The Southold Town Trustees, a body with authority established by the historic Andros Patent of 1676, are responsible for managing the town's underwater lands and adjacent critical habitats.
- They oversee more than 2,000 acres of underwater land and are crucial in safeguarding Southold's diverse ecosystems.
- The Trustees play a vital role in the town's history and continue to be a key part of its governance today.
- This includes regulating activities like construction, docks, and wetlands within a certain distance of the shoreline.