About Us
Double Dune System
Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge has a unique double dune system, a habitat type that has been lost on much of Long Island due to development. In the spring and summer, the secondary dunes and swale display an impressive array of rare orchids, wildflowers and grasses.
Our Mission
Vision
Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex will preserve, manage, and restore some of the last significant natural areas for wildlife habitat, ranging from coastal systems, to native grasslands to mature forests. These habitats, present in nine distinct units, will support threatened and endangered species in addition to hundreds of species of migratory birds and other wildlife within the Atlantic Flyway.
Located adjacent to the nation’s major media center, the Complex is an ideal setting to increase public awareness, understanding and support of the National Wildlife Refuge System. We recognize that success is dependent on the Complex becoming an integral part of the community. We will work together with partners and local communities to protect priority wildlife-dependent recreational and educational opportunities. Through the use of the best scientific information and active habitat management, we will contribute to the fulfilling of the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System for future generations.
Refuge Purpose
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established to serve a statutory purpose that targets the conservation of native species dependent on its lands and waters. All activities on those acres are reviewed for compatibility with this statutory purpose.
The purpose of Amagansett is as follows:
- “…their particular value in carrying out the national migratory bird management program” (16 U.S.C §667b).
Our History
In 1902 a new Amagansett Lifesaving Station was built on this location and guarded the coast until its decommissioning in 1944. In 1968 the building was moved inland and the land was declared a National Wildlife Refuge by President Lyndon Johnson.