Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds Work Group

Purpose

The Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds (CWHW) work group assists the Long Island Sound Partnership (LIS Partnership) Management Conference in effectively implementing the 2025 Comprehensive, Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) in terms of five key objectives: Nutrients, Watershed Health, Pathogens, Toxic Contaminants, and Marine Debris. The work group will consider, promote, and monitor the necessary planning, research, and implementation projects to improve watershed management as it relates to water quality in Long Island Sound and its embayments. The CWHW work group also facilitates progress by the sharing of information, techniques, and lessons learned across multiple boundaries, including all levels of government, academic institutions, and partner organizations. These activities often require the CWHW work group to coordinate with other LIS Partnership work groups on shared interests.   

Goal

Restore and maintain water quality in Long Island Sound and its watershed.

Objectives

• Nutrients: Reduce nutrients across the watershed to restore and protect water quality and mitigate impacts on ecosystem health in Long Island Sound and its embayments.
• Watershed Health: Improve the ecosystem health of Long Island Sound and its watershed through protection and positive land use practices.
• Pathogens: Reduce pathogens and increase monitoring to protect water quality and human health, ensuring safe recreational and commercial use.
• Toxic Contaminants: Research, monitor, assess, and support mitigation efforts on emerging and legacy toxic contaminants to reduce impacts on water and habitat quality in Long Island Sound.
• Marine Debris: Achieve trash free waters by increasing clean-up efforts and preventing marine debris from entering Long Island Sound.

Work Group Chairs

CT Co-chair

Kelly Streich, CT DEEP  
Phone: 860.424.3864
Email: kelly.streich@ct.gov

NY Co-chair

Hope Savercool, NYSDEC
Phone: 518.408.6178
Email: hope.savercool@dec.ny.gov

Meeting Dates

Meetings are held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. virtually and are open for anyone to attend. Please contact the co-chairs for more information on how to get involved.

• November 12, 2025
• February 11, 2026
• May 13, 2026
• August 12, 2026
• November 4, 2026