Hauppauge Springs

The Hauppauge Springs in Long Island, New York are the freshwater headwaters of the scenic Nissequogue River. The Nissequogue is one of four rivers of Long Island and provides wildlife habitat for fish, waterfowl, mammals and wetland plant life. While the wetland portion of the Hauppauge Springs are technically protected under New York State law, the drier upland portions are not. John became involved in a preservation effort to help protect this surrounding undeveloped land as a buffer zone for wetlands.

1. Should development occur on the land surrounding the springs, the waters from cesspools and the runoff from plant fertilizers will inevitably find their way through the soil, into the groundwater and into the freshwater ponds and streams of the Hauppauge Springs. While it is easy to understand that the wetlands of the Hauppauge Springs should be preserved for its own sake and for that of the Nissequogue River, we must also be careful to preserve the dry upland areas in its perimeter to prevent contaminants form spoiling the purity of its waters.

2. The preservation efforts of the Hauppauge Springs began many years ago. John volunteered to carry the initiative further in 1999 when it met with Suffolk County officials and helped draft a proposal for preservation. He subsequently contacted the owners of the various parcels and they were agreeable to sell. He then organized the "Coalition to Preserve the Hauppauge Springs" which now has over twenty environmental and civic groups on its roster. In February of 2000, the Suffolk County legislature voted, unanimously, to approve funding for the purchase of the Hauppauge Springs.

3. Within the cooler freshwater streams of Long Island swim the small, camouflaged brook trout. These inland fish grow to about a foot long, have an earthen color that blends with the tannin-stained streambeds and weigh a little over a pound. Brook trout are found in the upper reaches of the Carmens River and have recently been spotted in water surveys in the Hauppauge Springs.

4. The freshwater from the Hauppauge Springs continues to flow up the Nissequogue and into Long Island Sound. Meanwhile, the Suffolk County Department of Real Estate had appraisals done on four privately owned parcels of the Hauppauge Springs. The landowners and members of the county discussed the county's offer. John helped bring the preservation initiative to the state level. To help raise funds for the effort a quilt was raffled at the Native America 2002 Holiday party.