A More Informed and Engaged Public: A New Goal for Long Island Sound’s Future

Posted on June 10, 2025

In this article, Lilli Genovesi, an outreach specialist for the LIS Partnership, explains the importance of citizen engagement in restoring and caring for Long Island Sound.

photo by Hannah Doyle — Dolphins off the coast of New Rochelle in 2017. Photo by Patty Doyle.

Everywhere you look, Long Island Sound is showing signs of recovery. Decades of collaboration and commitment have led to cleaner waters, lower nitrogen levels, and healthier ecosystems. “Almost 20 years ago, a family friend told me stories about growing up and watching dolphins swim in the Sound,” recalls Rob Crafa, Waterfront Director at Maritime College, State University of New York, in the Bronx. “At the time, I never imagined we’d see that again—but today, and over the past few years, we’ve watched pods of dolphins return, along with thriving fish populations, diverse bird life, and even the occasional whale.” Stories like this are becoming more common, but the work is far from finished. In 2025, the Long Island Sound Partnership is taking a bold new step forward.

This year marks the release of the revised Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for Long Island Sound, and for the first time ever, the plan includes a major new focus: fostering an informed and engaged public. This forward-thinking goal recognizes that protecting the Sound is not only about science and policy—it’s about people.

The new goal outlines three key areas that will help deepen public connection to the Sound and expand who gets to be part of its restoration story: public access, education, and stewardship.

Expanding Access to a Cleaner Sound

One of the clearest signs of the Sound’s recovery is the improved water quality—and people are eager to enjoy it. Throughout 2023 and 2024, one of the major topics that came up at community meetings held by the LIS Partnership was a need for better access to the Sound. That’s why the CCMP now emphasizes public access as a priority, with a commitment to improving and enhancing places along the coast where communities can connect with the water. Whether through parks, boat launches, or walking trails, access to clean, safe, and welcoming shorelines supports both human well-being and environmental awareness.

Educating Across the Watershed

NYSG staff member and LIS Partnership Outreach Specialist Lilli Genovesi engages elementary school students from the Bronx Children's Museum during a Sound Stewards field trip at Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park. Students explored the Long Island Sound estuary, collected water quality data aligned with the Unified Water Study (pH, turbidity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and temperature), and identified marine life using a seine net—gaining hands-on experience in science, stewardship, and conservation. — Genovesi engages elementary school students from the Bronx Children’s Museum during a Sound Stewards field trip at Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park. Students explored the Long Island Sound estuary, collected water quality data aligned with the Unified Water Study (pH, turbidity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and temperature), and identified marine life using a seine net—gaining hands-on experience in science, stewardship, and conservation.

The CCMP’s education objective aims to reach learners of all ages—from students and teachers to non-formal educators and curious individuals throughout the watershed. By expanding access to resources, programs, and science-based information, this effort will empower people to understand the Sound’s unique ecology and their role in protecting it.

Building a Culture of Stewardship

Many people are looking for ways to get involved, and the stewardship component of the new goal creates more opportunities to take action. From beach cleanups to monitoring fish migration, the LIS Partnership is seeking ways to engage volunteers and community members with hands-on conservation projects, actions, and sustainable practices that make a positive difference. It’s about creating a pathway for participation inviting everyone to take part in conservation and stewardship.

A Sound Future, Together!

Lilli Genovesi with a sign celebrating New York Sea Grant's 50th anniversary in 2001. — Genovesi works for New York Sea Grant as an outreach specialist for the Partnership in NYC and Westchester. She’s seen here holding a sign celebrating Sea Grant’s 50th anniversary in 2021.

While the progress is worth celebrating, the challenges ahead—rising temperatures, sea level rise, and shifting habitats—require an informed and engaged public more than ever. The 2025 CCMP reflects this need by inviting broader, more inclusive partnerships and elevating the role of public involvement in conservation.

Through a vision of “learn more, love more, and do more” together, we can ensure that Long Island Sound continues to recover, thrive, and serve locals, visitors, and appreciators from across the country.