Nantucket Land &
Water Council
Nantucket Land &
Water Council
Preserving the Health of Nantucket’s Environment and Community.
Mission
The Nantucket Land & Water Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving the health of Nantucket’s environment and community through the protection of the island’s land and water resources.
Vision
The Nantucket Land & Water Council (NLWC) is committed to continuing its efforts to preserve the island’s natural resources. Human health and quality of life are intrinsically connected to the health of our environment. The Nantucket community is entitled to a clean environment and abundant, accessible natural resources. The NLWC will invest in a strategy that supports the health and preservation of our unique land and our waters,
serving in the role of Nantucket’s Environmental Advocate.
Our strategy for achieving this vision is to pay attention, raise awareness and take action.
We Pay Attention
The Nantucket Land & Water Council is committed to the community through the protection of our resources (Committed To Community). The NLWC will:
- Identify and engage in existing and emerging issues including growth and development,
water quality, and climate change that impact the health of the environment - Establish environmental health as a key indicator of community well-being
- Monitor resources and share data relevant to the long term health of Nantucket’s
environment - Identify opportunities to protect natural resources while enabling public use
We Raise Awareness
The Nantucket Land & Water Council educates the public on environmental issues (Educating The Public). The NLWC will:
- Educate the public on the status of Nantucket’s natural land and water resources
- Promote solutions that support both environmental and community well-being including land use and development strategies
- Provide support and information about ameliorating impacts from climate change
- Research physical variables and policy focused questions that contribute to constructive community dialogue and decision making on environmental issues
We Take Action
The Nantucket Land & Water Council will intensify its longstanding efforts to advocate for the integrity of Nantucket’s natural land and water resources (Nantucket’s Environmental Advocate). The NLWC will:
- Promote and inform policy and practice that prevent or reverse damage to natural resources
- Oppose policy and practice that degrade or destroy Nantucket’s environmental health
- Support efforts to harness Nantucket’s natural resources to mitigate the impact of climate change
- Seek opportunities to preserve and restore Nantucket’s waters and open spaces through collaboration with other island entities
History
The Nantucket Land & Water Council (originally established as the Nantucket Land Council, Inc.) was founded by a group of impassioned, purposeful, pioneering individuals who cherished the island’s pristine natural setting and were troubled by increasing environmental degradation and loss of rural character. They saw a need and had a vision.
On August 5, 1974 the Articles of Organization were signed by the founders: George A. Fowlkes, Sidney H. Killen, Margaret P. Kelley, and the original Statement of Purpose was written and approved by the first Board of Directors on August 30, 1974. The 17 member Board included: Carl Borchert, President, Sidney H. Killen, Vice President, George Fowlkes, Vice President, E.V. Huggins, Secretary, Henry Kehlenbeck, Treasurer; Margaret LaFarge, Clerk and Assistant Treasurer, Paul A. Bennett, Dr. Mary F. Brown, Nancy A. Chase, Robert J. Dennis, K. Dun Gifford, Mrs. Hamilton (Virginia) Heard, Daniel F. Kelliher Jr, Margaret P. Kelly, Henry Koch, John F. Meilbey, Norma M. Minstrell, Dr. David B. Voorhees.
The purpose of the NLWC then and now is to astutely defend Nantucket’s natural resources– ground water, ponds and harbors, salt marshes, rare species, beaches, dunes and natural habitats. The founders also were offended that a few individuals were converting “owners unknown” land into personal gain. Therefore, from the outset, part of the NLWC’s mission was to be prepared to take legal action to shield undeveloped land from dubious claims and to protect it for public benefit.
Over the last fifty years, the NLWC has protected over 2500 acres of land with over 1,500 acres protected through our Conservation Restriction program alone. Of the additional properties which were purchased outright, most have now been conveyed to other Nantucket conservation groups, particularly the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and Nantucket Islands Land Bank, which are equipped to manage large tracts of land.
In addition, our incredibly dedicated staff has spent more than 25,000 hours reviewing proposals, writing letters, and commenting publicly on issues affecting our environment and natural resources. Through steadfast vigilance, thorough research, thoughtful analysis, determined advocacy, and impactful action, over the last 5 decades, we have built up an impressive roster of accomplishments.
Click HERE to view a timeline highlighting a few of our remarkable milestones.
Staff and Board
Board of Directors
Lucy Leske - President
Matt Liddle – Vice President
William Willet – Vice President
Laurel Ried Langworthy – Treasurer
Susan E. Robinson – Clerk
Matt Anderson
Susan Baer
Mary-Randolph Ballinger
William S. Brenizer
Michelle Carvin
Lucy Dillon
Thomas V. Farrell
Robert Friedman
Nancy Gillespie
Matt Haffenreffer
Evan Jones
Charles A. Kilvert III
Lucy Leske
Bob Lyons
Peter McCausland
Keltie Donelan McDonald
Alan Nathan
Annalise Nelson
Charles Platt
Amy Rowland
Carl H. Sjolund
Brooks Smith
Lars Soderberg
David Troast
Helen Weeks Peterson
Director Emeritus
Paul A. Bennett
Scientific Director
James W. Sutherland, Ph.D
NLWC Associates
Jen Garran, Chair
Leah Mojer
Chad Kilvert
Margaret Troast
William Johnson
Helen Weeks Peterson
Staff
Emily Molden–
Executive Director
RJ Turcotte–
Nantucket Waterkeeper
Michelle Whelan–
Development Director
Anna Day –
Communications Manager
Willa Arsenault –
Environmental Program Coordinator
