Peconic Baykeeper Inc

We are very fortunate to have Kevin McAllister and Peconic Bay keeper organization. As our advocate without goverment or polictical influence,Peconic Bay keeper has fought to keep our waterways clean and hopefully will continue for future generations. Kevin always makes his presence in our communities while teaching the importance to preserving our most precious resource.

Its tough work protecting fragile waterways from so many directions. From industry to municipalities to uneducated landowners and boaters , there are times to get tough and times to gently correct and inform, all in the name of preservation. The Peconic Baykeeper is a small, passionate group, dedicated to their cause. Visible, accountable and a great presence

I'm not sure why it takes someone like The Peconic Bay Keeper to remind people that its not OK to flush your toilet directly into the bay...but aparently it does, and our Bay Keeper is very effective at it - recently getting the entire South Shore Estuary Reserve listed as a no-vessel-discharge zone.

Way to go Kevin!

This is a wonderful website that works to protect the bay and its surrounding environment. We need to do everything we can tp support their efforts.

They keep pubic informed with the how and why the water ways are in trouble. They also let the public know what we/they can do to help clean
things up and how to keep them clean.
This is done through education . They show up at various events to contact people in personand keep them informed..

Environmental organizations on the East End of Long Island are up against strong and often not very above board financial and political interests which come from developers and politicians who stand to make large profits from trashing the environment. In an area dominated by water, waterways, estuaries, harbors, shorelines, creeks and deep aquifers -- all interrelated and of prime importance to wildlife and the environment -- Peconic Baykeeper has consistently been at the forefront in the fight to protect natural resources and to keep the public informed. I have also been very appreciative of the fact that Peconic Baykeeper bridges the gap (often significant) between solid scientific and biological evidence and fact on the one hand and the public perception of the implications of all this on the other. This is a very important service, particularly since there is a tendency on the part of developers, politicians and even media to misrepresent the evidence!

I know how important Peconic Baykeeper is to the North Fork, which is surrounded by --you guessed it--Peconic Bay! It is is dynamic organization that works hard to preserve this important estuary, by reporting on what is going on, science, and outreach to the community.

While I am not a professional, I am a volunteer with the North Fork Audubon Society, so I am well aware of the challenges facing the Peconic Bay.

My wife and I recently moved to the Peconic bay area, because we value so much the area's natural environment. This environment has been under attack for the past several decades by overdevelopment, and it has been our experience that the Peconic Baykeeper Inc has consistently been in the forefront of the battle to preserve that bays. We have attended lectures; participated in guided kayak trips and hikes; and attended civic association meetings, and during so many of those events, the Peconic Baykeeper has provided invaluable and interesting information to help the public understand how critically important our bays are, and how to protect them.

This group acts with integrity and a fundamental knowledge of the required scientific issues, against heavy odds of special interest groups that regard the protection of marine resources and systems as obstacles in the way of adverse use or destruction or profit. This organization is in fact the single most vocal and knowledgeable entity in eastern Long Island, acting on behalf of the public interest with remuneration far below what it deserves and in the face of great enmity, often from government itself. In essence this group is the chief barrier to the degradation of marine waters, wetlands and natural resources. It deserves recognition and high praise.

Kevin McAllister has been essential to theSoMAS program at Stony Brook University as well as largely to the Southampton campus MarineScience program. The colloboration between the Peconic Bay Keeper and the Marine Science program has been immensely successful and vital to the community. In order to produce change in the way of thinking in a coastal area, we all need to pull together our individual resources to bring about improvement in the environment. The Peconic Baykeeper is performing such a service.

Over the last twenty years I have watched the brown tides and the red tides and whatever other tides kill off the clams and the mussels and the oysters and fish in the bays of Long Island. We've got to stop this for us and for the future of Long Island.
This is a priority. They made a difference in the Hudson. Let's do the same in Long Island waters.

I have had the pleasure of attending conferences orchestrated by the Peconic Baykeeper; most recently about a month ago on septic systems to lower N runoff into our bays. As always the proceedings were informative, current, well attended by assemblyman from multiple towns and run by a diverse and professional group of scientists, engineers, politicians and community leaders that have already used this technology. As an educator and community activist I always see an objective view of the current problems and real world solutions that are actually put into work.
The publication of the Peconic Baykeeper's newsletter has become a staple in my Advanced Marine Science and Advanced Placement Environmental Science courses.
Lastly, as a participant in my local Conservation Advisory Council I was informed by an "old timer in government for years "that when this organization was created it was expected to be simply good PR but ineffectual. However, Kevin McAllister turned out to "have a set of brains and ambition" to carry out his mission &, I can attest, the bays are better off because of the peconic baykeeper, his committment and watchful eye and ability to go after towns that are breaking the rules for runoff and effluent. I greatly respect and am appreciative of Kevin and his organization and his protection of our "Estuary of National Significance."

