Manager with the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook University (CCWT) was made possible by the support of you and your friends and neighbors in the Sagg Pond watershed. Homeowners can reach Tom at Thomas.Varley@StonyBrook.edu to learn more.

On Wednesday, May 10th, the Peconic Land Trust hosted the latest update on the restoration of Sagg Pond as part of our Water Matters series. Dr. Chris Gobler, Director of CCWT at Stony Brook University, and Thomas Varley discussed I/A wastewater systems and the public funding available for watershed homeowners replacing outdated septic systems. Molly Graffam, PhD, and Ronald Paulsen, PG, of CCE provided an update on 2022 water quality data and shared upcoming plans for the use of permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) to filter nitrogen from groundwater entering Sagg Pond.

To learn more about this restoration effort, and to find out how you can lead the charge for a cleaner, safer Sagg Pond, watch the recording below!

Have questions, or would like to make a gift in support of the pond’s restoration? Contact Amanda Abraham, Director of Development.

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