Long Island Sound reached a major milestone in water quality this year, with hypoxia, or low oxygen in bottom waters, at its lowest since the Long Island Sound Partnership began tracking the levels in 1987. That means fewer areas of the Sound were uninhabitable for fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals.
According to results from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s 2025 Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program, hypoxia covered a maximum area of 18.34 square miles (47.5 square kilometers) for the year between July 29 and July 31. Hypoxia, or low-oxygen, conditions persisted for 40 days, from July 14 through August 22, a shorter duration than in many previous years. Over the past decade there were only three other years where the duration of hypoxia was 40 days or less.
Scientists say these results reflect ongoing improvements in water quality, supported by decades of work by federal, state, and local partners to reduce nitrogen pollution through the Long Island Sound Partnership.
“This year’s historic decrease in hypoxia illustrates 40 years of amazing progress through the Long Island Sound Partnership,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci. “Dedicated efforts and investments by EPA, Connecticut, New York, and local governments have drastically reduced the amount of nitrogen pollution entering the Sound, resulting in smaller affected areas and fewer days of low oxygen.”
Improved oxygen conditions benefit the Sound’s ecosystems and the communities that depend on healthy waters for fishing, recreation, and coastal livelihoods.
Hypoxia happens when excess nutrients, especially nitrogen from wastewater and stormwater runoff, fuel algae growth. When algae or the organisms that eat algae die, they sink to the bottom where bacteria and other microbes feed on them, using up oxygen in the process. This leaves fish and shellfish stressed or displaced and, in severe cases, causes die-offs.
This year also marked the first test of a new Long Island Sound Hypoxia Forecasting Model. Developed with scientists from the US EPA, the model projected that up to 31 square miles of bottom waters could experience hypoxia, peaking around mid-August. The actual results showed a smaller and earlier event, roughly two weeks ahead of the forecast, but within the predicted range.
Tools like the Hypoxia Forecasting Model and the new Hypoxia Toolkit, a collection of educational resources, maps, and animations, help scientists, managers, and residents better understand what’s happening beneath the surface and what actions make a difference.
Residents in the Long Island Sound watershed can help limit excess nutrient runoff with simple actions such as reducing fertilizer use, cleaning up after pets, and keeping storm drains clear.
Learn more about hypoxia in Long Island Sound and explore the Hypoxia Toolkit at https://lispartnership.org/our-vision-and-plan/clean-waters-and-healthy-watersheds/reduce-nutrients/hypoxia-toolkit/.
CONTACT:Stephen Heverly, for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), 301-485-4370, sheverly@thehatchergroup.comJohn Senn, US EPA Region 1 (New England), 857-329-2447, Senn.John@epa.govCarlos Vega, US EPA Region 2, 212-637-3662, vega.carlos@epa.gov
Connecticut (December 2, 2025) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and partners today announced nearly $12 million in grants to organizations and local governments to improve the health of Long Island Sound and its wildlife populations. The grants will leverage more than $8 million in matching contributions from the grantees themselves, resulting in more than $20 million in total conservation impact for projects in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.
The 2025 Long Island Sound Futures Fund (Futures Fund) grants will support projects that:
Funding for the grant program comes from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Long Island Sound Partnership (LISP), with additional support from NFWF and The Zoetis Foundation.
“Estuaries and their surrounding lands and waters represent some of the most productive wildlife habitats and most economically important areas in the world,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “The Long Island Sound is the second-largest estuary on the East Coast and one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries. Its watershed stretches 16,820 square miles across five states, with more than 16,000 miles of rivers feeding fresh water into the sound.
“Sustaining the health of Long Island Sound benefits a wondrous assortment of wildlife while also ensuring prosperity for thousands of communities, large and small.”
The LISP initiated the Futures Fund in 2005 through EPA’s Long Island Sound Office and NFWF. The grant program has a strong history of making environmental improvements by supporting people and communities who value the Sound and take a direct role in its future.
Since its inception, the Futures Fund has invested $68 million in 688 projects. The program has generated an additional $87 million of grantee matching contributions toward these projects for a total conservation impact of $167 million. The projects have reduced 130,000 pounds of nitrogen from entering the Sound, restored 862 acres of fish and wildlife habitat, treated 212 million gallons of stormwater pollution, and engaged 5 million people in protection and restoration of the Sound.
