Widow’s Hole Preserve

Unfortunately, erosion at the site continues at a disconcerting speed. The upland area of the preserve is overcome with invasive plant species. If left as is, the preserve is vulnerable to sea level rise and the impacts of future storms which are increasing due to climate change.

However, with the help of our partners the Trust expects to slow down and reduce the loss of land in the future. The Trust is working with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County to restore this property to a healthy, natural state as a coastal maritime habitat.

Initial Work: Completed during the summer of 2016, this work involved making the property safer by cutting all exposed pipes and seawalls on the northeast side of the property to at least 4 feet below grade. This work was completed by Costello Marine.

Living Shoreline: In the Spring of 2019, the Trust with Cornell Cooperative Extension and with funding from the Peconic Estuary Program implemented a “Living Shoreline.”

Living shorelines use native plants and materials to protect the area rather than artificial shoreline hardening structures like bulkheads. Creating a “living shoreline” is critical to stabilizing erosion of our beaches and waterfront, an all-too-common occurrence due to the impact of climate change. Watch our webinar from February 11, 2021, to hear from three experts about their successful partnership to secure several local beaches using living shorelines.

Phase One: This phase included native habitat restoration, consisting of removing invasive non-native plants and planting a variety of native plant species. The Trust worked with Cornell Cooperative Extension on this restoration plan to reduce habitat fragmentation, provide foraging and breeding areas for wildlife, and protect water quality by reducing erosion and sedimentation and filtering out contaminants before they reach the waterways.

Phase Two (In Progress): During this phase, the living shoreline will continue to be improved, serving as a natural buffer for the impact of storms and runoff. Native plantings will provide erosion control and increased habitat. Also, bi-lingual interpretive and educational signs will be installed. This will allow for greater enjoyment and understanding of the preserve. Additional funding for this phase was secured in 2021 from the Regional Economic Development Councils Initiative.

Want to dive deeper into the Widow’s Hole conservation story? Check out the Story Map below created by Matt Swain, Vice President and intern Nicholas Potter. The Story Map includes more on the history of the site, the conservation story, and the restoration — including a video produced by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County on the installation of the Living Shoreline in the spring of 2019.