Contact: Nikita Joshi, joshi.nikita@epa.gov, 934-210-9347

PORT JEFFERSON, NEW YORK (Aug. 27, 2026) – Today, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Long Island and announced that EPA has named Nicole (Nikki) Tachiki the Director of the Long Island Sound Partnership, further delivering on commitments to protect the Long Island Sound. Tachiki will lead EPA’s work with federal, state, and local partners to restore and protect one of the nation’s most important estuaries.

During the visit, Administrator Zeldin highlighted the progress made in protecting the Sound and heard from stakeholders about the gains achieved since a new Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was signed in June 2025. The appointment underscores the Trump EPA’s commitment to delivering on its promises to safeguard the Sound.

“Growing up on Long Island, I saw firsthand what the Sound means to the families and communities that depend on it. Protecting it has always been personal for me,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “In Nikki Tachiki, we’ve found exactly the right leader to build on our momentum, someone with proven experience across EPA’s water programs and a real understanding of what’s at stake. Under the Trump EPA, we will keep delivering cleaner water, a healthier environment, and stronger local economies.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Director of the Long Island Sound Partnership,” said Nikki Tachiki, Director of the Long Island Sound Partnership. “Together, we have an opportunity to build on strong momentum, advance restoration projects, and protect this vital resource for future generations. I look forward to collaborating with our partners to help turn our shared goals into lasting results.”

“Nikki’s selection propels forward a flagship program that stands as a model for how powerful partnerships across federal, state, and local governments – along with stakeholders and the business community – can drive real progress,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci. “This EPA-led effort to restore Long Island Sound is a shining example of how EPA delivers clean water to communities across the country. And as every Long Islander knows, this collaboration is essential to protecting a vibrant Sound and fueling a thriving regional economy.”

“Restoration efforts in Long Island Sound are essential to ensuring clean water, thriving ecosystems, and strong local economies throughout New England and New York. The remarkable achievements resulting from this program demonstrate the value of strong partnerships and cross-regional collaboration,” said EPA Region 1 Administrator Mark Sanborn. “Nikki brings the experience and leadership needed to build on the program’s long record of success and deliver lasting results that protect the Sound for generations to come.”

Since 2019, Ms. Tachiki has served as the Strategic Planning Coordinator of the Long Island Sound Partnership with a focus on developing the organization’s Reports to Congress and leading the program through revisions of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. She previously worked in the Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Section as a drinking water specialist in 2021 and as its Acting Section Supervisor in 2024. She served as a special assistant to the Regional Administrator in 2022.

Before joining the New York City office, Tachiki served as EPA Liaison to the Pacific Island Territories and the Los Angeles Regional Water Board, focusing on water quality. She also supported the National Estuary Programs and previously worked with the National Audubon Society and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Tachiki received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Background
The Long Island Sound Partnership, formerly known as the Long Island Sound Study, was established in 1985. The partnership is among the first EPA National Estuary Programs. The Long Island Sound Partnership is a collaborative effort involving researchers, regulators, user groups, and other concerned organizations and individuals who work together to protect and improve the health of the Sound.

The EPA Long Island Sound Office coordinates the Long Island Sound Partnership Management Conference, creates a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, and ensures the CCMP goals for restoring and protecting Long Island Sound are accomplished. The goals of estuary programs restore environmental and economic health to areas around the country.

Follow EPA Region 2 on X, Instagram, and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

This news release was originally published on the EPA website on August 27, 2026.

Where does our rainwater go and what does it take along with it? This short video takes viewers on an educational journey through the Long Island Sound Watershed, exploring the hazards of stormwater runoff and the actions people can take to keep our waters healthy – from stream to Sound.

This video is intended to support educators, environmental organizations, and all others seeking to understand and explain the LIS watershed and the effects of stormwater pollution within it. It was produced by CT Sea Grant and NEIWPCC for the Long Island Sound Partnership with funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The Summer 2026 issue of Sound Matters highlights digitally based tools that were developed for our management partners, researchers, and communities.

Rob Johnston, an economist and director of the George Perkins Marsh Institute at Clark University in Worcester, MA, joined the Long Island Sound Partnership Science and Technical Advisory Committee this spring. In a Q and A with LIS Partnership staff, Johnston was asked about his interest as a social scientist in understanding the impact of fertilizer use on water quality, and in serving on the STAC, which advises the Long Island Sound Management Committee and includes over 40 scientists and environmental managers.

1. Hi, Rob. As an economist, I imagine you will be bringing a unique perspective to the STAC. I am interested in knowing why the committee should have a social scientist on board?

