Deep Hole Creek Conservation

July 7th Update: 

We are so incredibly grateful to, and inspired by, all of you. Thanks to your generosity, we have raised over $565,000 toward the purchase and protection of this property. 

We have good news, though still very much a work in progress: recently, the Trust made a conditional offer to the seller, and the Koehler family would like to work with us as we address/resolve these conditions over the coming weeks!

We are so pleased that the Koehlers support our conservation effort, which has taken off because of community engagement. We look forward to working with the Koehlers to achieve a community conservation outcome. 

As with any conservation project, there are many details that need to fall into place for all parties to move toward a hopeful contract. While we can't share more yet, we want you to know that with a willing seller, we are doing everything we can to make this a conservation success. 

If we can move forward, additional pledges will be needed to enable this project to come to fruition and for the land to be preserved forever. As soon as we can, we will communicate these details and more - but in the meantime, your pledges to support this project are still very much needed and welcome!

Quick Links:

• Conservation Plan
  
• Pledge Form
  
• Suffolk Times article from July 6, 2021, "Over $550,000 raised as conservation buyer sought for Mattituck waterfront property."
• Suffolk Times article from March 31, 2021, "Residents, Peconic Land Trust hope to preserve property along New Suffolk Avenue."

The Path to Conservation:

The owners of 15 acres in Mattituck, located on New Suffolk Avenue at Deep Hole Creek (the headwaters of Great Peconic Bay), are in the process of finalizing a 7-lot subdivision with the Town of Southold. This is the last parcel of undeveloped property on the creek. 

The Trust, in consultation with donors and neighbors, is working to secure a conservation buyer who will retain private ownership of the parcel, and use it or lease it for agricultural purposes. This approach opens the opportunity for Southold Town to join our effort with Community Preservation Fund dollars, and the Town has agreed to do so! 

The Town will purchase the development rights on this parcel from the seller, which means that the land is preserved and the new (private) owner can farm it, or have it farmed.