Operation SPLASH
The low-cost solution to waterfront pollution.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Long Island's south shore bays, waterways, and beaches are the unfortunate destination of debris from sources both on the water and on land. This pollution causes short- and long-term damage to our local natural habitats and poses severe risks to wildlife.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Bay Clean-ups
Bay Clean-ups: held from March through November, each season beginning with a county-wide event
Mill Basin Debris Trap
Mill Basin Storm Drain Debris Trap: Research, design and funding for a NYS award winning debris trap that stops over 200 barrels of street trash from entering the bays each year …This program is ongoing, with boat crews patrolling and removing trapped debris 2x a week. The results are quantified and reprted to agencies involved in public policy reform.
Ø Storm Drain Project: Instrumental in receivingmillions of dollars in grants to install over 4,500 water filter devices
'Drains to Bay' Decal Project
‘Drains to Bay’ Decal Project: Installed over 5000 decals in varied south shore towns, notifying citizens to stop street trash before it gets to the bays! This is ongoing, offering community action groups one-time projects for their members to perform in their own communities.
Ocean-Bay Water Exchange
Ocean Bay Water Exchange Project: Provide research and solutions to re-open inlets that were closed during the creation of Robert Moses State Park (Jones Beach). Re-opening these inlets will allow pollutants to flow out of the bays away from wildlife and recreational boaters and beachgoers.
Clean Marina Program
Operation SPLASH offers education programs at SPLASH Headquarters, marinas and safe boating classes. Boaters and marina operators join in training programs, where participants are instructed on current measures for pollution prevention as defined by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
NOAA defines the Clean Marina Program as an incentive-based, voluntary program that encourages marina owners and boaters to follow environmentally sound procedures. However, since 1990, when NOAA and the EPA standardized these regulations, there has been no "Citizen Education Campaign” to teach boaters and marina operators on Long Island how to put these procedures into effect.
"The goal of the program is to provide citizen education,” said Devorah Crupar of Operation SPLASH, "and to give boaters an understanding of how to enjoy our waters in compliance with the regulations.” These regulations focus on waste and sewage removal, correct handling of oils, metals and other dangerous contaminants and providing effective measures to limit the disruption to the natural environment of the bay.
In addition to working with marinas, Operation SPLASH is reaching out to safe boating classes. "These classes are the first step for new boaters in the community, and this training will teach them good environmental behaviors from the start,” said Captain Don Harris, 1st VP of Operation SPLASH.
This is particularly important now, as Long Island continues to recover from the ecological damage wrought by super storm Sandy. New resiliency plans include a focus on measures that promote a healthy ecology for the long term. Operation SPLASH believes that through educating boat and marina owners they can make a significant and continuing environmental impact.
According to NOAA, besides the positive environmental effects this initiative will have, there is also a financial benefit for marinas. In addition to reducing waste disposal costs and reducing legal liabilities, marinas that take part in this program will receive publicity through press releases and newsletters as they join the nationwide Clean Marina Initiative. To facilitate this goal, "a comprehensive training program just for marina owners and employees will kick off the season,” said Mindy Schanback, Operation SPLASH Clean Marina program coordinator.
Community Service Placement
provide work experience for community service, whether mandatory or volunteer based.
Unified Water Study Contributor
Water sampling of the embayments on the south shore of Nassau County and Western Suffolk. Sampling for DO, Turb, Chl-a, temp, etc.
Where we work
Awards
Envioronmental Group of the Year 2000
Freemason's
Stewardship Award- Mill Basin Debris Trap 2006
NYS Department of State
Enviornmentalist of the Year 2010
Sierra Club
Enviornmentalist of the Year 2010
Woodman of the World
Environmental Champion Award 2015
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 2
Annual Environmental Stewardship Award 2018
Town of Babylon
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of students educated through field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents, Children
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2022 numbers represent the 2022-2023 school year and are still in progress.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
SPLASH's goal is to be put out of business! We work to reduce the amount of debris in our bays and hope to eventually stop the issue altogether through community outreach and education.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategies include:
Marine debris removal efforts.
Advocacy and community outreach.
Education programming.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Operation SPLASH volunteers have removed more than three million pounds of marine debris from our bays, beaches, and waterways since our founding. Our volunteer crews consist of highly qualified and dedicated individuals. SPLASH is represented in every major community group to effect environmental change. We have 7 work boats in operation from March through November.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have a membership of more than 3,500 passionate people. They impact their families, coworkers and neighbors. We have crews cleaning up the bays from the Queens border past the Suffolk border. We speak in front of more than 2,000 people each year. Volunteers have removed more than three million pounds of marine debris from our bays, beaches, and waterways since our founding.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Operation SPLASH
Board of directorsas of 02/21/2023
Robert Weltner
Barbara Ludwig
Investment Banker
Dante Grover
Marine Trade Business Owner
James Jewett
Banking
Joe Pignataro
Architect
Maureen Bowie
Teacher
Rob Weltner
Retired
Gary Smith
Business Owner
Skip Zawrotny
Marine Trade Business Owner
Robert Hindley
Accountant
Beverly Visconti
Teacher
Pat Healy
Teacher
Paul San Paolo
Retired
Kim Weltner
Purchasing Agent
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data