Environmental management requires managing people. Long Island Sound is influenced by a myriad of human behaviors. Improving the condition of the Sound and its watershed requires an understanding of those behaviors, why they occur, and how they might change under alternative future scenarios.

• You teach in central Massachusetts, but you have been conducting Long Island Sound research since 2018. What drew you to issues impacting the Sound?

I’m drawn to the Sound because of the opportunity to impact policies and programs that benefit people around the region. The ecosystems of the Sound and its surrounding watershed benefit millions of people every day. Yet people’s behavior jeopardizes the health of those ecosystems.

• Nitrogen is a nutrient that leads to algal blooms that harm coastal waters like Long Island Sound. Your research in our region involves collaborating with natural and social scientists to bring together data on the places where nitrogen on the land (such as what’s used in fertilizer) will most likely end up in the Sound (through conveyances such as groundwater channels or streams) with data on who is most likely going to fertilize their lawns and how much. Why is it important to make these connections, and how can it help in efforts to restore Long Island Sound?

Design and targeting of effective behavior change campaigns to reduce Long Island Sound nutrient loads due to lawn fertilizer require an understanding of both where fertilizer is applied and where those applications are likely to have the greatest impact on the Sound. Campaigns applied to areas where little or no lawn fertilizer is used can only have minimal impact on nutrient loads – because fertilizer use in those areas is already low. People’s willingness to change their fertilizer use also varies over different neighborhoods. These are human dimensions. In addition, nutrients from lawn fertilizer applied in some areas may be absorbed by wetlands or other natural systems before they ever reach the Sound. This is the biophysical dimension. By considering the human and biophysical dimensions together, we can identify areas where behavior change campaigns are likely to have the largest positive impact on the Sound.

• What do your neighbors think of your research?

They are supportive and intrigued by the idea that economics can be used to benefit the environment rather than harm it.

• Do you mow your own lawn?

Yes – I mow my lawn but do not apply fertilizer, herbicides or pesticides.

• You also worked as associate director of CT Sea Grant in the 2000s and participated in Long Island Sound Partnership committees when we were known as the Long Island Sound Study.  What changes (either environmental or management-related) have you noticed to the Sound since that period?

Many conditions in the Sound have improved since the early 2000s, with trends heading in the right direction. However, there is still work to be done!

LIS Partnership’s new Habitat Restoration Coordinator for New York

Juliana Merluccio is the LIS Partnership’s new habitat restoration coordinator in New York. She works for NEIWPCC in a position based out of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Division of Marine Resources in Kings Park, Long Island. She was recently interviewed by LIS Partnership communications staff for a Q and A.

• Can you briefly describe your job at NEIWPCC?

I’m an Environmental Analyst with NEIWPCC but I sit in a NYSDEC office as the Habitat Restoration Coordinator for the LIS Partnership. My role is to facilitate, coordinate, and track projects that fulfill the Partnership’s objectives under the Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife Working goal. This includes co-chairing the Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife Work Group which brings together a community of environmental stewards and restoration practitioners.

• You grew up on Long Island. How does the perspective of being a resident of Long Island affect how you see the work you do?

I actually grew up in the Bronx on Pelham Bay, well within the LIS watershed. I have friends and family on LI and the island has been my family’s summer vacation destination since I was a baby. Spending my summers swimming in the ocean and snorkeling in the bays inspired me to pursue a conservation biology career in the first place. Being able to apply my skills and knowledge to LI conservation is a very special full circle moment for me. Now being a full-time resident, I see my work as not only for the benefit to the environment but also to the people in my community.

• You’ve worked seasonally on a few different seasonal projects, including a stint in Washington in 2016. What drew you back to the east coast?

Yes, I spent quite a while on the West Coast. What drew me back was my family and friends but also the familiar places that I missed. I started to think about how I could apply what I learned in my jobs to the ecology and conservation on the East Coast. I started to think about and view my favorite environments and places differently. With every visit home I began to be more interested in the ecology, conservation, and protection of the places I loved, which had shaped my appreciation for the natural world. I started to wonder who was taking care of these places and I felt a strong desire to join the conversation community on Long Island.

• NEIWPCC has employees all over New England and New York, reaching the upper watershed of the Long Island Sound. What excites you about working and connecting with “NEIWPCCers” from other locations?

First and foremost, NEIWPCCers are a friendly, passionate, and welcoming bunch of folks. This is one of the main reasons I feel so lucky to be a part of this organization. Also, NEIWPCC is involved in so many aspects of environmental stewardship in ways that are different from the other organizations that I have worked for. For example, it trains and certifies wastewater treatment plant operators and staffs the Lake Champlin Basin Program’s Resource Room dedicated to environmental education. NEIWPCCers work on programs and projects that protect the environment while caring for people and communities. The focus on communities means that there are NEIWPCC resources I can share with my family and friends that directly benefit their health and wellbeing and that of the places they live, like the Long Island Garden Rewards Program.

