Partner Profile | Bruce Horwith, Trust’s Natural Resource Consultant

Our coastal ponds are suffering from the effects of excess nitrogen and other nutrients from various sources, leading to poor water quality. To help us out, the Trust has teamed up with Dr. Bruce Horwith, Natural Resource Consultant.

As a conservation biologist, Bruce has over 30 years of experience in national and international natural resource management. Together with the Trust, he has worked on the restoration of Georgica Pond Preserve in Wainscott, the study and stewardship of Sagg Pond in Sagaponack, remediation work on Wickapogue Pond in Southampton, and invasive species management across numerous sites.

The creation of the Georgica Pond Preserve involved removing a restaurant and associated structures, then developing a restoration plan featuring planting native grasses and wetland vegetation. In addition to creating a natural site for the enjoyment of the public, this transformation will greatly reduce highway runoff and groundwater nitrogen inputs into Georgica Pond.

Bruce is also involved in our ongoing efforts to improve the water quality of Sagg Pond. The Trust is now offering free, at-home consultations with residents in the Sagg Pond watershed, to help people reduce their nitrogen footprint! Email Bruce to schedule a consultation today! This is a great opportunity to review on-site methods and best management practices that will restore the pond’s water quality. We can all become better stewards and safeguard the pond.

To learn more about the Trust’s efforts to revitalize coastal ponds contact Matt Swain, Director of Stewardship and Geographic Information Systems at MSwain@PeconicLandTrust.org.