Top federal and state environmental officials today announced 22 grants totaling in excess of $1.3 million to local government and community groups in New York and Connecticut to enhance the health and ecosystem of Long Island Sound.
The projects, which are funded through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, will open up seven miles of river for passage of native fish and restore 180 acres of coastal habitat, including lakes, ponds, and grasslands.
9 grants totaling $600,433 will be awarded to groups in Connecticut, leveraged by $532,130 from the grantees themselves, resulting in $1,132,563 in backing for on-the ground, hands-on conservation plans in the state.
This public-private grant plan pools funds from the E.P.A., National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S.F.W.S..
"We must take steps to ensure the health of Long Island Sound for future generations, especially because of the increasing environmental stresses caused by climate change. Vibrant, sustainable and resilient communities with clean water and healthy habitats are goals we must strive towards to make sure our children and grandchildren can enjoy Long Island Sound as we do today. The grants announced today represent active efforts to protect and restore the Sound, and therefore the community and economy. In addition, the grants solidify the continued involvement of all the community groups and local governments that are so crucial to the state and federal governments' efforts here," stated E.P.A. New England, Regional Administrator, H. Curtis Spalding.
"Long Island Sound is an amazing natural resource, which provides recreation and economic opportunities for millions of people," said Judith A. Enck, E.P.A. Region two Administrator. "These plans are smart investments that will enhance water quality and build resiliency in shoreline communities."
The Long Island Sound Futures Fund grants will reach in excess of 130,000 citizens through environmental and conservation programs, allow nearly 1.7 million gallons of water to be treated through water quality improvement projects, and leverage $2.1 million from the grantees themselves, resulting in $3.4 million in backing for on-the-ground, hands-on conservation plans in both states.
"The Long Island Sound and its waterways are among the state and nation's most precious natural resources. Since 2005, the Futures Fund has provided millions of dollars for hundreds of plans to protect and preserve this critical ecosystem, restoring valuable habitats, treating and cleaning polluted waters, and engaging and educating new generations of advocates and caretakers. These plans will help ensure that we can continue to enjoy the Sound's unparalleled beauty and benefit from vital role it plays in supporting our state and region's economy for centuries to come," stated U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Conneticut
"As a kid, I spent my summers on the beaches of Long Island Sound, so I know that Connecticut is defined by the economic and ecological power of the Sound. Today's $1.3 million Long Island Futures Fund grant, backing that I'm proud to have fought for in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, will support community plans along the coast that will make a real difference in continuing our progress towards cleaning up the Sound. The public-private partnerships funded by today's grant show our commitment to the health of the Sound and to ensuring that our children and grandchildren can enjoy it for generations to come," said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, Conneticut
"The Long Island Sound is a regional and national treasure, as well as a critical economic, recreational and environmental resource. The $3.45 million investment in these 22 programs along the Connecticut and New York shorelines will allow us to continue to enhance the health and vitality of the Sound. I am particularly excited about the funds that will be supporting the "Schoolyard Habitats: A Call to Action for Long Island Sound," "the Advancing Green Infrastructure from Pilot to Comprehensive Program," and of course, the Stratford Point Living Shoreline: Restoring Coastal Habitats to Maintain Resiliency and Function program."
"In addition, the new Comprehensive Conservation Management Project will help us build a more resilient and healthy Sound for future generations. As co-chair of the Congressional Long Island Sound Caucus, I will continue to fight for the backing needed to carry out the plan, and continue the restoration and protection of this ecosystem so Americans can continue to enjoy it for years to come," stated Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Conneticut
"The Sound has always been of special importance to the people and communities Connecticut and Long Island. It's where we live, work, and play and touches almost every aspect of our lives. Restoring the health of ecosystems, removing pollution, and increasing wildlife habitat are issues we're not going to be able to achieve in a year, or even 5 years; it's going to take dedicated long-term effort. That's why I am supportive of the NFWF Sound Futures Fund. We need the education and resources it provides to drive community involvement and ensure that the Sound is here for future generations to enjoy and protect. I believe we should all see ourselves as protectors of our wild, natural spaces" said Congressman Jim Himes, Conneticut
"One of the greatest environmental challenges facing our nation and its communities is the restoration and protection of highly productive estuaries," stated National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Vice President, Conservation Programs, Eric Schwaab. "The backing awarded today represents the Foundation's and U.S. EPA's continuing commitment, as well as the commitment of other federal and state partners, to restoration efforts that will enhance the health and living resources of Long Island Sound."
