Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor welcomed a standing room only crowd to the Glen Cove ferry terminal on Nov. 18 for its annual fall meeting, an event designed to give residents a clear picture of the watchdog group’s ongoing work and the environmental challenges facing the harbor.
The gathering, titled Issues and Activities Affecting Hempstead Harbor, marked the first time the coalition held the session in Glen Cove after two years at the Bryant Library in Roslyn.
“We were thrilled with the turnout,” said associate director Lisa Cashman.
Here are three key takeaways from the event:
A year of major environmental gains
The coalition highlighted several core initiatives, including its award winning water monitoring program, which continues year round and is supported primarily through grants. The group publishes an annual report detailing water quality trends, partners involved in the work and data from dozens of testing sites across the harbor.
This year’s habitat restoration updates drew particularly enthusiastic responses. Cashman shared that the coalition has helped reseed roughly 1.7 million oysters in Hempstead Harbor over the past four years through a combination of community oyster gardening and a federal grant supported by Congressman Tom Suozzi.
The meeting also featured information about a new horseshoe crab monitoring program launched in partnership with regional scientists. Volunteers surveyed spawning beaches during full moon high tides in May and June, tagging the crabs so they can be tracked over time. During the peak night of the season, Cashman said monitors counted roughly 500 horseshoe crabs along the shore.
Advocacy key to protecting harbor
While the coalition is best known for its environmental science programs, Cashman emphasized the importance of another, less visible part of its mission: advocacy at the municipal level. Volunteers and staff attend local government meetings, track proposed development and monitor policies that may affect water quality or the long term health of the aquifer.
“There is nobody else that I know of that is attending municipal meetings, listening for things that would impact the harbor, reporting back and advocating,” Cashman said.
This work is increasingly informed by the coalition’s potable water sustainability reporting, which draws on data showing existing saltwater intrusion in the aquifer. Cashman said development proposals that appear routine to some residents can have significant consequences for water supply and environmental stability.
Community involvement is rising
The fall meeting coincided with the start of the coalition’s annual appeal, which supports the community funded portions of its work such as oyster gardening, horseshoe crab surveys and volunteer driven monitoring. Cashman said the organization has seen strong and growing involvement from residents across generations.
“This year we had more people show up for our International Coastal Cleanup than ever before,” she said. “From young to old, every generation is involved.”
Looking ahead, the coalition’s events committee is planning several programs for early 2026, including a second collaboration with marine biologist Fish Guy Photos after a popular fall session drew about 200 attendees. A retooled version of the Crawl for a Cause fundraiser is expected in March, followed by volunteer recruitment events in May. The biennial Summer Fest is also scheduled for June.
