Peconic Land Trust Protects 5.5 Acres on Georgica Cove | Experience the Beauty of Broad Cove ….

With the help of many, Peconic Land Trust Protects 5.5 Acres on Georgica Cove in East Hampton Village

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In late December, the Peconic Land Trust purchased 5.5 acres of land along Georgica Cove, an important tributary of Georgica Pond, in the Village of East Hampton. The land, once part of Cove Hollow Farm and recently maintained as a meadow, is adjacent to 13+ acres of land that is under the protection of the Trust. With this new acquisition, nearly 20 acres of land will now support water quality for the pond, wildlife habitat, and scenic vistas.The Town of East Hampton played a key role in the effort by purchasing a conservation easement on the property at the closing with funding from the Town’s Community Preservation Fund, a portion of which was designated by the Village of East Hampton for this purpose.  The Trust’s portion of the acquisition was made possible by generous donations from the community.  The Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation was also instrumental in advancing this conservation success.

“This was an important acquisition given how unique, desirable, and developable parcels like these are in this real estate market.  From a conservation perspective, these parcels are invaluable given their impact on water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and scenic enjoyment,” said John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust. “We are thankful to all of our public and private partners who saw how special and important this opportunity was and came together to make it happen.”

‌‍‍‍‌‍“Exploring ways to protect the ecosystem of Georgica Pond takes many partners and many solutions. The Friends of Georgica Pond thanks Peconic Land Trust, the Town of East Hampton, and the Village of East Hampton for working together to protect this land that will contribute significantly to the health of the pond. And we thank our community for joining us in support of this conservation initiative,” said Kim Quarty, Executive Director, Friends of Georgica Pond.

The Trust will add these new properties to the land management plan currently underway for the adjacent properties that includes the removal of invasive species and the restoration of a maritime grassland with native vegetation and existing pasture grasses, all of which will benefit the surface waters and groundwater within the Georgica Pond watershed.

Additionally, land management will focus on plants that promote local wildlife, particularly birds, raptors, and butterflies. While most of the land is non‑native species of pasture grasslands, they have naturalized and are accepted as components of the Northeast’s old‑field ecosystems. The primary focus of land maintenance is to reduce invasives, including phragmites at the shoreline, and to revegetate the upland with native species, including several aster and goldenrod species, common milkweed, dogbane, and bayberry shrubs. Additionally, mowing will continue to suppress the woody vegetation that is present.

This will all contribute to a healthy upland that aids in reducing runoff and pollution from entering Georgica Cove and Georgica Pond.

For more information on the future land management of the property, please connect with Vice President Matt Swain at MSwain@peconiclandtrust.org. 

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Broad Cove was acquired by the Trust on December 31, 2021, with a vision to transform this former duck farm into a welcoming natural sanctuary filled with trails for the community to enjoy. Since then, our stewardship team has revitalized the nearly 100‑acre waterfront property, guiding it through an ambitious restoration effort that has reshaped the preserve into a thriving haven for both people and wildlife.This transformation was made possible through generous support from the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Peconic Estuary Partnership, the Environmental Protection Agency, and several private foundations. With their support, the Trust installed a parking area, created two trails, added educational signage, benches, and improved the overall habitat through several invasive species management and removal projects and new plantings of native plant species.

One particular special project – a meadow restoration – included the removal of five acres of invasive species that were replaced with native grasses and shrubs such as broomsedge, little bluestem, big bluestem, and switchgrass. To accelerate the establishment of these native plant communities, 5,000 plugs were planted along the meadow trail, with an additional 1,000 plugs installed near the parking area.

This project has been three years in the making!

We invite you to come experience the beauty of Broad Cove firsthand and discover the incredible diversity of native species now flourishing across the landscape.

Broad Cove can be found on Overlook Drive in Aquebogue. 

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