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Montauk

Stewardship Site

Background

Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program has been working to improve habitat and water quality in Lake Montauk since 2018 when efforts began to identify suitable locations to establish oyster reefs within this body of water to improve water quality, habitat, and enhance the local shellfish population. Initial oyster plantings were conducted off Star Island in 2019, and then in 2022 Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program partnered with a generous Lake Montauk resident who enabled a second oyster reef site to be established. Thanks to continued support from donors and local businesses, including Montauk Yacht Club, we have added Montauk to our network of Back to the Bays Stewardship Sites, enabling us to further our habitat restoration and water quality improvement initiatives, while providing engagement opportunities for the Montauk community.

Upcoming Events +
Stewardship Sessions

Calendar
Montauk Yacht Club x ArtSea Create & Sip: Clam Acrylic Painting
Sep 17
Montauk Yacht Club
Montauk Yacht Club x ArtSea Create & Sip: Clam Acrylic Painting
Montauk Yacht Club
Montauk Yacht Club

Become a Montauk Steward or Site Sponsor

3% Cover the Fee

Contributions at all levels will be directed toward our restoration at our Montauk Stewardship Site. Back to the Bays is an Initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, a registered 501(c)(3). Our EIN is 11-6081424 and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Recent Blog Posts

On the Water + In the Field Blog
Back to the Bays Marks a Milestone
Back to the Bays Marks a Milestone
2024 Impact Report
2024 Impact Report
Back to the Bays Midsummer Update 
Back to the Bays Midsummer Update 

View or download flyer

Current Work Underway

  • Oyster Reefs

    Oysters, considered a “keystone species,” filter water and form reefs that buffer storm surges, and create a complex 3D structure that offers critical habitat for many important species.

    These reefs, not intended for harvested, will continue to grow, improving water quality, restoring habitat, and enhancing the wild oyster population. 

    Learn about oyster reefs

  • Lake Montauk Oyster Reef

    Since the initial pilot planting in 2022, additional spat-on-shell oysters have been planted annually in Lake Montauk, totaling nearly 50 cubic ft. of shell holding 180,000 oysters!

    CCE staff continue to monitor the East Lake Drive Reef, which is thriving with fully grown adult oysters! Spat-on-shell oyster plantings have also been conducted in the waters off of Montauk Yacht Club, with plans to expand this reef as well.

    Learn about shellfish restoration

  • Stewardship + Public Outreach

    We have partnered with Montauk Yacht Club to provide marine education and public outreach to Montauk visitors. Future support will allow additional community engagement in shellfish and habitat restoration in Montauk.

    Contributions to this Stewardship Site will help support community Stewardship Sessions, future spat-on-shell oyster reef deployments, and other fun + educational events!

    Learn about our Stewardship Program

Thank you to our Montauk Stewardship Site Supports

In the News

In the News
Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide: A Trusty Companion on Land and at Sea- The Southampton Press
Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide: A Trusty Companion on Land and at Sea- The Southampton Press

The Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide was created by Back to the Bays staff Carolyn Munaco and Hazel Wodehouse. Carolyn painted over 250 species for the field guide and Hazel classified each organism and wrote all of the information about each species, as well as detailed descriptions of Long Island's diverse marine habitats.

Full Article

Biologists express renewed optimism for Peconic Bay scallops - WSHU Public Radio
Biologists express renewed optimism for Peconic Bay scallops - WSHU Public Radio

After multiple consecutive years of seasonal dieoffs among the bay scallop populations, a small subset expressing strong survivability has been documented. The CCE Marine researchers and hatchery team will be working to assess those genetics and is embarking on a series of spawns using those adults as broodstock.

Full Article

Scientists Scramble to Help Bay Scallops Survive Climate Change - Civil Eats
Scientists Scramble to Help Bay Scallops Survive Climate Change - Civil Eats

Researchers at Stony Brook University and CCE have joined forces and begun to selectively breed Peconic Bay scallops in an effort to help them resist the effects of climate change and restore their populations.

Full Article

New effort by Cornell Cooperative Extension fights for bay scallops’ survival - The Suffolk Times
New effort by Cornell Cooperative Extension fights for bay scallops’ survival - The Suffolk Times

A new project has been launched to ensure the long-term survival of the Peconic Bay scallop by shifting spawning from summer to fall at Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southold hatchery.

Full Article

Oysters: The Tums of Lake Montauk - The East Hampton Star
Oysters: The Tums of Lake Montauk - The East Hampton Star

East Hampton Town has given its blessing to a second spat-on-shell oyster reef restoration project in Lake Montauk, proposed by the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays program.

Full Article

Blog Archive

On the Water + In the Field Blog
Back to the Bays Marks a Milestone
Back to the Bays Marks a Milestone

2025 marks the 10-Year Anniversary of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays Initiative!

Read More →
2024 Impact Report
2024 Impact Report

Read our 2024 Back to the Bays Impact Report for a full review of the our 2024 projects and progress.

Read More →
Back to the Bays Midsummer Update 
Back to the Bays Midsummer Update 

Our Back to the Bays Team has been busy to say the least this summer! The majority of our fieldwork, and plant and animal care in our shellfish and coastal plant nurseries takes place during these warm weather months. And it takes a lot of hard work to keep everything thriving and growing.

Read More →
Celebrating Seaweed: Our Art and Awareness Event
Celebrating Seaweed: Our Art and Awareness Event

Back to the Bays is thrilled to share the success of our recent art and awareness event, This is Seaweed, hosted at Ashawagh Hall in East Hampton. The opening reception on July 19th was a remarkable evening, with a tremendous turnout and an incredible show of support for our Back to the Bays Seaweed Initiative.

Read More →