“This year’s Futures Fund projects will support water quality improvements, habitat restoration, and other critical efforts across the watershed that are vital to protecting Long Island Sound,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. “Long Island Sound is a national treasure, and this funding exemplifies EPA’s commitment to supporting the economic and recreational benefits the Sound offers to millions of people.”
“EPA is proud to support conservation and restoration efforts in the Long Island Sound, working alongside our state and local partners,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci. “These practical projects not only preserve vital ecosystems but also help build a legacy of environmental stewardship for future generations.”
“The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) stands proudly with the Long Island Sound Partnership and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in welcoming another year of impactful Futures Fund projects across the Long Island Sound Watershed,” CT DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “In Connecticut, eleven distinct NGOs took home a total of 12 awards (Save the Sound was awarded two!) for projects ranging from riparian buffers to fish passage restoration, hands-on science programs to saltmarsh restoration, and a green roof. These are just a few of the ways that today’s grantees are embracing this funding opportunity to further the health of our resources and residents across the Long Island Sound Watershed.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said “DEC is committed to protecting Long Island Sound, one of New York’s most important natural resources, a vital economic engine, and a place cherished by communities along its shores. The Futures Fund supports projects that strengthen the Sound’s ecosystem by improving water quality, restoring habitats, and encouraging local stewardship, while reflecting a shared commitment with our partners at EPA, NFWF, and CTDEEP. DEC applauds the awardees for the meaningful benefits their work will deliver.”
A complete list of the 2025 grants made through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund is available here. See a list of quotes from elected officials about today’s grant announcement here. To learn more, please visit the NFWF Long Island Sound Futures Fund website or the LIS Partnership Long Island Sound Futures Fund website.
BACKGROUND
Long Island Sound is an estuary that provides economic and recreational benefits to millions of people while also providing habitat for more than 1,200 invertebrates, 170 species of fish and dozens of species of migratory birds. The grant projects contribute to a healthier Long Island Sound for everyone, from nearby area residents to those at the furthest reaches of the Sound. All 9 million people who live, work, and play in the watershed impacting the Sound can benefit from and help build on the progress that has already been made.
About the National Fish and Wildlife FoundationChartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. NFWF works with the public and private sectors to sustain, restore and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. Since its founding, NFWF has supported more than 7,000 grantee organizations and funded over 23,300 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of $11.3 billion. Learn more at nfwf.org.
About the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grants Every year, EPA awards more than $4 billion in funding for grants and other assistance agreements. From small non-profit organizations to large state governments, EPA works to help many visionary organizations achieve their environmental goals. With countless success stories over the years, EPA grants remain a chief tool to protect human health and the environment. Follow EPA Region 1 (New England) on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 1, visit the website.
About the Long Island Sound Partnership
The Long Island Sound Partnership, developed under the EPA’s National Estuary Program, is a cooperative effort between the EPA and the states of Connecticut and New York to protect and restore the Sound and its ecosystem.
Bioextraction is a process that uses living organisms like shellfish and seaweed to remove excess nutrients—especially nitrogen—from the water.
As shellfish and kelp grow, they absorb nutrients into their tissues. When these organisms are harvested, the nutrients are removed from the ecosystem, improving water quality and supporting healthier coastal ecosystems.
Learn more.
While long-term population trends in oysters in the Sound have not been definitively established, a number of organizations are actively working to restore and build new oyster reefs. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, City Island Oyster Reef, and Save the Sound are among the hands-on partners. The Long Island Sound Partnership, through its grant programs provides key funding support for reef restoration, shellfish-based water-quality projects, and community stewardship in the region.
By Erica Casper
This article originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of Wracklines, a publication of CT Sea Grant. View the entire issue here.
In 2003, the Long Island Sound Partnership launched a stewardship initiative to identify the most ecologically and recreationally significant places on coastal Long Island Sound. Experts and community members worked together to highlight 33 areas across Connecticut and New York that deserved special recognition and investment.
These places protect rare habitats, support threatened species, offer public access to the water and provide opportunities for research and education. Since then, the Long Island Sound Partnership has invested millions of dollars in protecting, restoring, and improving these areas.
