Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance (SCWA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization established in 2010. We obtained our 501c3 designation in 2015.  Our community effort brings together creekside neighbors, family, friends, community organizations and businesses to learn how to care for our creek, so that it is here for generations to come.Water quality is a local, even hyper-local issue that can be addressed with local solutions.  Please join us at our next Citizen Action Meeting to learn how you can help.

The Water People

Jim Elling, Vice Chair

Jim is a resident of northern New Jersey where he has a long track record of involvement in environmental and historic preservation issues. He has served on the Environmental Commission, Historical Preservation Committee and Ethics Board in northern NJ. He has worked with the Environmental Commission and the Rockland County Water Quality Committee as Vice-Chair.

In addition to his work at SCWA he is President of the Northern Valley Earth Fair in Bergen County. He has been a member of the SCWA since 2011 and helped build the Environmental Research Center in Ramapo Township, NY.

Jim is very passionate about the Creek and its surroundings and participates in many areas of what SCWA does, especially in coordinating the ”Trees for Tribs” program.

Larry Vail, Chair

Larry is a long-time resident of the watershed and brings a lot of experience to us in watershed planning and science. Larry is a member of the Orangetown Environmental Committee, a Director at the Tappantown Historical Society and a former member of the Orangetown Architectural and Community Appearance Review Board. 

Larry has been the point person for our Microbial Source Tracking project and our chemical testing projects. He frequently represents SCWA on Town planning and land use issues.

Robert Tompkins, Recording Secretary

Robert Tompkins has been active with SCWA since 2013.  Professionally he is a retired CPA with a Masters degree in Public Administration. Robert has held middle management positions in the public, non-profit and private sectors as well as being a small business owner. His work experiences include being a Senior Budget Analyst, Senior Administrative Analyst and an Accounting Manager in Southern California; with the MTA of Los Angeles County, and the cities of Santa Monica and Culver City. Robert is very passionate about the Creek and its challenges and is committed to improving water quality. He is also a leader in maintaining our relationship and cleanups of the creek and its banks and adjacent streets with Keep Rockland Beautiful. In addition, Robert serves on two committees of the Rockland Task Force On Water Resources Management.

Margaret Grace, Treasurer

Margaret Grace is a Piermont resident who has been in the group for many years. She is an artist with a healthy appreciation for the outdoors (her canvas) and the environment. She participates in many aspects of the group's activities, especially the water sampling and water quality programs.

John Abbatangelo, Member-at-Large

John is a professional engineer with expertise in water management. Prior to moving to Orangeburg he worked with the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and has now volunteered with environmental programs in Rockland County. He has published a study of sampling strategies for urban streams.

Laurie Seeman, Member-at-Large

Laurie is the founder and has been a long-time leader of the SCWA. As an outdoor educator and committed environmentalist, Laurie listened to her students who told her the grownups needed to do something about the pollution in the Creek. With her many connections up and down the Hudson River, she reached out to Riverkeeper to initiate testing by our dedicated group of citizen-scientists. Her insights and thoughtfulness continue to inspire out work.

Our Members

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. Our membership is made up of member of the community, Creekside neighbors, families, business partners, education partners, environmental organizations. Learn more about our Working Groups or All our welcome. Please join us. 

Recognition

• Rockland Country Club Foundation 2020 contribution for our environmental work protecting our water, our precious resource.

• 2016, 2017, and 2018 Orangetown Highways Department Creek Stewardship Award. Awarded for cleanup effort.
  

• 2014 SCWA recipient of a Citizen Science Grant to expand its citizen science program 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 - Click here to view article
  

• 2012 SCWA recipient of the 2012 Hudson River Watershed Alliance Hudson River Stewardship Award.