Gathering on the Creek

We want to thank all of you who joined us at our gathering on Saturday July 19 and for caring about improving the health of Menantic Creek. A good time was had by all as we enjoyed hearing from Kate Rossi-Snook and Meg Larsen, visiting with each other and sipping wine and eating fresh oysters from Little Ram Oysters. 

WE ARE VERY EXCITED that, thanks to a generous board member, we have established a dollar for dollar matching fund drive of up to $5,000 to continue the work to install and build up oyster reefs in the creek.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 in total by September 1, 2025, to have Back to the Bays start work on a second oyster reef. We are well on our way to achieving this after the gathering!

• Please join us in this effort and contribute what you can – whatever you give will be matched up to $5,000.

• If you donate by check please mail it to, PO BOX 52, Shelter Island NY 11964

• If you want to donate by cash via Zelle you can do so from your bank account using the email info@menanticcreekkeepers.org

• MCKC is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, and all donations are fully tax deductible. You will receive an acknowledgement letter on receipt of your donation.

Please join us in this new and exciting effort as we work to establish a second oyster reef this season. 

Menantic Creek Water Quality Monitoring

Annual water quality monitoring in the creek continues. With the financial support of the Water Quality Improvement Advisory Board & the Town Board, our third monitoring station in the neck of the creek was up and running as of August 2024.

As of November 30, 2024 we removed the equipment for the winter months and resumed monitoring on June 1, 2025. We will monitor water quality through November 30, 2025. Check back for data reports soon. 

Back to the Bays – Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)

A pilot oyster reef was installed in Menantic Creek. Individual oysters were planted in the creek as part of CCE’s town shellfish harvest enhancement program. Many thanks to Kate Rossi-Snook for all of her hard work!

Please visit the Menantic Creek page on the Back to the Bays website for further information on Back to the Bays’ Shelter Island and specifically, Menantic Creek initiatives.  https://backtothebays.org/menantic 

Peconic Estuary Partnership (PEP) - Stony Brook Studies

Over the past two years, Stony Brook has studied oyster growth, seaweed, eel grass and kelp across various locations in the Peconic Bay and Menantic Creek. Oysters have done well but seaweed, eel grass and kelp have been unsuccessful in the Creek.  

Menantic Creek and West Neck Harbor Dredging

Suffolk County finished dredging in West Neck Harbor, Dickerson and Menantic Creeks this past winter. The dredging went into the creek to just past the boat yard near to one of our logging stations. We will evaluate any changes to water quality near this station as we get this year’s data.

Shelter Island Water Quality

Shelter Island Water Advisory Committee (WAC) meets once a month and continues to schedule information sessions to discuss water quality challenges. https://www.shelterislandtown.gov/

Thank you for your continued support of water quality initiatives in Menantic Creek.