I’ve been learning about the stewardship initiative since I started working for the Long Island Sound Partnership and Connecticut Sea Grant earlier this year. Each of the Stewardship Areas tells part of the story of Long Island Sound: how it supports both people and wildlife, how it has been shaped by history, and how it continues to change. Some areas I already knew well, such as Bluff Point, Harkness, and Rocky Neck state parks, longtime favorites of mine for spending time outdoors. I was unfamiliar with many others, however, and learning about them on paper sparked my curiosity to experience them firsthand. With that in mind, I recently visited four new-to-me Stewardship Areas in Connecticut: Norwalk Harbor, Charles Island, Barn Island and the Quinnipiac River. They all offered something different, some bustling, some remote, some surprising in their setting. Together, these areas showed me how diverse the Sound’s landscapes are and why they matter, while highlighting unique ways to explore and appreciate what makes Long Island Sound special.
Norwalk Harbor is a hub of activity, where recreation, industry, and conservation come together. Veterans Memorial Park and nearby Calf Pasture Beach provide easy access to the water and lots of options for spending time outside. Whether you’re launching a kayak, watching the boats, fishing from the pier, or just walking along the shore, the harbor invites people in.
Veterans Memorial Park spans 35 acres, with sports fields, paths and a boat launch. It’s open year-round from dawn to dusk. Calf Pasture Beach, one of the area’s most popular spots, offers sandy beach access, lifeguard-supervised swimming, and views of the Norwalk Islands. There’s also a skate park, concessions, and a small boat ramp for kayaks and canoes.
One of the harbor’s most notable features is its oyster industry. Norwalk has been a major source of oysters for generations. If you’ve eaten oysters in New England, there’s a good chance they came from here. That history is still alive in the working waterfront and the educational programs nearby. Oyster boats can often be seen from the beach, and there’s even a recreational shellfishing area there where people can harvest their own. When I visited, the beach was buzzing with energy. Walkers and joggers were enjoying the paved paths. Sailboats glided past in the water. Two summer camp groups from The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk were exploring the shore and combing through treasures captured by seine net pulls in the shallows. The excitement was contagious as the kids discovered pipefish, pufferfish, crabs, shrimp, and even a horseshoe crab. It was a great reminder that Norwalk Harbor isn’t just a place for recreation, it’s also a living classroom where people of all ages can learn about the Sound.
Charles Island sits just offshore from Silver Sands State Park in Milford. This 14-acre island is home to one of Connecticut’s largest breeding colonies of herons and egrets and has been designated a Natural Area Preserve and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Its dense woods and rocky shoreline offer vital nesting habitat for great egrets, snowy egrets, and other coastal birds.
Geologically, Charles Island is a tied island. It is connected to the mainland by a natural gravel bar that’s only exposed at low tide. It’s a striking feature that draws visitors out along the sandbar, creating a temporary bridge between land and island. But timing is everything. When I visited, I missed my window. The tide had already come in, and the sandbar was submerged. I hadn’t checked the tide chart ahead of time, so I couldn’t cross.
That said, the shoreline and boardwalk at Silver Sands State Park were still worth the trip. The beach is wide, with shallow water and lifeguards on duty during the summer. It’s an accessible place to walk, relax and watch birds overhead. If you’re planning to visit the island itself, though, planning ahead is important. The tides make all the difference, and visiting during nesting season (typically May through August) is discouraged to protect the birds. With a history that includes a tobacco farm, a failed hotel, and a 20th-century retreat center, Charles Island has seen its share of stories. Today, it’s a reminder that some of the Sound’s most interesting places are those that let nature take the lead.
Barn Island, located in Stonington, is the largest coastal Wildlife Management Area in Connecticut and one of the most ecologically diverse. Spanning over 1,000 acres, it includes salt and brackish marshes, intertidal flats, upland forests, a sandy beach, and even a rare sea-level fen. It’s a place where you can experience the full range of coastal habitats, all in one visit.
But Barn Island isn’t just a beautiful landscape. It’s also a vital research site. For more than 60 years, scientists have been studying its wetlands to better understand how marshes respond to sea-level rise and human activity. After misguided efforts in the 1930s to control mosquitoes by digging ditches to drain the marsh, restoration work began and continues to the present. That history has made Barn Island a rich case study for long-term ecological change.
