The Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance is 25+ members strong and we are actively working year-round to improve the health of the creek and natural surroundings.
We are an all-volunteer group dedicated to the protection and appreciation of our watershed. We are members of the community, creekside neighbors, families, business partners, education partners, environmental organizations.
• Water Quality Monitoring
• Advocacy at local level
• Watershed Planning
• Invasive Plant Control
• Tree Plantings
• Outreach to neighbors
…and a little bit of fun!
Calling all gardeners, educators, wildlife lovers, watershed neighbors and community friends.
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Calling all gardeners, educators, wildlife lovers, watershed neighbors and community friends. 〰️
Board of Directors
John Abbatangelo, Chair
John is a professional engineer with deep expertise in water management and environmental systems. Before moving to Orangeburg, he worked with the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, supporting conservation and water-quality efforts. Since settling in Rockland County, he has contributed his time and knowledge to a range of local environmental programs. John has also published research on sampling strategies for urban streams, and he brings a thoughtful, science-driven perspective to SCWA’s ongoing work protecting and monitoring the watershed.
Larry Vail, Vice-Chair
Larry is a long-time resident of the watershed and brings extensive experience in environmental science, watershed planning, and community advocacy. He serves on the Orangetown Environmental Committee, is a Director of the Tappantown Historical Society, and previously served on the Orangetown Architectural and Community Appearance Review Board. Larry leads SCWA’s Microbial Source Tracking, chemical monitoring, and watershed characterization projects, and he frequently represents the organization on land-use and planning issues.
Jim Elling, Director
Jim has a long history of leadership in environmental and historic preservation in northern New Jersey. Over the years, he has served on the Environmental Commission, Historic Preservation Committee, and Ethics Board, contributing to responsible development and community planning. He has worked closely with the Rockland County Water Quality Committee and currently serves as Vice-Chair of his local Environmental Commission. Jim brings institutional knowledge, civic experience, and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship to SCWA’s work.
Tom Brizzolara, Director
Tom has deep roots in both Orangetown and Norwood, NJ, where he serves as a Town Councilman and is actively engaged in regional civic life. Professionally, he is Director of Corporate Affairs at Orange & Rockland, where he focuses on community partnerships, regional outreach, and philanthropic initiatives. Known for his commitment to public service and strengthening local communities, Tom has long supported environmental and civic programs that promote sustainability, public engagement, and regional stewardship.
Laurie Seeman, Director
Laurie is the founder and longtime leader of SCWA. As an outdoor educator and committed environmentalist, she listened to her students who urged grown-ups to take action to protect the Creek. Drawing on her strong connections throughout the Hudson River region, she partnered with Riverkeeper to launch the water-quality testing program led by citizen scientists. Laurie’s environmental leadership has been recognized with the Rockland County Executive’s Environmental Leadership Award and an EPA Environmental Champion Award for her role in the Rockland Water Coalition.
Nate Mitchell
Nate Mitchell became Mayor of Piermont in 2026 and is a longtime leader in environmental planning, watershed resiliency, and community preparedness. A lifelong Piermont resident, he previously served on the Village Board of Trustees and Planning Board. As Chair of the Waterfrontw Resiliency Commission, he helped advance climate adaptation, flood mitigation, and watershed assessment efforts throughout the Sparkill Creek region. Under his leadership, Piermont achieved Climate Smart Communities certification and secured funding for the Village’s first Comprehensive Zoning Plan, recognized with a 2023 Riverkeeper Wavemaker Award.
David Kristiansen
David Kristiansen is a Piermont business owner and community supporter with an interest in environmental stewardship and watershed resiliency efforts throughout the Sparkill Creek region. Through his work and community involvement, he brings a strong commitment to local engagement, wellness, and supporting initiatives that protect and strengthen the Hudson River waterfront community.
Awards and Recognitions
2020
Rockland Country Club Foundation
2020 contribution for our environmental work protecting our water, our precious resource.