The Long Island Sound Study initiated the Long Island Sound Futures Fund in 2005 through the EPA's Long Island Sound Office and NFWF. To date, the plan has invested $14 million in 324 plans in communities surrounding the sound. With grantee match of $28 million, the Long Island Sound Futures Fund has generated a total of $42 million for locally based conservation in both states. The plans have opened up 157 river miles for fish passage, restored 1,024 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat and open space; treated 100 million gallons of pollution from ground and surface sources, and educated and engaged 1.8 million people from communities surrounding the Sound.
"We are pleased to support our conservation partners through this collaborative effort," said U.S.F.W.S., Northeast Regional Director, Wendi Weber. "These are diverse plans - from introducing youth to wildlife and the outdoors in their schoolyards and neighborhoods, to restoring the health of our rivers, coastal marshes, forest, and grasslands. But collectively, these plans demonstrate the connection between healthy ecological communities and healthy human communities. These types of local efforts will go a long way to create a more resilient coast."
"Connecticut DEEP is committed to its partnership with the Long Island Sound Study, and to working with our neighbors in New York as well as the EPA, and the U.S.F.W.S. to continue to preserve Long Island Sound one of our most valuable natural resources. This year $600,433 will support Connecticut plans to enhance water quality, restore rivers, grasslands and coastal habitat for native fish and birds, and educate and engage current and future generations of citizens to create resilient communities that use, appreciate and help protect Long Island Sound," stated Connecticut D.O.E. and Environmental Protection, Mike Sullivan, Deputy Commissioner.
Long Island Sound is an estuary that provides economic and recreational benefits to millions of people while also providing habitat for in excess of 1,200 invertebrates, 170 species of fish, and dozens of species of migratory birds. The Long Island Sound Study, developed under the EPA's National Estuary Program, is a cooperative effort between the E.P.A. and the states of Connecticut and New York to protect and restore the sound and its ecosystem. To learn more about the LISS, visit www.longislandsoundstudy.net. For full descriptions of the Long Island Sound Futures Fund Grants, visit http://longislandsoundstudy.net/about/grants/lis-futures-fund/.
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the NFWF protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded in excess of 4,000 organizations and committed in excess of $2.9 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.
More Information:
http://www.longislandsoundstudy.net
Plan Descriptions:
Clean Water and Healthy Watersheds - Connecticut
Plan Title: City-wide Green Infrastructure Siting, Installation and Training (CT)
Recipient: New Haven Urban Resources Initiative
LISFF Grant: $91,232 (EPA)
Matching Funds: $104,690
Plan Area: Newhallville Neighborhood and New Haven, Connecticut
Develop a tool to optimize location selection and train community members to install and maintain green infrastructure bioswales to treat 710,000 gallons of polluted stormwater annually to enhance water quality in New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.
Plan Title: Tracking Down Pollution Sources Impacting Water Quality in four Connecticut Rivers and Long Island Sound (CT) (#49483)
Recipient: Earthplace - the Nature Discovery Center, Incorporated
LISFF Grant: $44,557 (EPA)
Matching Funds: $40,212
Plan Area: Mill River, Sasco Brook, Norwalk, and Noroton Rivers, Western Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Conduct water quality monitoring and sewage track down surveys in 4 watersheds to help identify and support remediation of "point" sources of pollution to enhance water quality conditions in rivers that follow into the Long Island Sound in Fairfield County.
