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| LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN TO SAVE CALVERTON GRASSLANDS! (click here for google map of area) |
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YOU CAN HELP & Compromise is possible!! Why protect these grasslands? Click here for open letter to Newsday from Nature Conservancy What is the Proposal to Save these Lands? How can YOU help? Read on and find out! ******************** Notes from Dianne Why be concerned about this piece of property? -For me it's simple: because it's important to the birds; our birds! -It's the last substantial area of native grasslands left on all of Long Island! -It's provides nesting habitat for fairly large numbers of three of the five birds of special concern in New York: Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Field Sparrow. Also, of special concern is the Northern Harrier which is found here. -It is populated by a large variety of birds during the year. Some examples are (only a small example): American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Tree & Barn Swallows, Mockingbirds, Prairie Warbler, Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Osprey, Eastern Kingbird, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird Also, let's not forget -Eight notable species on this site: Eastern Tiger Salamander, Marbles Salamander, Eastern Spadefoot, Spotted Turtle, Eastern Box Turtle, Eastern Hognose Snake, Coastal Barrens Buckmoth, Slender Pinweed, and Rose Coreopsis, all protected species or "of special concern". And, let's not forget our water quality! -This open area contains a significant reservoir of groundwater, helping to feed the pure water system of the pine barrens. A group, Calverton Grasslands Coalition, has been formed consisting of Eastern Long Island Audubon, North Fork Audubon, Nature Conservancy, Group for the East End. We are currently in the process of organization material to be presented to the Riverhead Town Board. WE NEED YOUR HELP TOO!!! ********************************* THE PROPOSAL Presented at Riverhead Town Board Work Session October 4, 2007 "OPEN SPACE AT EPCAL" Proposal to save grasslands, while still allowing for development (main bullets from full report): Of the 2,948 acres at EPCAL, it is proposed that 1,820 acres (+/- 62% of total area) be protected: - Protect the 144.8-acre parcel zoned for office (0600-135-1-7.4) located in the northeast quadrant (freshwater wetlands/kettlehole ponds, rare species, steep slopes, woodlands) - Protect the 423 acres parcel in the Pine Barrens Core (Core Pine Barrens – groundwater protection ; deepest aquifer; wetlands; rare species; contiguous forest) - Protect the +/- 800 acres of grasslands bordering the runways (habitat for significant grassland bird species; largest contiguous grassland habitat on Long Island). - Protect freshwater wetlands and kettlehole depressions throughout and buffers around them (wetlands, rare species, slopes, ground and surface water quality). - Protect the groundwater and surface waters generally on site as they contribute to the Peconic River and Peconic Estuary (and, in the northern sections of the property, to the Long Island Sound Estuary). - Remediate/restore open space areas contaminated by former industrial and military operations. - 1,127 acres (38%) available for development (Note: even if 65% clearing limitation under zoning is applied to the 1,127 acres to be developed, 733 acres, or 25% of the site could be devoted to buildings, roads, runways, landscaped areas and outdoor recreational facilities). FOR FULL REPORT; CLICK HERE CLICK HERE FOR COVER LETTER TO TOWN OF RIVERHEAD ************************* HOW YOU CAN HELP IS EASY! Major groups like Audubon (national and local), the Nature Conservancy, the Peconic Land Trust need to be pushed to intercede on behalf of the grasslands. The Pine Barrens Society is already in the battle but I'm sure they could use all the support they can get. An organization that should be pressured to get involved is the Open Space Preservation Committee of Riverhead headed by Eva Kaplan. The following Riverhead Town officials should be contacted: -Timothy Buckley -Barbara Blass -John Dunleavy -James Watson Riverhead Town Hall number is 727-3200 You can also send letters to the News-Review; they are generally good about publishing letters to the editor. They are on Main Road in Mattituck and their e-mail address is <mail@timesreview.com>. Their phone number is 298-3200. Aslo, send letters to the Southampton Press, Newsday and Suffolk Life! The main points to be emphasized are the following: 1) grasslands are native to Long Island 2) there are many species of plants and animals that can survive only in grasslands 3) they are an integral part of the Pine Barrens 4) they help feed the pure water system of the pine barrens 5) the ex-Grumman grasslands (or, preferably, Calverton Grasslands) are the only extensive grasslands left 6) It is a beautiful natural area and the ultimate in open space Please TAKE ACTION....write a letter, make a call!! Also please contact me if you have any information that might be of assistance to us. Or if you have any contact information for civic groups, or other groups that might be interested in helping us with this issue. You can contact me at libirding@yahoo.com . Just put "Grumman" in subject line. Thanks much!! WE CAN DO THIS!!!! EMAIL DIANNE IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTONS OR KNOW OF A GROUP THAT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THIS COALITION email dianne at libirding@yahoo.com and put "Calverton" in the subject line |
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| ACTION ALERT!!! ACT NOW!! It is critical to start writing letters in support of DEC - The governor's office is getting intense pressure from Riverhead and other interested parties against DEC asserting jurisdiction. This is a critical juncture in this fight - with a new governor on board many higher up environmental officials are feeling vulnerable. Please copy the governor and Judith Enck on any letters written to local papers and elected officials. Please reach out to your members. Write letters as individuals and from your own organizations. WE ALL MUST N O W WRITE LETTERS to NYS Governor David Paterson and to NYS DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis to defend the DEC decision to assert jurisdiction and be designated as lead agency under SEQRA at EPCAL. Furthermore,NYS Governor David A. Paterson and NYS DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, must listen to those who clearly lack a profit motive and whose work contradicts and challenges Supervisor Cardinale. Both our Governor and the DEC Commissioner MUST be made aware of the environmental concerns at EPCAL and the clear impact on LI's natural resources and the quality of life of neighboring towns (Town of Brookhaven, Southold and Southampton). New York State Governor David A. Patterson http://161.11.121.121/govemail Fax Number 518-474-1513 DEC Commissioner Peter Grannis E-mail http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/407.html New York State DEC Region 1 Director Peter Scully E-mail pascully@gw.dec.state.ny.us Fax Number 631-444-0349 |