CCOM Volunteers Install Floating Wetlands - 27 East

CCOM Volunteers Install Floating Wetlands

icon 3 Photos
The Concerned Citizens of Montauk, with help from volunteers, installed floating wetlands in Fort Pond recently. COURTESY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MONTAUK

The Concerned Citizens of Montauk, with help from volunteers, installed floating wetlands in Fort Pond recently. COURTESY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MONTAUK

The Concerned Citizens of Montauk, with help from volunteers, installed floating wetlands in Fort Pond recently. COURTESY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MONTAUK

The Concerned Citizens of Montauk, with help from volunteers, installed floating wetlands in Fort Pond recently. COURTESY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MONTAUK

The Concerned Citizens of Montauk, with help from volunteers, installed floating wetlands in Fort Pond recently. COURTESY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MONTAUK

The Concerned Citizens of Montauk, with help from volunteers, installed floating wetlands in Fort Pond recently. COURTESY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MONTAUK

authorStaff Writer on May 30, 2022

Nearly 50 volunteers helped the Concerned Citizens of Montauk with its recently installation of floating wetlands in Fort Pond.

Through the effort, 7,200 native plants were planted and secured into custom floating mats which were anchored at two locations in the pond. As the plants mature, their roots will uptake excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the pond as food. The plants help reduce the overall nutrient load in the pond which can help lessen the extent and severity of harmful algal blooms that have plagued Fort Pond for years.

According to a press release, CCOM embraces a science-based comprehensive watershed-driven approach to reduce pollutant loadings to Fort Pond and the floating wetlands are just a part of that goal. The group has been sampling Fort Pond for bacteria for nearly a decade; and harmful algal bloom concentrations and toxicity for the last five years through a partnership with the Gobler Laboratory at Stony Brook Southampton.

CCOM has targeted and worked with Fort Pond watershed property owners to encourage and facilitate nitrogen-reducing septic system upgrades through targeted watershed mailings, community meetings, and discounted septic maintenance. CCOM is also a member of the town’s Downtown Montauk Wastewater Committee and seeks to reduce the septic influence from the Downtown commercial district by installing a municipal wastewater treatment system, preventing nutrient-rich groundwater discharges.

Additionally, CCOM successfully lobbied for the removal of direct stormwater discharges into the pond; most recently a New York State Department of Transportation outfall from Route 27 near Puff n Putt and 7-Eleven, and is working to remove more. CCOM has also effectively advocated for the acquisition of priority land parcels, many of which are waterfront, in the Fort Pond watershed, which will ultimately prevent any additional pollutant loadings into the pond.

The floating wetlands are seasonal and reusable, and like last year, will be removed in October and the nutrient-rich plant material will either be re-planted and/or donated to the Montauk Community Garden for composting.

This year’s installation was made possible with in-field assistance from the East Hampton Town Shellfish Hatchery, East Hampton Marine Patrol and East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue.

You May Also Like:

John Robery Aery of Southampton Dies June 12

John Robert Aery passed away peacefully at Regional In-House Hospice, Danbury, Ct., Thursday, June 12, ... 20 Jun 2025 by Staff Writer

Michael Hampton of Amagansett Dies June 6

Artist, advertising creative director, and small-scale home developer on the East End, Michael Hampton died ... by Staff Writer

Lucille Moreland of Bridgehampton Dies May 24

Lucille Moreland of Bridgehampton, NY, predeceased by Columbus Moreland, GA was born in Southampton hospital ... by Staff Writer

Harris Yulin, Titan of East End Theater, Dies at 87

When he was a young actor in New York City, Steve Hamilton went to see ... 18 Jun 2025 by Dan Stark

Sean Scanlon of Sag Harbor and Formerly of Southampton Dies May 20

Sean Scanlon of Sag Harbor, and originally from Southampton, died at Stony Brook Hospital on ... 30 May 2025 by Staff Writer

Lucille Moreland of East Hampton Dies May 24

Lucille Moreland of East Hampton died on May 24 in Southampton. She was 93. A wake will be held on Tuesday, June 3, from 10:30-11 a.m., with a home-going service at 11 a.m. at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. Interment to follow at Calverton Cemetery. 28 May 2025 by Staff Writer

Joan G. Lavinio of Southampton Dies May 21

Joan G. Lavinio of Southampton died peacefully at her home on May 21 at the ... 26 May 2025 by Staff Writer

Reports From the Springs School Journalism Club

Members of the Springs School Journalism Club are writing articles on the goings-on at their ... 17 May 2025 by Staff Writer

Viola Marie Abbey of Hampton Bays Dies

Viola Marie Abbey, a true blessing born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1942. Vi left an ... 16 May 2025 by Staff Writer

Barbara Ann Muller of Southampton Dies March 30

Barbara Ann Muller “Bam” Cancellieri, of Southampton, New York, passed away on March 30, 2025, ... 8 May 2025 by Staff Writer