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Land Alliance Awarded NYS Grant to Acquire Five Acres in Oyster Bay Cove
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: For more information contact Jenny Einhorn: PR & Events Manager Jenny@northshorelandalliance.org or 516-922-1028 North Shore Land Alliance Partners with New York State to Acquire Five Critical Acres in Oyster Bay Cove: Pulling Property Mill Neck, NY – The North Shore Land Alliance has been awarded a $1.285 million grant through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program to support the acquisition and permanent protection of nearly five acres of the Pulling property in Oyster Bay Cove. This ecologically significant land lies within the Oyster Bay Special Groundwater Protection Area, one of Long Island’s most important groundwater recharge zones. Its protection is essential to maintaining the quality of the aquifer that supplies drinking water to thousands of Long Island residents. The grant will fund a significant portion of the purchase price along with transaction costs like surveys, appraisals, legal and closing costs. The remaining funds needed to acquire the property, make improvements and steward the land in perpetuity have already been raised by the Land Alliance thanks to the generous support of the Land Alliance board, foundations and individual donors. The Pulling Property has been owned and cared for by the Pulling Family for over 100 years. It contains a mix of woodland and wetland habitats, which are critical to the region’s environmental health. Its open meadows host several native species that encourage pollinators and provide food sources and refuge for birds, box turtles and small mammals. The site is located just off Yellow Cote Road, adjacent to the 30-acre Red Cote Preserve, which is managed by the Land Alliance. “The Land Alliance is extremely grateful to Governor Hochul and New York State for this major investment in the long-term protection of our region’s water resources and natural landscapes,” said Lisa Ott, President and CEO. “By conserving this property, we are safeguarding drinking water, protecting wildlife habitat and expanding open space for the community.” More than $208 million was awarded to 131 projects in New York State in January through the DEC’s WQIP grant program. This competitive, statewide grant program funds projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promotes flood risk reduction, restoration and enhanced flood and climate resiliency or protect a drinking water source. In addition to its water quality benefits, the parcel will expand and strengthen the 30-acre Red Cote Preserve by enhancing habitat connectivity for native plants and animals and preserving a scenic and historic landscape in perpetuity. The Land Alliance applied for the WQIP funding in 2025 as part of its ongoing mission to protect and steward Long Island’s natural and historic lands, waters and environmental resources. If you are interested in learning more about how to protect local lands, please visit www.northshorelandalliance.org. You can also learn more about other ways to get involved including attending events or nature walks, becoming an annual member, volunteering and more. About the North Shore Land Alliance The North Shore Land Alliance is a nationally accredited nonprofit land trust. Since its inception in 2003, the Land Alliance has preserved in perpetuity over 1,500 acres of vital conservation-worthy lands and opened 15 preserves to the public. Through its various educational programs, events and volunteer opportunities, the organization fosters a strong connection between people and nature, inspiring a community-wide conservation ethic. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
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Long Island Water Education Program Reaches 15,000 Students
Long Island Water Education Program Reaches 15,000 Students Educator Beth Finger helped celebrate a milestone in spring 2025: as of spring semester the Long Island Water Education Program had reached 15,000 students since its inception. The goal of this hands-on program, supported in part through funding from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, is for students to understand where their drinking water comes from, the values of our ground and surface water resources and how they are threatened, and how land conservation and stewardship can protect them. The series was launched in 2014 by Karen Mossey, who handed over the reins to Beth in 2023. Under both women’s outstanding talent and leadership, the program has thrived, having reached 36 schools in 18 school districts across Long Island. If your school would like to participate in the Long Island Water Education Program and provide students with engaging, hands-on environmental learning experiences, please contact us at liwep@northshorelandalliance.org.