When I walked the trails, I passed from shaded forest into open marsh, with the landscape shifting dramatically from one moment to the next. Dragonflies buzzed around, bees moved from flower to flower, and birds called in the distance. If I could use one word to describe it, I would say “peaceful.” Outside the trailhead is a parking lot and boat launch, offering access for paddling and fishing.
Barn Island offers something for everyone: scientists, birders, hikers, and anyone looking to spend quiet time in nature. It’s also a reminder that conservation takes time, and that places like this can teach us a lot about both change and resilience.
The Quinnipiac River Marsh Wildlife Management Area and State Park in New Haven anchor the Quinnipiac River Stewardship Area, offering nearly 900 acres of tidal marsh, floodplain forest, and upland habitat within an urban setting.
Designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, the marshes attract migratory waterfowl and provide habitat for threatened species such as the northern harrier and least bittern. The four-mile Banton Quinnipiac Trail winds through the floodplain, giving visitors a chance to hike, birdwatch, or simply experience one of the rare stretches of green space along the lower river.
This section of the Quinnipiac may not feel as remote as some other Stewardship Areas, but it highlights why urban access to nature matters. For local residents, the river provides habitat for wildlife and a daily reminder that green corridors and healthy waterways can exist even in the middle of a city.
When I visited, I followed part of the trail that began in New Haven. At times it hugged the river’s bends; at others it meandered upland. The sounds of birds and insects mixed with the constant hum of the nearby Merritt Parkway, nature and city pressed close together, separated in places only by a strip of forest and guardrails. Along the trail, I passed a woman with a fishing pole, hinting at quiet fishing spots tucked farther along the river.
These four visits, along with others I’ve explored, are just the beginning. There are still plenty of Stewardship Areas to discover, and each season brings new sights, wildlife and perspectives. Spending time at them is an easy way to connect with the Sound. Grab a trail map, pick a site, and see for yourself why these places matter.
Read the October 2025 Volunteer Newsletter for information about volunteer events in CT and NY in November and December of 2025. You can view a PDF here.
Read the August 2025 Volunteer Newsletter for information about volunteer events in CT and NY in September and October of 2025. You can view a PDF here.
Every spring, Seatuck Environmental Association leads the River Herring & Eel Survey, a community science effort to monitor the seasonal migration of river herring and American eels across Long Island and parts of Queens. Active since 2006, it’s one of Long Island’s longest running community science projects. Volunteers visit streams during peak migration (March–May) to record sightings, helping scientists track the timing, size, and location of these critical fish runs.
In Queens and the North Shore of Long Island, a region covering Long Island Sound, as well as the Sound Shore in Westchester, this work is done in collaboration with the Long Island Sound Partnership, where survey data informs habitat restoration efforts, identifies connectivity needs, and evaluates fish passage performance.
The survey is essential to understanding where river herring still return to spawn, often in fragmented or degraded habitats, if they are colonizing new streams, and the scale of their spawning migration. Volunteers are the heart of this project, providing the on-the-ground observations needed that help prioritize restoration sites and support initiatives like the River Revival Project, which aims to reconnect our rivers and restore fish abundance.
Thanks to targeted outreach and coordination by LIS Partnership staff (Jimena Perez-Viscasillas and Lillit Genovesi from NY Sea Grant and Sara Cernadas-Martín from NYSDEC/NEIWPCC), the North Shore stations, once overlooked rose to the top this year in both volunteer participation and number of observation events. This is a major milestone, especially considering that these sites continue to report few or no river herring sightings. The dedication of our volunteers, who return week after week even without fish in view, is what makes long-term recovery possible.
By the Numbers – 2025 River Herring & American Eel Survey
To thank these incredible citizen scientists, the LIS Partnership hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Event on July 26 at the Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay. Volunteers enjoyed kayaking, pizza, fish ID practice, a recap of this season’s findings, and special prizes for our top contributors. We’re very grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to support this survey. Your efforts are making a real difference!
Learn more or get involved at https://seatuck.org/volunteer-river-herring-survey/.
The article was written by Sara Cernadas-Martin, the New York State Habitat Restoration Coordinator for the Long Island Sound Partnership. Cernadas-Martin coordinates the volunteer survey for the LIS Partnership. She works for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation through NEIWPCC.
