Implement Resilience Initiatives

Implement initiatives to improve community resilience to flooding and other environmental challenges. 

Meeting the environmental challenges facing Long Island Sound communities requires these communities to implement resilience initiatives, engage in adaptive management, and coordinate regionally. Prioritization and implementation of initiatives should follow the PERSIST framework and provide the greatest benefits to both the environment and vulnerable communities. Engaging stakeholders at each step is essential to ensure these initiatives are effective and inclusive. 

Resilience initiatives include installing green infrastructure, creating living shorelines, implementing flood mitigation strategies, managing stormwater, and improving road-stream crossings. The Partnership will also work on removing stream barriers, restoring habitats (such as marshes and urban tree planting), updating policies, and revising zoning codes. In addition, the creation of new funding mechanisms, such as stormwater utilities, will support long-term resilience projects. 

Success will be measured by the implementation of 200 resilience initiatives in communities across the New York and Connecticut portions of the Long Island Sound watershed. 

Actions

• Increase community capacity to implement and manage sustainable and resilient initiatives. 
• Support the development and adoption of regulations, codes, and ordinances that increase community resilience. 
• Implement nature-based solutions to address flooding and other climate impacts while providing multiple benefits. 
• Implement priority infrastructure projects that increase community sustainability and resilience to flooding and other climate impacts. 
• Monitor, maintain, and adaptively manage resilience projects to ensure their long-term success. 

Programs