• I know you’ve only been in your job for a few weeks (as of the publishing of this newsletter). What are some of the most pressing topics, or issues, in the Sound that you’re most excited to tackle?

I’m very excited to support restoration projects that improve the quality, quantity, connectivity, and public access of coastal habitats such salt marshes, eelgrass beds, and river corridors. With these projects it can be a challenge to plan, permit, and implement projects on the ground. The Partnership has the resources and expertise to help landowners, managers and communities take action to conserve and protect their lands and waters. I’m excited to support this by connecting landowners to resources, subject matter experts and funding opportunities.

• What’s your favorite type of habitat? If you could be any organism living in that habitat, what would you be?

Oh no, I dread these types of questions, I can never pick one. My fixation for the last few years has been on salt marshes, and I would love to be a diamondback terrapin at home in a thriving salt marsh!

Contact: Shahela Begum, Program Director, Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (RAE), sbegum@estuaries.org

June 3, 2026 – Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) is pleased to announce the 2026 awardees for the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF), a partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Partnership. Projects for this year’s round of funding address a wide range of environmental issues in the Long Island Sound, focusing on actions highlighted in the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan around the four themes of: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds; Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife; Sustainable and Resilient Communities; Informed and Engaged Public. Awardees seek to achieve economic and health benefits for the Long Island Sound, as well as increase public access to waterfronts.

In LISCIF’s third round of funding, 57 Letters of Interest were received from organizations in New York and Connecticut, requesting $4,807,421.24. Following recommendations from the review committee, 40 applicants submitted Full Proposals, requesting a total amount of $3,371.018.76. LISCIF has $1,200,000 to distribute for the 2026 round of funding, with Restore America’s Estuaries selecting 15 awardees from various organizations, Tribal Nations, institutions, and municipalities based on a project’s ability to address challenges faced by environmentally distressed communities within the geographic scope of the Long Island Sound estuary.

The following are the 2026 awardees:

1. African American Society #024
2. Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed
3. City as Living Laboratory
4. Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration
5. Energy Justice Law and Policy Center
6. Environmental Leaders of Color
7. Friends of Brookside Farm Museum
8. Harbor Watch, a Program of Earthplace
9. Hutchinson River Restoration Project
10. Khalipha
11. Metoac Indigenous Collective
12. Mill River Wetland Committee
13. Trust for Public Land
14. University Settlement Society of New York
15. Ward Melville Heritage Organization

“A healthy Long Island Sound is vital to its communities, economies, and ecosystems, said Leah O’Neill, Acting Director, EPA Long Island Sound Office and the Long Island Sound Partnership. “EPA is pleased to support these projects to address local environmental health impacts, improve water quality in the Sound and increase communities’ access to this treasured resource.”

Restore America’s Estuaries is also excited to announce the next round for Request for Applications (RFA) on September 1, 2026, for another $1,200,000. “RAE is looking forward to a continued collaboration with EPA and the Long Island Sound Partnership to support high-impact projects in the Long Island Sound watershed – resulting in healthier, stronger, and economically thriving communities,” 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 strategic plan. By working with communities and LISCIF awardees, funds are utilized to support projects in communities throughout the region, creating capacity through jobs and skills development. RAE guides applicants throughout the grant cycle and ultimately, aims for long-term success in their mission/goals for the Long Island Sound region.

LISICF projects are selected based on their ability to improve the Long Island Sound and to address environmental concerns within the region, providing healthy and safe waters for the millions who recreate, fish, work, or live along the shores of the Sound. These funds are used to support local communities by investing in jobs and training that contribute to a stronger and more resilient Long Island Sound.

For more information on LISCIF funding or upcoming events, please visit http://www.estuaries.org/liscif or direct questions by email to sbegum@estuaries.org.

June 6 is National Trails Day. For lovers of Long Island Sound, it’s another reason to explore and enjoy some of the Sound’s 971 miles of shoreline and places close to the shore.  

That’s because communities and organizations across Connecticut and New York are offering guided hikes and other nature-based activities around the Sound this Saturday (as well as Sunday). Many of these activities are specifically tied to National Trails Day, an annual celebration of the nation’s trails sponsored by the American Hiking Society.

