northwestallianceny@hotmail.com
Northwest Alliance History
The Northwest Alliance was first formed in the early 1980’s by a group of people whose goal it was to press for protection two large parcels of unoccupied land in the Northwest section of East Hampton, Long Island, The Grace Estate, and Barcelona Neck. The group, which consisted of Cathy and Tom Lester, Helena Curtis, Arnold Leo, and Stuart Vorpahl, among many others, succeeded in guiding the public acquisition of both parcels. The land acquisition provided protection of the western side of Northwest Creek and considerable expanse of the southeastern shore of Northwest Hhe Northwest Alliance was first formed in the early 1980’s by a group of people whose goal it was to press for protection two large parcels of unoccupied land in the Northwest section of East Hampton, Long Island, The Grace Estate, and Barcelona Neck. The group, which consisted of Cathy and Tom Lester, Helena Curtis, Arnold Leo, and Stuart Vorpahl, among many others, succeeded in guiding the public acquisition of both parcels. The land acquisition provided protection of the western side of Northwest Creek and considerable expanse of the southeastern shore of Northwest Harbor.
In 1993, the group responded to what appeared be a gradual degradation of the water quality in Northwest Creek in the years following the Brown Tides of the mid-1980’s. The extensive eelgrass beds that had provided the matrix for a vital marine nursery had all but disappeared and the overall vitality of the Creek was in decline. Using the name The Northwest Creek Task Force, the group successfully pressed for a resumption of dredging of the Creek inlet, which, it was hoped, would improve water quality by expanding the tidal flush of the Creek. Dredging was indeed resumed in 1995 and has continued approximately every three years since that time.
In 2003, the group reconstituted itself as the Northwest Alliance and has expanded its involvement in protection of the Northwest area. With participation in the meetings of the Community Preservation Fund Committee, the Harbor Management Committee of the East Hampton Trustees, and with membership in the Suffolk Country Vector Control Citzens Action Committee and East Hampton Citizens Action Committee, the group has become a voice in the local and regional discussion of environmental policy.
In 2007, The Northwest Alliance leadership, in collaboration with Town Board Member, Brad Loewen and ex Town Planning Department Head, Lisa Liquori, formed the Town chartered Northwest Comprehensive Coordinating Committee (NCCC) that has brought together all the governmental and private organizations with purview in the Northwest Creek area. Because of all the overlapping jurisdictions in the area, it became necessary to schedule regular meetings for identifying areas of mutual concern and coordinating solutions. Jim Matthews, who is also Chair of the Northwest Alliance, has chaired the NCCC since its inception.
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