Description
Long Pond Greenbelt is a chain of unspoiled coastal plain ponds bordered by wetlands and fringing oak forests. Formed from glacial processes, the ponds in the Greenbelt vary in depth from year to year, depending on rainfall. This variability of pond depth has created a unique habitat called a coastal plain pond shore community.
Why We Selected this Site
This ecosystem supports one of the highest concentrations of rare species and natural communities anywhere in New York State. Its preservation has been a priority for the Town of Southampton since 1968 when the Sag Harbor conservationists first wrote to the town regarding its protection.
What We’ve Done
In 1969, Southampton declared in its Master Plan that preservation of the Long Pond Greenbelt was a significant goal. Land acquisitions proceeded slowly until 1985 when The Nature Conservancy increased its involvement in the conservation project. What followed was a chain of land acquisitions in the Greenbelt by The Nature Conservancy, Southampton Town, and Suffolk County. To date, over 600 acres of the Greenbelt are protected.