RESTORE
STUMP
POND!

Join us in supporting the restoration of our cherished community park and pond.

In August 2024, a major storm caused Blydenburgh County Park’s Stump Pond Dam to fail. Stump Pond was the historic centerpiece of Blydenburgh Park in Smithtown, served as a vital community hub for over 225 years, offering premier freshwater fishing, kayaking, and scenic hiking trails. It was a popular destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts, supporting recreational activities and enhancing local property values.

Key aspects of what Stump Pond offered to the community include:

Recreation and Fishing: Known as a top freshwater fishing spot on Long Island, it featured largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, trout, and catfish, making it a popular, accessible spot for anglers and kayakers.
Park Centerpiece: As the main feature of Blydenburgh County Park, it provided scenic views and a tranquil environment for visitors.
Hiking and Nature: The pond was surrounded by trails that allowed for hiking along the water.
Historical Significance: Having been a staple of the area for centuries, it was considered a, "crown jewel" of the Suffolk County parks system.
Economic Impact: The picturesque, recreational value of the park helped boost property values in the Town of Smithtown.

Join us and raise your voice to continue the dam’s re-construction and stop various coalitions from stopping the project!

Compose Your Message

Legislator
County Executive Edward Romaine

The email below can be sent directly to Suffolk County legislators as written, but we encourage you to personalize the message and subject line to reflect your concerns.

Subject

Message

Dear County Executive Ed Romaine and Members of the Suffolk County Legislature, I am writing regarding the Stump Pond project at Blydenburgh County Park. Many of us in the community are *satisfied with the CEQ board’s decision* and want Suffolk County to move forward with a solution that *rebuilds the Stump Pond Dam and restores Stump Pond*. I also want to respond to several common claims being made in favor of leaving the site as a “free-flowing river” outcome: * *“Letting it run free saves money.”* The proposed work still involves major construction, engineering, and long-term management. Replacing a pond with an engineered wetland/river corridor is not “free,” and taxpayers remain responsible either way. * *“A free-flowing river is automatically better for everyone.”* Blydenburgh is a multi-use county park. Stump Pond has served families, hikers, paddlers, equestrians, birders, and anglers for generations. Eliminating the pond permanently changes the park experience and removes a resource that many residents actively use. * *Public safety downstream matters—and we appreciate the County addressing it.* I want to commend Suffolk County for including modern safety features and storm-related considerations in the project planning. With heavier rain events becoming more common, it’s critical that the final design continues to prioritize *managing peak flows and protecting downstream homes, roads, and private property*. Rebuilding the dam and restoring the pond—with today’s engineering standards—helps keep public safety at the center of this decision. * *We’ve seen this “free-flowing trail” result locally—and it failed.* In Oakdale at *West Brook*, the “restored river / free-flowing” outcome did not create a widely used public resource. Instead, it has become an overgrown, swamp-like area that many residents avoid and do not use the way they used the former pond. Blydenburgh should not be pushed into the same outcome. * *Losing Stump Pond increases pressure on other local freshwater fisheries—and their ecosystems.* Long Island has limited freshwater access. Removing a major, family-friendly public pond concentrates more visitors into fewer locations, increasing crowding, shoreline wear, and resource stress. That added pressure doesn’t just create conflicts—it can also *impact the health of those remaining fisheries*, from habitat disturbance and erosion to higher catch-and-release stress and overall ecological strain. We may not have the biggest seat at the round table, but we are taxpayers and park users — and our voices deserve to be heard. Suffolk County should prioritize an outcome that *rebuilds the dam, restores the pond, and preserves Blydenburgh as a multi-use park for the broader public*.

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Outdoor Voices LI Community Voices for Responsible Restoration.

RESTORE STUMP POND!

Compose Your Message

Your Information

Outdoor Voices LI
Community Voices for Responsible Restoration.

RESTORE
STUMP
POND!