Plan Title: Developing a Project to Assess and Reduce Nitrogen in Saugatuck River Watershed Communities (CT) (#49517)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $64,980 (EPA)
Matching Funds: $48,235
Plan Area: Saugatuck River Watershed: Bethel, Danbury, Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton, Connecticut
Develop a Nitrogen Load Model assessment and reduction Project for the Saugatuck River Watershed. Plan will assess the feasibility, cost and effectiveness of techniques that represent the most cost-effective, rapid and greenest approaches to measurably reducing nonpoint source nitrogen loads into the watershed and Long Island Sound.
Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife - Connecticut
Plan Title: Stratford Point Living Shoreline: Restoring Coastal Habitats to Maintain Resiliency and Function (CT)
Recipient: Sacred Heart University, Incorporated
LISFF Grant: $148,753 (EPA, FWS)
Matching Funds: $80,000
Plan Area: Stratford Point, Lordship Peninsula, Town of Stratford, Connecticut
Restore woodland, meadow, and vernal pool at Stratford Point. Plan will restore the function and value of the 28 acre coastal ecosystem to add habitat structure for butterflies, resident and migratory birds, and other wildlife to feed, nest and take shelter in habitats of Long Island Sound.
Plan Title: Restoring Fish Passage on the Noroton River (CT)
Recipient: Connecticut Fund for the Environment
LISFF Grant: $150,000 (EPA, FWS)
Matching Funds: $156,927
Plan Area: Noroton River and Interstate 95 at Town of Darien and City of Stamford, Connecticut
Modify bridge culverts to restore 4.9 miles to fish passage on the Noroton River at I-95 between the Town of Darien and City of Stamford, CT. Plan will provide access to a riverine migratory corridor for fish including river herring to critical upstream spawning and nursery habitat of Long Island Sound and its rivers.
Plan Title: Fishway Rehabilitation at the Versailles Pond Dam (CT)
Recipient: Thames Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited
LISFF Grant: $22,000 (EPA, FWS)
Matching Funds: $22,402
Plan Area: Versailles Pond, Village of Versailles, Connecticut
Replace degraded components of the Versailles Pond Dam Fishway in the Village of Versailles, Connecticut. Plan will restore passage for anadromous fish to 1.75 miles and 65 acres of spawning and nursery habitat of Long Island Sound and its rivers.
Educating to Engage Sustainable and Resilient Communities - Connecticut
Plan Title: Creating a Network of Schoolyard Habitats to Engage Students in Conservation of Long Island Sound (CT)
Recipient: National Audubon Society, Audubon Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $34,993 (EPA, FWS)
Matching Funds: $46,935
Plan Area: Cities of Stamford and New Haven, Connecticut
Create and expand the network of schoolyard native wildlife habitats in New Haven and Stamford, Connecticut. Plan will provide critical bird habitat for migratory songbirds in urban areas using school grounds as outdoor living classrooms to engage students in hands-on conservation and to increase knowledge about and connection to Long Island Sound habitats and wildlife.
Plan Title: Sound Actions: Celebrate Long Island Sound through Community Stewardship (CT)
Recipient: Sea Research Foundation, Incorporated
LISFF Grant: $9,979 (EPA)
Matching Funds: $14,314
Plan Area: Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, Connecticut.
Host an event educating visitors about how to be a steward for the Long Island Sound and will conduct a community cleanup. The Plan will engage 6,500 people to take a pledge to enhance the health of the Sound and to pick up 400 pounds of debris.
Plan Title: A Student Urban Field-study of Water Quality and Species Diversity along the Long Island Sound Coast (CT)
Recipient: SoundWaters, Incorporated
LISFF Grant: $33,935 (EPA, FWS)
Matching Funds: $18,415
Plan Area: Cove Island Park and Boccuzzi Park, Stamford, Connecticut
Support a student-driven study and presentations comparing water quality and species diversity between 2 coastal sites--Cove Island Park, located on a coastal embayment in a residential neighborhood and Boccuzzi Park, located on a commercial harbor in Stamford, Connecticut. Plan will increase youth awareness about threats to Long Island Sound and skills to communicate information to increase awareness and participation among peers, public officials and community to maintain the Sound as a healthy ecosystem.