In Connecticut there are over 200 hikes and other activities across the state, including nearly 20 at or near the coast. For example, the Long Island Sound Partnership is joining The Nature Conservancy, the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve, Connecticut Sea Grant, and others in sponsoring “Celebrate Rocky Neck State Park” on June 6 from 9 to noon. The event is billed as a “morning full of trail fun, including expert-led walks about the plans, geology, and habitats found at the park.” There are also going to be several kid-friendly activities, including a scavenger hunt, geocaching, arts and games, and crafts.

Other activities along Connecticut’s shoreline range from guided beach walks at Westport beaches, including Sherwood Island State Park and town beaches, guided hikes at West Rock State Park and Quinnipiac Meadows Nature Preserve in New Haven, a horseshoe crab walk in Madison, and an educational walk along a new multiuse trail in New London at Winthrop Cove.

Information on all the hikes in Connecticut is at trailsday.org, a website created by the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association, one of the primary sponsors for National Trails Day events in Connecticut.

There is no organized list of activities for New York. But here is a sample of activities you can enjoy this coming weekend, including two associated with National Trails Day.

• Bronx (Orchard Beach, June 6, 11-1 pm.) National Trails Day: Hike and Trail Maintenance. Explore the diverse ecology of Hunter Island and help in the maintenance of its nature trails. Click here for more information.
• Fort Salonga (Makamah Nature Preserve, June 6, 10 am to noon). Learn about health and tick safety while exploring the wildlife at the preserve. To register call or email the SCDHS Office of Minority Health at 631-854-0378/OMH@suffolkcountyny.gov. New York Sea Grant and the LIS Partnership are co-sponsors.
• Queens (Alley Pond Park, June 6, 10 am to 2 pm) Trails Day Alley Pond Adventure Course, Sponsored by the Friends of Alley Pond Park. Click here for more information.
• Rye (Marshlands Conservancy, June 6, 2026, 10 am – 11:30 am) Birding for Beginners. Learn the basics of birdwatching at Marshlands Conservancy. Bring binoculars. Click here for more information.

The special issue highlights the release of the print edition of the Year in Review and features news headlines from around the Sound and from our Partners.

Between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, the states of Connecticut and New York set aside a day to celebrate something many residents care deeply about: Long Island Sound.

Observed each year on the Friday before Memorial Day, Long Island Sound Day recognizes the environmental, recreational, and economic importance of the Sound. This year, Long Island Sound Day falls on May 22, just ahead of the unofficial start of summer, when beaches, boating, fishing, and waterfront activities begin ramping up across the region.

Why Long Island Sound Matters

Long Island Sound is an estuary of national significance that supports wildlife, recreation, tourism, commercial fisheries, and coastal communities throughout Connecticut and New York. Nearly all Connecticut residents live within the Long Island Sound watershed. Combined with New York, more than four million people live within the coastal boundary, meaning everyday actions on land can directly affect the health of the Sound.

Over the past several decades, investments in wastewater treatment upgrades, septic improvements, and pollution reduction efforts have helped improve water quality and reduce the severity of hypoxia, or low dissolved oxygen conditions in the water. Hypoxia can stress marine life and impact ecosystems in parts of the Sound.

While conditions in Long Island Sound are healthier today than they were decades ago, ongoing stewardship and restoration efforts remain important to protecting the Sound for future generations.

In Connecticut, Long Island Sound Day was established by the General Assembly in 1997, officially recognizing the celebration as an annual event. In New York, the day has been recognized for the past four years through annual resolutions by the New York State Legislature. The idea behind the day is to encourage residents to recognize, enjoy, and help protect one of the region’s most valuable natural resources. It also provides a special opportunity to highlight the ongoing work happening year-round to protect and restore the Sound through conservation, research, education, and community stewardship.

Long Island Sound Day Events

To mark the occasion, the Long Island Sound Partnership and partner organizations are hosting events focused on stewardship, education, and conservation.

Featured Long Island Sound Day events include:

• Beach cleanups in New York on May 16 and Connecticut on May 17
• A Horseshoe Crab Walk with Mystic Aquarium on May 16, where participants can help survey horseshoe crab populations and collect data used to monitor these important animals
• Long Island Sound Day activities at Mystic Aquarium on May 22, featuring hands-on educational activities with Long Island Sound Partnership staff

Read the 2026 spring issue of Sound Matters, the Long Island Sound Partnership newsletter. The spring issue highlights three projects funded through the the Long Island Sound Futures Fund – a coastal wetlands habitat restoration project, a conservation plan for a vital bird sanctuary on an island, and a community driven plan to protect and enhance the popular Bluff Point State Park. There are also links to announcements, including the new request for proposals for the 2026 Futures Fund grant program, news headlines, and partner websites.