Former Peconic Baykeeper Launches New Group

Kevin McAllister, who had served as the Peconic Baykeeper for 16 years prior to being terminated from his environmental advocacy position this past spring, is now moving forward with a new project.

Defend H2O, the nonprofit started by Mr. McAllister and two other local water advocatesGeorge Skip Tollefsen of Hampton Bays and Mike Bottini of East Hampton, the latter of whom is also an outdoors columnist for The Presswill focus on educating Long Island communities about water conservation and protection.

The ultimate goal of the new venture is to restore and protect the environmental quality of groundwater and surface waters on and around Long Island, according to a press release issued by Defend H20. It also notes that Mr. McAllisters priorities for the organization include promoting sewage management reform, enacting higher water quality standards, protecting wetlands, and stopping the utilization of the pesticide methoprene for controlling mosquitoes.

Its a continuation of my work in clean water advocacy, Mr. McAllister said during an interview on Friday. I have a good working knowledge of the conditions of the bays and state of our waters, and solutions that I believe would start to reduce the trends that we are seeing.

Mr. McAllister, who lives in Quogue, boasts 25 years of experience in environmental conservation consultation and advocacy. He holds a masters degree in coastal zone management and spent the past decade and a half as the Peconic Baykeeper, advocating for clean water along the south shore, including the bays and estuaries of the East End.

Mr. Tollefsen and Mr. Bottini will serve on the board of directors for the new organization, Mr. McAllister said, and help get the nonprofit up and running. Mr. Bottini has collaborated with Mr. McAllister for the past 15 years on environmental issues, and has worked with Mr. Tollefsen for even longer.

Over the past 50 years, I have seen firsthand the decline of our bays, Mr. Tollefsen said. We have to act now and make a stand against these causes locally. Kevin is our guy for this.

Mr. McAllister previously said he was fired from his longtime post on March 4 after the Baykeeper organization accused him of having a romantic relationship with his former development and communications director, Alexandra Millar, and for abusing alcohol on the job.

Mr. McAllister said this week that he still intends to challenge the decision to fire him, though he declined to elaborate on his plans. There is a process thats being pursued, he said. My termination is being challenged, but thats as [much] as Im willing to say.

Ms. Millar has not returned calls seeking comment.

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Former Peconic Baykeeper Launches New Group