2016, 2017, 2018
Orangetown Highways Department Creek Stewardship Award.
Awarded for cleanup effort.
2014
Recipient of a Citizen Science Grant from the EPA / Harbor Estuary Program / New England Interstate Water Pollution Control.
2014
SCWA recognized as Watershed Group of the Month by Hudson River Watershed Alliance
2012
SCWA recipient of the 2012 Hudson River Watershed Alliance Hudson River Stewardship Award
Our Process
Science
We are citizen scientists. We work with other "water people" such as Riverkeeper as well as local academics to sample the water in the watershed. We work in partnership which includes training and education for our members and volunteers.
Outreach
We work with other not-for-profits in the area of the watershed around environmental and beautification projects (clean ups, green programs to manage run off, planting of trees as examples). In addition we work with a variety of departments of the Town of Orangetown and other municipalities in watershed
Policy
We actively follow policy that will affect the watershed and try to take an advocacy position that is underpinned by our mission. These policies can be local, county, state and federal. For example we have actively engaged the Rockland County Drainage Agency who are an administrator at a County level.
Our Work and Projects
Citizen Science: Stream Monitoring
Learn how to monitor the Sparkill Creek using methods and study designs consistent with Riverkeeper’s Hudson River and Community Science programs. Monitoring includes data collecting for:
Stream Life
Enterococcus (possible evidence of sewage in the water). This sampling program is in Partnership with the Hudson Riverkeeper Organization.
E-coli sampling within the NYS PEERS project.
Macroinverterbrate (Each different community of critters who live in the stream under the rocks tells us about the health of the water.)
Chemistry of water - Members conduct chemical monitoring in partnership with the County Citizen Science Program measuring nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and temperature.
Physical state of the creek - Assessment of creek bed, stream banks and surrounding
Community Education & Outreach
SCWA’s community outreach commitment means you will find us educating people at local libraries, street fairs, environmental events and other community gatherings.
Creek Clean-Ups - Join a Creek Clean-up. We organize two Creek Clean-ups a year between the months of May through October.
Water Sampling is a great way to participate in monitoring the health of our creek. 16 sampling sites have been identified. 5 teams meet once per month from May thru October to cover these 16 sites.
Our Sampling Partners include: Riverkeeper, EPA, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Dominican College, Rutgers University , Rockland County Soil & Water District.
Invasive Plants Removal - periodically. Water chestnuts are a particular recent problem.
Giving Baby Eels a Chance
The upstream trip on Sparkill Creek, which winds through western Orangetown to the Piermont Marsh, is a more challenging climb than most for little eels. The Hudson Estuary Program has installed an “eel ladder” for them in the creek. It’s made of plain old PVC pipe, with netting inside to help the eels get a grip and get over a dam. They’ll emerge into a bucket to be counted, recorded, gently transported upstream and released.
Sparkill Creek Volunteers can help to:
Count
Weigh
Record
Release
Trees for Tribs
Trees for Tribs engages volunteers in restoring streamside buffers through native tree and shrub planting. The program may provide qualifying landowners with free native plants, project guidance, planting plans, and technical support.
Riparian buffers—areas of trees, shrubs, and grasses along streams—are essential to healthy waterways. They help:
Filter polluted runoff and improve water quality
Reduce flooding and erosion
Stabilize stream banks
Support wildlife and biodiversity
Improve overall stream health
These natural buffers are often damaged by development, making restoration an important part of protecting our watershed.
The Water Chestnut
Water chestnuts are an invasive aquatic plant spreading in New York waterways. Because they are not native to North America, they have few natural controls and can grow rapidly across the water’s surface.
Why they matter:
Form dense mats that block sunlight
Reduce habitat for native plants and wildlife
Interfere with boating, fishing, and swimming
Spread quickly if left unmanaged
How the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance helps:
Volunteers remove plants by hand before they seed
Boats, canoes, and safety equipment are used in dense areas
Early removal helps slow the spread and protect the creek