I have interacted with the head of Peconic Baykeeper as chair of a local sustainability committee on several occasions and have been very impressed with the professionalism of Peconic Baykeeper's approach to the public, their focus on the long-term health of our local bays and ponds, their willingness to collaborate with other organizations with similar goals and their unwillingness to give up when faced with inertia on the part of the public and local governments.

Peconic Baykeeper was instrumental in helping boating organizations in the Great South Bay achieve the launch of additional pump-out boats in the Town of Islip (1 boat) and the Town of Brookhaven (2 boats).

The one pump-out boat in the Town of Islip withdrew thousands of gallons of waste in just their first season from the recreational boaters in their area of the Great South Bay. That was a huge environmental improvement and success.

The increased number of pump-out boats in the Great South Bay then enabled the Peconic Baykeeper to apply for, and win, the formal designation of a "No Discharge Zone" for the Great South Bay.

In my experience, the Peconic Baykeeper is "the real thing". They worked selflessly and achieved the outcomes described here. They are a true asset for the Great South Bay, Peconic Bay and nearby waters.

Re: Kevin McAllister-Our Peconic Baykeeper. During the several years since the beginning of the

I interned with Peconic Baykeeper shortly after graduating college, and had such a wonderful experience that opened my eyes to a rewarding field and encouraged me to follow a career path in the field myself. I have since earned a master's degree in coastal science and policy and now work for another environmental non-profit in the area as a professional environmental advocate and educator, where I am lucky to often work closely with Peconic Baykeeper. I am truly happy to work alongside this great organization as often as possible. I highly respect their work and truly appreciate that Peconic Baykeeper is fighting for the protection of my local waters.

As a longtime supporter of the Peconic BayKeeper and former Board member, I can speak first hand of the quality and caliber of this organization, its Board, and most importantly its leader, Kevin McAllister. Kevin, and the organization are dedicated to the most important natural resources in the area, the Peconic and Great South Bays. The quality of the Bays, thier fish and wildlife and water quality are the keys to the quality of life and economic future of Long Island's East End. The BayKeeper serves to ensure that the Bays are protected and flourish for current and future generations. Larry Kast Former Board Member Current Vice President, Honeywell

Peconic Baykeeper does so much to protect the environment and educate the community that funders could be forgiven for thinking they have a full time staff of ten. The consistent quality of Kevin McAllister's work makes his organization a go to resource. Peconic Baykeeper routinely works with other regional and local non-profits to maximize effectiveness.

Peconic Baykeeper is an extremely effective advocate for Peconic Bay, the South Shore, and the commmunities that use these waters. Peconic Baykeeper juggles multiple skills as a scientist, teacher, and environmental law enforcer in order to fight for everyone's right to clean water for fishing, swimming, and drinking. I've seen the Baykeeper in a boat on the water tracking down polluters, in a courtroom advocating for stronger enforcement of environmental laws, and in meetings rallying community support. The organization has been successful with issues like sewage treatment and Shelter Island dredging. Peconic Baykeeper also has been awarded educator of the year by EPA and they play a key role in protecting our waters from pesticides. I've worked alongside of Peconic Baykeeper's talented staff and am impressed with their dedication and passion for the work. Support Peconic Baykeeper for fishable, swimmable, drinkable waters.

I have worked with Peconic Baykeeper on a number of occasions and always found them to be an effective ally for protecting the bay and surrounding landscape, for raising awareness about waterfront issues, and for changing public policy and public opinion in favor of bay health. As a journalist, I first worked with Peconic Baykeeper to chronicle their work related to seafood, the fishing industry and the working waterfront. In this capacity, Peconic Baykeeper provided me with excellent research information, data and stories. Later, as a concerned citizen who volunteers on local environmental issues, Peconic Baykeeper helped raise awareness about a beach area of concern in my village, and participating in several village meetings. Along with village officials, Peconic Baykeeper helped collect data on water quality at the beach and the source of pollution at the beach. Peconic Baykeeper will likely be involved in commenting on the village's course of action and remediation.

