Montauk Pioneer - May 9, 2008 -

In 1930, a hole was blasted along the northern shoreline of what was then Lake Wyandanch, connecting it to Block Island Sound. Visionary Carl Fisher renamed this body of water Lake Montauk and the dream to turn Montauk into the "Miami Beach of the north" was given flight. On Star Island, Fisher built the Montauk Yacht Club and Star Island Casino. His efforts also produced Montauk Manor, Montauk Playhouse, the Montauk Downs golf course, and Montauk Tower. Eventually, Fisher's enterprise went broke during the Depression, but his legacy is still evident today, especially on Lake Montauk. After Fisher opened and dredged the lake, Montauk Lake replaced Fort Pond Bay as Montauk's main port. After WWII, Lake Montauk boomed with commercial and sports fishing, becoming New York's biggest fishing port. Charters out of Lake Montauk now hold 25 world records for biggest fish; including a 76 pound striped bass. All thanks to one man's dream!

East Hampton's Natural Resources Department has received a grant for $75,000 from the New York State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The Town is going to match this grant, producing a total of $150,000 towards a study that will explore the water flow into the lake, how pollutants can be circumvented or eliminated, and how the dredging that will take place in 2010 will affect the quality of the water. This grant requires retaining a consultant/contractor to assist in carrying out the tasks outlined in the grant. The Cornell Cooperative Extension will conduct the study under grant parameters.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension, or CCE, has a local chapter in Suffolk County. This organization was created in 1914 as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's land grant university system, providing continuing education to people in their homes and communities. The goals of CCE in Suffolk county are "to improve lives by strengthening families, building skills and confidence of young people, educating people to take action against breast cancer and diabetes, helping farmers and fishermen maintain economically and environmentally sound businesses," as stated on their website, counties.cce.cornell.edu. CCE strives to improve our local community by beautifying plant life, protecting Long Island shorelines and waters, and finding ways to control insects and other outdoor/indoor pests with minimal use of chemical pesticides. Cornell University is New York's land grant institution and one of the world's leading research institutions. The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County is designed to deliver services specific to local needs, yet is able to call on resources throughout the state and the country, thus giving the organization maximum ability to meet the grant goals.

Carl Fisher may have planted the seeds that made Montauk Lake the port it is today, it is because of local leaders like Larry Penny (Director of the Natural Resources Department) that community resources are taken care of appropriately. The Natural Resources Department was created in 1981 with the goal of monitoring and protecting local resources. Larry Penny has been the director since 1983. Following his lead and conscientious care, the commercial and sport fishing capital of New York, Lake Montauk, can continue to bring recreation and enjoyment for generations to come!