1998
The Group leads a 200-member coalition of civic, business, and government and environmental
groups on eastern Long Island to create a Community Preservation Fund (CPF). After
fighting back a vicious campaign of lies, distortions, and disinformation by state
building and real estate interests, the public votes to levy a 2% transfer tax on
certain real estate transactions. The proceeds of this tax are dedicated to land
protection efforts in the East End towns – amounting to more than $500 million to
save 8,000 acres in 10 years.
1999
The Group leads the CPF coalition at the county level to create a $300 million environmental
protection fund paid for by a portion of a .25 % sales tax extension, which is invested
county-wide in open space, wetlands, farmland and surface water & habitat improvement.
Voters approve it on Election Day.
2001
After organizing a successful community advocacy campaign with the help of Kurt
Billing, and filing a lawsuit against Southampton Town, the Group succeeds in convincing
the Town Board to permanently preserve a 102-acre parcel in Tuckahoe Swamp that
forms the headwaters of Bullhead Bay.
2002
The Group puts its groundwater campaign into high gear and promotes a South Fork
Groundwater Plan for the region.
2003
Group for the South Fork rallies the community to support the purchase of the 57-acre
Duke property on Three Mile Harbor in East Hampton. The Group also convinces Southampton
Town to adopt new and better coastal development requirements, which prohibit bulkheads
and other similarly-damaging coastal structures on the ocean.
2004
In East Hampton, the Group develops watershed management strategies. In Southampton,
the Group leads a successful campaign to preserve both the 40-acre Barrel Hill watershed
property in North Sea and the 15-acre woodland/wetland parcel in the Tuckahoe area
of Southampton.
2006
Group for the South Fork and The Nature Conservancy lead the public relations campaign
that successfully encourages voters to extend the Community Preservation Fund (2%
real estate transfer tax for land preservation) until the year 2030.
2007
Group for the South Fork becomes the Group for the East End and adds a North Fork
office.
2008
The Group works with the community to win approval for a new energy-efficient building
code in Southampton. It also commences work with other community leaders on the
Bay-to-Sound Trail Project in Greenport, defeating the Broadwater floating natural
gas terminal, and forming the Calverton Grasslands Conservation Initiative.
2009
The Group fights out-of-scale development proposals on Lake Montauk, helps New Suffolk
restore its waterfront, alerts the public about hazardous plumes in Calverton, partners
with the Fish & Wildlife Foundation to stop storm-water runoff at the Mattituck
Inlet, and educates 1,500 students about local wildlife and habitat.
October 16, 1972
Formal activities of the Group’s “environmental defense fund” commence.
1973
The Group secures a $150,000 grant from the Whitehall Foundation to inventory and
map all of the natural resources on the South Fork.
1974
In its lawsuit to compel the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
to protect tidal wetlands in East Hampton, the court grants the Group “standing.”
This is the first time a public interest group is granted standing in New York State.
1975
At the Group’s insistence, Suffolk County purchases for preservation critical land
surrounding Poxabogue Pond. This becomes one of a series of purchases that today
makes up the Long Pond Greenbelt.
1977
The Suffolk County Legislature approves funding for Phase 1 of the Suffolk County
Farmland Preservation Program. The program, created by the Group and County, saves
more than 5,000 acres of prime farmland.
1981
At the Group’s urging, the state grants East Hampton and Southampton Towns the power
to protect the environment by requiring that new development be clustered away from
important natural resources. The next year the state legislature allows all towns
in New York State to have this power.
1982
Thanks to public education and legal efforts of the Group, Union Carbide provides
well filters for 1,600 homeowners whose wells had been contaminated with the pesticide
Temik.
1984
At the Group’s urging, East Hampton and Southampton Towns set unprecedented new
limits on development of lands over important groundwater recharge areas.
1986
The Group orchestrates the state’s first three-level cooperative government land
preservation effort. New York State, Suffolk County and East Hampton Town purchase
560 acres of drinking water recharge land at Hither Woods.
1987
The Group helps East Hampton Town embark on a revolutionary source separation and
residential recycling pilot program.
1988
The Group and community partners secure the United States Congress’ nomination of
the Peconic Bay into the National Estuary Program.
1990
After the Group’s successful education and lobbying effort, all five East End towns
reject plans for incinerating garbage and opt in favor of environmentally sound
recycling programs.
1992
The Group enters into a partnership with the Springs School to develop a South Fork
based environmental curriculum.
1993
The Group helps secure passage of the L.I. Pine Barrens Protection Act to protect
50,000 acres of Pine Barrens land in central Long Island. It results in the creation
of a new statewide funding source for future environmental projects.
1996
The Group orchestrates the creation of a $30 million matching fund program between
the County of Suffolk and the five Towns of eastern Long Island – which is approved
by voters in all five East End towns on Election Day.