We are the oldest environmental organization serving the interests of North Fork residents.
Our Mission
To provide our members, our community and our representatives with the tools, experience, science and guidance necessary for them to make informed decisions about our people and our environment.
History & Highlights
2023
Hired Toqui Terchun, President, Greater Calverton Civic Association, as Riverhead Land Use Coordinator.
Participated with the Climate Smart Community ‘green teams’ of the 5 towns of the East End which coalesced town solid waste managers and engineers and a number of environmental nonprofits to effect and implement Food Scraps-to-Compost for the entire region.
Partnered with Town of Riverhead Community Development Agency and Engineering, along with Long Island Organics Council for approval to secure grants from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
2022
Celebrated 50 years.
Hired Anne Murray as Southold Land Use Coordinator, created monthly e-newsletter, implemented Repair Café events in Greenport and Riverhead, started working with Riverhead Town on food scraps program.
2021
Began water testing for Save the Sound, Supported limiting house size in Southold Town, started the “Eat, Sip, Buy Local” campaign to relocalize the economy.
2020
Quickly changed over to Zoom webinars for monthly programs when Covid-19 shut down public venues and continued presenting regular monthly programs; partnered with active Southold residents and Drawdown East End leaders to establish Food Scraps-to-Compost on 3 farms.
2019
Programs included PREP (Plastic Reduction and Elimination Program) with Erica Cirino, Beth Fiteni and others, continued Fall Native Plantings Challenge.
Introduced Project Drawdown to the North Fork community.
2018
Programs throughout the year included Organic Landscaping, Fall Native Plantings Challenge, Reducing Energy Costs with Lynn Arthur, Earth Day 5K.
2017
Celebrated 45 years of “Saving What’s Left”, started educational programs once or twice a month, continued PREP Program.
Started bringing civics together with a Riverhead-Southold Civics Association Roundtable.
2016
Hired Debbie O’Kane as Program Director, started the PREP Program – Plastic Reduction and Elimination Program.
2015
Supported Perfect Earth Project – eliminating toxic lawns.
Started Organic Lawn & Landscaping full-day workshops and tabling events.
2014
NFEC partners with the Sierra Club and others to advance a Suffolk County ban on one-use plastic bags.
2013
NFEC works within the Preserve Plum Island Coalition to protect both important jobs and an unique island ecosystem.
2012
NFEC works with residents to block proposed SCWA wind turbine at ecologically-sensitive Laurel Lake Preserve and planned to sit over public water supply.
NFEC teams with Group for the East End, Peconic Green Growth and community leaders to form North Fork Clean Water Action Group.
2011
NFEC teams with civic leaders and elected officials to stop commercial development on Sound Avenue.
1998
NFEC successfully campaigns for passage of Community Preservation Fund legislation, leading to over $1 billion for open space preservation.
NFEC buys offices at 12700 Main Rd, Mattituck.
1997-98
Riverhead issues stop work order to Maidstone Landing condo complex in response to NFEC’s evidence of illegal bluff clearing and excavation.
1990’s
NFEC helps preserve Fort Corchaug and Robins Island.
NFEC saves critical tiger salamander habitat at Kroemer Ponds, Riverhead from development as a shopping mall.
1980’s
NFEC leadership results in preservation at Orient Point and Hallocks Bay.
NFEC opens office at Mattituck Parks building.
NFEC works with Southold Town to address development pressures through passage of 2-acre zoning and the Farmland Preservation Program.
1980-82
NFEC leads fight to defeat proposed Jamesport nuclear plants and widening of Sound Avenue.
1972
NFEC founded by concerned Riverhead and Southold residents to fight the 500-acre Sound-front dredging project of Levon Corp., stopping mining of the Jamesport Hills.