South Street Preserve
About
Working with the Town of Brookhaven, the Trust purchased 15.7 acres from the Presbytery of Long Island on the south side of South Street in Manorville in 2023. The property was identified by the Town as a priority for conservation because of its location within the Special Groundwater Protection Area (SGPA) and its proximity to land owned by the Suffolk County Water Authority. Millions of Long Island residents rely on groundwater as their sole drinking water source and it’s important to preserve areas where water is filtered back into the ground.
This acquisition was funded through a $2.3 million Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) awarded to the Trust in December 2017 to implement a Regional Aquifer Protection Land Acquisition Program (RAPLAP). The Town of Brookhaven contributed 25% of the acquisition funds and transactional costs necessary for this project to close. This is the Trust’s fourth acquisition in the Town of Brookhaven using WQIP funds.
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In addition to protecting Long Island’s drinking water source, the preserve will be used for passive recreation, for example hiking and birdwatching, with potential improvements limited to a foot trail, placement of trail markers, and a trailhead kiosk.
Visitor Information
Access to South Street Preserve is limited while the Trust works on a site plan for the preserve.
South Street Preserve
South side of South Street, Brookhaven, NY 11719