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Laurel Wilt: A New Invasive Threat to Forests on Long Island
Laurel Wilt: A New Invasive Threat to Forests on Long Island In September 2025, the presence of laurel wilt was confirmed in Suffolk County. Laurel wilt is a disease caused by a fungus, Harringtonia lauricola, carried by the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus). The redbay ambrosia beetle was first discovered in the US in 2002, and the laurel wilt disease was first documented in 2003. The beetle first came to the US in the wood of shipping crates. It soon started to infest trees in the Laureacea (Laurel) family. A few examples of tree and shrub species in this family include sassafras (Sassafras albidium), northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), redbay (Persea borbonia) and avocado (Persea americana). In the southeast this disease has done irreparable damage to the forests and has forced many avocado farmers to close their farms. The species in our area that are at risk are sassafras and northern spicebush. The Harringtonia lauricola fungus triggers an immune response in the vascular tissue of the trees it infects. It restricts the movement of water through the tree causing it to wilt. Once infected the tree can die in a matter of months. Up until this year, the disease was mostly contained in the southeast, with North Carolina being its northernmost location. A few months ago, it was found in Northport. The carrier beetle was likely to have been transported to the area in untreated firewood. It is important to remember that unless you are purchasing kilntreated firewood, you should never transport firewood further than 50 miles from its original location. Remembering this rule will help prevent the spread of laurel wilt and other invasive insects and diseases. How to Report Suspected Laurel Wilt If you suspect that a tree on your property is infected with laurel wilt, take pictures and create a record of the observations in iMapInvasives.org. iMapInvasives is a database used by community scientists and environmental professionals to document the presence and spread of invasive species. This website is free; to help us combat this disease just create an account and submit observations. All potential observations of laurel wilt made in New York and submitted to iMapinvasives will be sent to the DEC forest pathology lab for review. If you have questions about how to submit a potential laurel wilt observation, please email us at info@northshorelandalliance.org.
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Your Land, Your Legacy: How Conservation Easements Protect Your Property
Your Land, Your Legacy: How Conservation Easements Protect Your Property The Land Alliance is one of 465 land trusts accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. We are proud of our accreditation, which fosters public confidence in land conservation and helps ensure the long-term protection of land. The Land Alliance was founded by community members who cared deeply about protecting our natural habitats and environmental resources and wanted to provide a way for others to do the same. Land trusts have conserved 61 million acres of private land across the nation — more than all of the national parks combined! Privately-owned land makes up 60% of the United States land mass, but only 3% of it is protected for conservation. Astonishingly, 1.5 million acres on average are converted annually from natural or agricultural use to urban and suburban development. Private conservation leverages the increasing interest of the private sector to take part in conservation and allows property owners to control the destiny of their land. Landowners who wish to protect their land so that its special scenic, historic and natural features remain intact have various tools at their disposal. They include conservation easements, gifts of land, and bargain sales. Although gifts of conservation-worthy land are wonderful ways to create a conservation legacy, not all landowners are in a position to donate their land. For those who would like to permanently conserve their land and maintain ownership, the most widely used method is through a conservation easement. A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a land conservation organization, such 22 as the North Shore Land Alliance (Land Alliance), that is permanently binding on the land, no matter who owns it. The landowner retains all rights to own, sell, and use the land according to the provisions of the easement. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has set up the following qualifying criteria for a conservation easement. • The preservation of land areas for outdoor recreation by, or the education of, the general public. • The protection of a relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem. • The preservation of open space (including farmland and forest land) where such preservation is – (I) for the scenic enjoyment of the general public; or (II) pursuant to a clearly delineated Federal, State, or local governmental conservation policy, and will yield a public benefit. • The preservation of an historically important land area or a certified historic structure. Preserving your land is a personal choice. Landowners who choose this path feel a deep sense of connection to their property and are inspired to leave a lasting positive impact on their community for generations. There may be potential tax deductions for donating your land. For more information, or to better understand if this may apply to you, please call the Land Alliance at 516-922-1028. We will be happy to help you.
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Celebrating the Lands That Bring Us Together
Celebrating 22 Years and the Lands That Bring Us Together As the North Shore Land Alliance approaches 22 years of land conservation, we would like to reintroduce you to the places that have shaped our story. They are the public preserves that connect us to nature, to our community and to one another. Throughout the Land Alliance’s history, we have worked to protect a remarkable mosaic of landscapes, each with their own beauty, biodiversity and history. Together, these lands form a living network of green spaces that safeguard wildlife, purify our air and water and offer a peaceful getaway for people seeking time in nature. As you explore our open meadows, tranquil forests, vibrant wetlands and thriving gardens, you become part of an ongoing relationship, one that has endured for thousands of years. When you spend time in nature, the land becomes part of your story, and you, in turn, become part of its legacy. This year, we celebrate not only the land we have protected but also our community. It continues to care, explore and advocate for our future. We invite you to visit our preserves, explore the trails and see firsthand how conservation can bring us together. Because our lands need us just as much as we need them.
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