Nancy Seligson Describes “The CAC Effect”

Nancy Seligson, who retired as NY Co-chair in December 2025, describes the effectiveness of the Long Island Sound Citizens Advisory Committee in advancing the goals of the Long Island Sound Partnership

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has always played an important role in advancing the goals of the LIS Partnership and strengthening collaboration across stakeholders. It has been my privilege to be a member representative of the CAC for over thirty years and the NY Co-chair for the past twenty years. Now more than ever, the CAC is indispensable to the on-going success and productivity of the LIS Partnership.  

As I step down from my NY Co-chair role on the CAC, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come. Thirty years ago, citizen voices and contributions to science were often overlooked or undervalued by the Partnership. Discussions were largely driven by existing federal and state budgets and competition between agencies and partners to secure the biggest share rather than collaborative decision-making for impact.

As funding fluctuated with the political winds, the CAC remained a steady voice working consistently to educate our congressional leaders and make the case for the critical need and national importance of cleaning up Long Island Sound. Our CAC membership ranges from very local site-specific organizations to regional and national nonprofits. Through our extensive networks and relationships, CAC members have significantly contributed to success of the Partnership at every level.

It has been such a pleasure to watch CAC members grow more sophisticated in engaging with their networks, the public, legislators, federal agencies, and LIS Partnership leadership. My NY Co-chair predecessor David Miller, along with CT Co-chairs John Atkin, Sandy Breslin, Curt Johnson and Holly Drinkuth played pivotal roles in strengthening communication, quantifying needs, drafting legislation, contributing to management plans, and securing attention and funding for the extensive work needed to restore Long Island Sound.

As the Partnership has grown in budget, staff and programs, the advisory role of the CAC has become increasingly integral to the success of the Partnership. Each year, the CAC provides a Priority Letter to the Management Conference outlining the most pressing needs for the upcoming year – now enhanced by input and guidance from the Science and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC). To further increase our collaboration and impact, we hold an annual joint meeting with the STAC to discuss science and implementation priorities.

Each year, the CAC travels to Washington D.C. to meet in-person with our congressional representatives sharing updates on successes, on-going needs and emerging issues critical to the LIS Partnership. Our fabulous CAC Policy Subcommittee actively tracks federal, NY and CT legislative sessions and our members work together to provide expert letters to agencies and lawmakers.

Recently, with our eyes on succession, we amended the CAC Bylaws to include four Vice Chair positions: two from NY and two from CT. The impressive level of experience, expertise and commitment of our new Vice Chairs gives me confidence that the CAC will continue to grow in influence and play an even more integral role supporting and guiding management of the LIS Partnership in the future.

I leave the CAC with a heart full of great feelings for the work we’ve accomplished together, the close friendships, the mentors and mentees, and the lessons learned along the way. From moments of laughter and exhausting meetings to the expansive knowledge and riveting science, the successes in all areas of LIS cleanup and protection – especially decreases in hypoxia, and seeing dolphins return to LIS – have kept me going.

Of the many roles I’ve had in my career, serving as CAC co-chair has been the most rewarding. Thank you LIS Partnership partners!