The Baykeeper has been tireless in its commitment for advocating on behalf of the voiceless- the Great Peconic Bay, and its myriad neighbors- estuaries, creeks, inlets and water systems all over Long Island. Without the Baykeeper, Long Island's glorious bounty of waterways and the lives they support- hard shell clams, the mighty Peconic Bay scallop, egrets, herons, fishermen, baymen, and tourists alike- would be devastated.

I live directly near the Forge River. It is sad to say that this natural and beautiful site has been neglected and abused by many who also live by it. It has become the source of terrible pollution from many sources, but most importantly, by those who are able to look at it every day. I love the river and all the wildlife that inhabit it. I have so many birds and other wildlife near my home that I feel blessed to share all of with my children and grandchildren. I can sit out in my yard and only hear birds chirping. Imagine that in this noisey world! But the sad truth is that the river was dying as well as all that around it until Mr. McAllister suddenly appeared as if out of nowhere to save the day. I never heard of him until I attended a town meeting at the local boat club to discuss the fate of the river. The river had gotten so bad you could smell it from 1/2 mile away like the smell of an open cesspool. The entire neighbor stank for over a week. (And this was not the only time this occurred). Well Mr. McAllister is a scientist and he went out on the river and studied it. He did tests and nailed down the cause of the smell and the pollution. He also described what needed to be done to correct the problem. This was no easy task, nor would it be an easy task to correct. Nitrogen from many sources was our culprit ( but it didn't get there by itself, nor would it remove itself by itself). Mr. McAllister persisted and convinced the powers that be that urgent attent must be givento the river. I was so impressed with his work and selfless efforts to help our community that I decided right then and there to do what I could to help him to help us. I support the Peconic Baykeeper and urger others to do so. He is a very special individual and authority on a subject many of us find difficult to comprehend. We need him. This type of individual is very rare and we are fortunate to have him showing us the way to restore the gifts nature has given us.

I have known the Peconic baykeeper for many years, been a member of the organization and have heard and read about environmental results coming directly from this environmental group. I served for over five years on the board of a community wildlife refuge with the Peconic Baykeeper, firsthand seeing his experience, determination and environmental wisdom that he brought to that board from his own organization.

I was an intern for the Peconic Baykeeper in the Fall of 2007. I helped with the petition for a no discharge zone on the south shore estuary. The petition passed into law in October of 2009. There is a great feeling of accomplishment to know that my work played a small role in getting that law passed.

Kevin McAllister, Peconic Baykeeper, was responsible for achieving a DEC Impaired Waterways designation for the Forge River, where I live. The river had become extremely polluted, killing fish and even causing breathing problems in some of the residents living next to it. What impressed me most about Kevin is that when he came head-to-head with his adversaries, he never faltered, never got upset, but delivered his intelligent, fact-filled and convincing presentation with professionalism. He is very knowledgeable and is a tireless, hard-working person who so very obviously cares passionately about his mission to clean up the waters of Long Island. He has my utmost admiration and respect and I would hope that all who have some time and money would donate their resources to this worthwhile group whose main interest is our health and well-being.

I don't know the Peconic Baykeeper well but am very aware of the service that Kevin McAllister provides. His organization is invaluable to all of us in this area, whether or not we are aware of its activities. Kevin McAllister is dedicated on our behalf and often appears to be the only one on his, or our, side. I particularly appreciate how well the Baykeeper is able to communicate both the details and the big picture when he talks to the public and is asked to explain the extent to which uncontrolled development has damaged, and could continue to damage, our bay water. Our family enjoys shellfish, swimming, and summer guests - all of which rely on keeping environmental standards high.

Tireless Champion of surface water qualities issues on Long Island, that's the Peconic Baykeeper. We who live, work and raise our children here on Eastern Long Island are very happy to have an full time, INDEPEDENT advocate for bay health. Local, State and Federal regulatory bodies need to be constantly reminded of the importance of environmental health issues.

Peconic Baykeeper looks at the health of all the waters of Long Island, and uses all means to protect them. It does our community a great service and has had effective success most recently in protecting a sensitive area on the South Shore of Long Island.

I cleaned up debris & garbage along a stretch of Dune Road. Peconic Baykeeper & Coastal Steward sponsored the event - heard about it through Coalition to Save the Yaphank Lakes (Part of Carmen's River estuary). This was the most orderly & well-run cleanup I have done. Everything was provided for us & staff & the Baykeeper did an excellent job & very hard work. I would lend my support to Peconic Baykeeper again - the work they do to preserve our fragile environment is amazing.