On Saturday, August 16, the Long Island Sound Partnership celebrated its 40th anniversary with three simultaneous events along the Sound in Connecticut and New York. Hundreds of community members came out to enjoy free boat rides, hands-on exploration, marine science activities, arts and crafts, and more.
Events were held at UConn Avery Point in Groton, Connecticut; SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx; and The Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay, New York. Each event was free and open to the public, and all featured boat rides on the Sound, a nod to the Partnership’s origin story, which began with a boat ride announcement 40 years ago.
Daily News article from Aug. 16, 1985
“On June 20, we marked the release of our new 2025 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan with an anniversary event for officials and partners, recognizing the progress we’ve made together,” said Maggie Cozens, LIS Partnership outreach coordinator and organizer of the Avery Point event. “But these August celebrations were truly special because they were for the public, inviting families and community members to experience Long Island Sound firsthand, learn about its importance, and join us in protecting it for the future. The response to this year’s events was outstanding. It shows how much people value Long Island Sound, and we’d love to build on that momentum by making these celebrations an annual tradition.”
Event Highlights:
Groton, Connecticut – UConn Avery Point
Connecticut Sea Grant hosted the event in Groton, where more than 200 attendees joined Project Oceanology staff aboard boats to explore Long Island Sound. On shore, families and community members interacted with Mystic Aquarium’s marine life touch tanks, visited science stations, created ocean-themed art, and enjoyed games on the lawn. A scavenger hunt encouraged visitors to travel from station to station, making sure they experienced all the activities.
Exhibits and programs were offered by a wide range of partners, including the CT National Estuarine Research Reserve, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, CT DEEP, Save the Sound, New England Science and Sailing, and the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District.
The boat rides proved to be the highlight for many, giving people a rare chance to see the Sound from the water, while the activities on land kept energy and excitement high throughout the day.
The Bronx, New York – SUNY Maritime College
Families boarded the Sea Lab 41 for a boat tour of the Sound and took part in oyster education activities, raffles, and an art workshop at the New York Sea Grant hosted event.
“The Bronx is a beautiful place to launch a boat trip,” remarked Lillit Genovesi, LIS Partnership Outreach Coordinator. “From the restored harbor, we could see the New York City skyline, SUNY Maritime, and the historic maritime community of City Island. It not only gets people to connect with the Sound by being on the water, these kinds of experiences show a different side of New York to people.”
Capt. Joseph Sullivan, SUNY Maritime, remarked about the improvements in water quality over the years. “When we used to teach the cadets boat handling drills 15 years ago, we would tell them to follow the prop wash, ‘It will look like root beer, but as we leave the East River it will turn the color of ginger ale.’ After all the work that has been done for the environment in the last decade it all looks like Sprite.”
Oyster Bay, Long Island – The Waterfront Center
New York Sea Grant and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation partnered to host the Oyster Bay event, where guests started the day with a community beach cleanup before heading out for boat rides aboard the historic Ida May. Fishing lessons, seining demos, and hands-on nature activities kept visitors engaged throughout the afternoon.
“It was just such a lovely community day, you could tell from people’s faces they were really having fun,” said Jimena Perez-Viscasillas, LIS Partnership outreach coordinator and organizer of the Oyster Bay event. “ We had folks learning how to fish from the dock, some birding, others using microscopes to look at samples from the beach, others making sock puppets of animals found around the Sound like river otters and ospreys, others getting in the water to seine and finding blue crabs and silversides…I think it’s not everyday people get the chance to do so many kinds of nature exploration by the water for free so it was an exciting event to be able to put together. At the end of the day, we had a lot of participants swing by the check-in table just to let us know how much they enjoyed it. It was really lovely!”
“When people experience the beauty and richness of Long Island Sound firsthand, they’re more likely to care about what happens to it,” said Erica Casper, LIS Partnership outreach support coordinator. “That’s why events like these matter. They’re part of how we grow a community of stewards who will help carry this work forward. Celebrating 40 years reminds us how far we’ve come and how important it is to keep working together for the Sound’s future.”
The LISCIF grant awards in New York were announced at Conscience Bay in Setauket
Members of the Setalcott Nation describing their project that includes planting native plants to restore the soil, waterways and natural habitat of the area and researching the feasibility of oyster hatchery at Conscience Bay.
