About Our Association

The Fresh Pond Neighbors Association (FPNA) is a charitable 501 C(3) organization committed to the health of Fresh Pond, Shelter Island’s largest freshwater lake.

We actively partner with other community associations and the town to advocate for improving the quality of the water on Shelter Island.

Some of us live on Fresh Pond, but many others live elsewhere on Shelter Island and regularly spend time at the pond to swim, kayak, paddle-board, fish or photograph the egrets at sunset. We came together in 2016 after we noticed changes in the water quality, seeking answers. We joined the New York State Federation of Lake Associations in 2018. 

Spring through fall each year, our citizen scientists head out in kayaks and canoes to gather water samples as part of  the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program. We send the samples to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s laboratories giving us long-term data on the pond’s health that helps to guide our work. 

With the town and New York State, we co-sponsored a feasibility study to learn how  Fresh Pond can again be a clean and healthy ecosystem for year-round recreation.  By cleaning Fresh Pond from the bottom-up, we can permanently restore its health, safety, and natural beauty and improve water quality in the aquifer while removing nitrogen and other contaminants flowing through our pond into our creeks and bays.  

While this restoration program was getting underway, our association raised money for the town to hire lake managers to harvest decaying lily pads each year for mulch. In 2024, following our mid-July harvest, Fresh Pond’s clarity tripled and stayed clear for the summer. For 2025 we plan two “muck to mulch” harvests. Our early July cleanup/harvest removed ovar a ton of lily pads and algal mats so far. With your generous support we plan a follow up cleanup this year, tentatively August 5th and 6th.

In 2022, the town of Shelter Island engineering deparment working with our engineers developed full scale specifications and plans for a a long-term pond restoration. In Spring 2024 the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation approved those plans and granted permits. For 2025, we applied for and were awared a grant of more that a quarter of a million dollars from New York State, to which the town is contributing $32,500 and the Fresh Pond Neighbors are contributing another $32,500.

Our most important source of funding is you, Shelter Islanders who love Fresh Pond and see value in a healthy ecosystem and aquifer.

If you would like more information, please contact us at freshpondsi@gmail.com.

FPNA Officers

James Eklund, Peter Grand: Co-Presidents

Deborah Grayson: Secretary

Jerri Mayer: Treasurer

Erland Zygmuntovich: Officer at large

FUND RAISING/ORGANIZERS

Lucy Singh

Mustafa Singaporowalla

Jerri Mayer

Erland Zygmuntovich

Anne Danforth