Benson Reserve Invasive Plant Removal Project Wins Support From Montauk CAC

A 1960s aerial photo showing the Benson Preserve property when it was dominated by beach grasses.

A 1960s aerial photo showing the Benson Preserve property when it was dominated by beach grasses.

Jeannie Nielsen, whose family owns a collection of small cottages adjacent to the Benson Reserve and was among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that led to the property being donated to East Hampton Town, said that putting temporary fences in parts of the reserve to corral goats grazing on invasive plant species would violate the terms of the lawsuit settlement. MICHAEL WRIGHT

An ecologist told Montauk residents that the roots of native plants are far better at preventing erosion than those of the invasive species that dominate about a third of the Benson Reserve currently and are being targeted for removal. Nelson Pope & Voorhis/CCOM

Rusty Schmidt, a landscape ecologist with Nelson Pope & Voorhis, spoke at Monday's meeting of the Montauk Citizens Advisory Committee to address concerns that opponents of the invasive species removal plan had raised. MICHAEL WRIGHT

Jay Schneiderman, whose family owns the Breakers Motel across the street from the Benson Reserve, said that when he was young the beach was visible across the Benson Reserve and that he supports the plans to remove the invasive plants that have overtaken the upper third of the property. MICHAEL WRIGHT