Shahela Begum, LISCIF Program Director for Restore America’s Estuaries, announcing the 2025 awards.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) is pleased to announce the 2025 award recipients for the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF), a collaborative grant program with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Long Island Sound Partnership, formerly known as the Long Island Sound Study (LISS). Projects contribute to a wide range of Long Island Sound environmental, economic, and health benefits such as revitalizing waterfronts, increasing community access, building green jobs, green infrastructure to mitigate flooding, aquaculture, stewardship, STEM and place-based education.
In the second round of funding, organizations across New York and Connecticut submitted 27 Letters of Intent, with a total request of $2,420,516.67. Following recommendations from the interdisciplinary review committee, 20 applicants submitted Full Proposals, requesting a total amount of $1,864,103. LISCIF had up to $1,500,000 to distribute, with Restore America’s Estuaries selecting 16 awardees from various organizations, Tribal Nations, and institutions across the Long Island Sound region.
Additionally, Restore America’s Estuaries is excited to announce the continuation of LISCIF’s annual grant competition for an additional three years, providing $1,200,000 annually for each of the rounds. The next Request for Applications (RFA) will be made available in September 2025.
The following are the 2025 awardees: Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration, Setalcott Nation, Connecticut River Museum, Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed, Trust for Public Land, Save the Sound, City University of New York LaGuardia Community College, Mill River Wetland Committee, Interdistrict Committee for Project Oceanology, Guardians of Flushing Bay, Environmental Leaders of Color, Energy Justice Law and Policy Center, City Island Oyster Reef, and Bronx River Alliance.
“EPA is proud to help support organizations and projects that protect and restore Long Island Sound, which provides economic and recreational benefits to millions of people,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. “The partnerships forged through this funding are prime examples of how working together helps make for a better and cleaner environment.”
“EPA’s work on the Long Island Sound illustrates our longstanding commitment to restoring water quality with the support of local partners and communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “These awards help strengthen those partnerships and advance the agency’s goals to deliver clean land, clean air and clean water for all those who enjoy the Sound.”
“RAE is looking forward to a continued collaboration with EPA and the Long Island Sound Partnership to support essential projects in the Long Island Sound region that will result in healthier, stronger, and economically thriving community institutions,” said Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries.
Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American is the first pillar of EPA’s new strategic plan. By working with communities and awardees throughout the region, LISCIF funds help build capacity through job and skill development. RAE guides applicants throughout the grant application and project implementation cycle and ultimately, aims to support long-term success for recipients’ missions/goals for the Long Island Sound region.
“Extended funding allows for continued capacity-building trainings and supporting projects that ensure impactful and efficient use of federal dollars,” said Shahela Begum, LISCIF Program Director.
In consultation with Restore America’s Estuaries, an external panel of subject matter experts help to select projects based on their potential to address challenges faced by environmentally distressed communities within the geographic scope of the Long Island Sound estuary, managed under the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). As the newest CCMP was released by the Long Island Sound Partnership last month, projects are structured to support the objectives and goals of the CCMP.
Extended funding to LISCIF provides additional Annual Learning Exchanges focused on each state, providing more networking opportunities for award recipients, Tribal Nations, community organizations, municipalities, and institutions to come together and learn from one another. Funds support vital projects that contribute to a stronger and more resilient Long Island Sound.
For more information on LISCIF funding or upcoming events, please visit www.estuaries.org/liscif or direct questions by email to sbegum@estuaries.org.
The LIS Habitat StoryMap features seven habitats found in the Long Island Sound watershed:
Each habitat section contains general information, photo and video examples from New York and Connecticut, a discussion of habitat threats, and images of some of the plants and animals that inhabit each habitat. In addition, each section includes an original video from local environmental professionals highlighting phenomena observed there, as well as a potential educational activity for students, and additional educational resources to explore the habitat more in-depth.
The StoryMap also contains a glossary with relevant terms found throughout the tool and a conclusion section with links for students to explore how they can get involved in protecting local habitats.
There are two versions of this StoryMap: the Student Version and the Teacher Version. The main differences between them are that the Student Version contains information in a simple, bulleted format, and the Teacher Version contains more extensive information as well as linkages to NGSS. Note: the NGSS links contained in the StoryMap are for a middle school grade level. For elementary and high school NGSS, see the additional resources section below.
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