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Nassau County
Soil & Water Conservation District
Working Together for Healthy Soils and Clean Water
Notice Board
The Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District will be hosting its next board meeting on
Friday, August 25th, 2023 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Nassau Hall 1864 Muttontown Road, Syosset NY 11791.
Please call (516) 364-5860 or email Derek Betts dbetts@nassauswcd.org for meeting information.
Soil and Water Conservation districts are local units of government that develop, manage, and direct natural resource programs at the local level. The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, which has been in existence since 1977, has been providing county residents assistance for over 40 years.
Please explore our website and consider becoming an active member of your District.
Newsletter
Contact us
Derek Betts
District Manager
dbetts@nassauswcd.org
Olivia Calandra
Conservation Technician
ocalandra@nassauswcd.org
Sean Rooney
Conservation Technician
srooney@nassauswcd.org
Tom Parisi
Conservation Technician
tparisi@nassauswcd.org
Trail Maintenance at Muttontown Preserve
Nassau County is home to countless preserves that serve as habitat and refuge for the native plants and wildlife that represent Long Island’s unique ecology. These preserves act as gateways for local communities by allowing access to untouched natural environments, and many organizations utilize preserves to host educational trail walks and promote environmental values and stewardship.
The Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District has been working to establish a system of trails in this ecologically unique county preserve.
Native and Invasive Species Education
Nassau County SWCD planted a Bat Box in Pond Park, Great Neck Estates as a part of our Native and Invasive and Native Species Education and Outreach Program.
Once established this will provide a vital habitat for our Long Island native Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus). Native bat species help control populations of mosquito, beetles and other pests, a single little brown bat can catch 600 mosquitoes in just one hour! Bats also play essential roles in native plant pollination and the dispersal of seeds.
A Day in the Life of a South Shore Estruary Reserve
A Day in the Life is a program organized by the South Shore Estuary Reserve focused on environmental education, community engagement and water-quality monitoring. Students will get the opportunity to collect water quality samples, learn about ecosystem services and engage with local flora & fauna.
After the field trip event, the data collected by student groups is processed and shared for analysis—an activity in which students are encouraged to participate in. This can range from tracking water & soil health throughout Nassau County to GIS analysis of the collected data.
Permeable Pavement
The Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation district helped install Permeable Pavement at the Bayville Community Center.
This project was made possible due to a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Permeable pavement allows for the infiltration of storm water and helps protect an area from flood damage.
Rain Garden Revitilization
Rain Gardens are essential in recharging underground aquefors, of which many Long Island residents use for water. A Rain Garden is designed to capture stormwater runoff and filter it as it enters the ground. It is imperative to clean this "first flush" as it carries the greatest amount of pollutants.
Raingardens are designed to improve the quality of the stormwater before it enters the groundwater or surface waters. A raingarden can be designed and constructed in various ways to best suit the need of the surrounding area, local aesthetics, or for educational purposes.
The Conservation District has designed and installed numerous raingardens across Nassau County through a number of partnerships and grant programs with plans to continue maintaining
Seeking Volunteers & Interns
Interested in protecting your local resources? Looking for a chance to give back to your community?
The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District is currently seeking volunteers to help implement various environmental projects. No experience required. Weekend opportunities available.