Overview

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is comprised of key estuary stakeholder groups, including citizens and civic groups, environmental groups, fishing groups, academic and business organizations. The purpose of the CAC is to assist the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Council (Council) in implementing recommendations identified in the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) and to promote public education throughout the Reserve. 

Member Organizations

Citizens Advisory Committee Member Organizations include: 

  • Association of Marine Industries
  • Atlantic Marine Conservation Society 
  • Brookhaven League of Women Voters 
  • Citizens Campaign for the Environment 
  • Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island 
  • Fire Island Association 
  • Fire Island National Seashore 
  • Great South Bay Audubon Society 
  • Islip Town Leaseholders Association 
  • Kayak Fishing Association of New York 
  • Long Island Sierra Club 
  • Mastic Beach Property Owners Association 
  • NY Seafood Council 
  • NYS Marine Education Association
  • Operation SPLASH 
  • Pattersquash Creek Civic Association
  • Peconic Baykeeper 
  • Save the Great South Bay 
  • Seatuck Environmental Association 
  • South Shore Audubon Society 
  • Suffolk Alliance of Sportsmen 
  • South Shore Waterfowlers Association 
  • South Shore Bayhouse Owners Association 
  • South Bay Cruising Club
  • Speonk Remsenburg Civic Association
  • Trout Unlimited 

Meetings

Meetings are held from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, locations vary.

  • Tuesday, January 13, 2026
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026
  • Tuesday, May 12, 2026
  • Tuesday, July 14, 2026
  • Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Meeting Minutes

Stewardship

The South Shore Estuary Reserve Council Stewardship Award Program recognizes citizens or organizations that have made significant contributions to protect and restore the South Shore Estuary’s unique natural environment and maritime traditions. This award is designed to promote and encourage grassroots stewardship activities, including cleanups, restoration, and education, and will build public awareness in the Reserve. Nominations are accepted annually to recognize people who demonstrate initiative and innovation in advancing one or more of the implementation outcomes identified in the CMP.  

Nomination materials are typically posted in early June of each year.  

2024 Recipients

2024 South Shore Estuary Reserve Council Stewardship Award winners are the Village of Patchogue for their innovative living shoreline project at Shoreline Park and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society for their continued outreach efforts about marine wildlife.

2024 South Shore Estuary Reserve Council Stewardship Award winners

 

2024 South Shore Estuary Reserve Council Stewardship Award winners

Past winners include:

  • Art Flick Chapter of Trout Unlimited
  • Charles Balsamo, Boatbuilder and Mentor
  • Scott Bochner
  • Maria Brown
  • Rich Groh, Town of Babylon
  • Bill Hamilton, Brookhaven Baymen’s Association
  • Islip Town Leaseholders Association
  • Wilfred Kleisler
  • Dr. Artie Kopelman, Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
  • Carl Lobue, TNC
  • Andrea Mancuso, 2007 High School Graduate
  • Karen Marvin
  • Operation SPLASH
  • George and Richard Remmer
  • The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation
  • Seatuck Environmental Association
  • Cory Weyant, Freeport-based bayman