Connecticut Congressional Delegation Applauds 1.7 Million in Federal Funding for Long Island Sound Conservation Efforts
(Hartford, CT)—Today, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation applauded $1,737,289 in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) to help improve the health and ecosystem of Long Island Sound by spurring efforts to reduce pollution, increase fish diversity and population and enhance greater understanding of Long Island Sound's ecology.
The funds will be used by local organizations and municipalities across Connecticut to support critical conservation projects that benefit the Long Island Sound. The EPA funding will be matched by each grantee.
"These federal dollars will help local organizations and municipalities make important improvements to benefit the Sound's resiliency and unique ecosystem. With climate change becoming an increasing threat to Connecticut's shoreline-- this funding, along with continued community efforts and advocacy, is needed now more than ever. We remain committed to fighting for the Long Island Sound on a federal level to ensure the Sound remains an environmental treasure, recreational destination, and economic powerhouse for years to come. Today's funding would not be possible without the advocates who work tirelessly to protect and preserve the Long Island Sound every single day," said the delegation.
The LISFF program combines funds from the EPA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This year, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont will receive 36 grants totaling $2.57 million. To date, the LISFF has invested $19.6 million in 416 projects.
A detailed breakdown of the funding for Connecticut is below, courtesy of the U.S. EPA's Long Island Sound Office.
LONG ISLAND SOUND FUTURES FUND 2018 PROJECTS
CONNECTICUT
A Fishway for Pages Millpond Dam (CT)
Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound
Project Area: Farm River, North Branford, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $249,947; Matching Funds: $250,000
Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound will construct a steeppass fishway opening 5.35 river miles and 4.25 lake acres of fish habitat for alewife, blueback herring and American eel in North Branford, Connecticut. The project will complete the restoration of this riverine migratory corridor to Long Island Sound for the first time in 300 years.
Hepburn Living Shoreline Project (CT)
Lynde Point Land Trust
Project Area: A 456 linear foot segment of coast on Long Island Sound east of the Katherine Hepburn Estate and west of the mouth of the Connecticut River, Borough of Fenwick, Old Saybrook, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $250,000; Matching Funds: $477,438
The Lynde Point Land Trust will construct a living shoreline along an eroding barrier spit on Long Island Sound in Fenwick, Connecticut. The project will provide protection for the nearby community and a 10-acre tidal marsh protecting from storms and rising waters.
A Fishway for the Railroad Pond Dam(CT)
Town of Berlin
Project Area: Mattabesset River, Berlin, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $250,000; Matching Funds: $147,800
The Town of Berlin will install a fishway at the Railroad Pond Dam in Berlin, Connecticut. The fishway will remove an impediment to passage and open a 12-acre pond and river for fish to pass to Long Island Sound including alewife, blueback herring, sea lamprey and American eel.
Planning for Two Fish Passage Projects in Southeastern Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound
Project Area: Whitford Pond Dam, Whitford Brook, a Mystic River tributary, Stonington, Alewife Cove Dam, Fenger Brook, an Alewife Cove tributary, Waterford, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $99,987; Matching Funds: $100,000
Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound will develop engineered designs for fishways at Whitford Pond Dam in Stonington and at Alewife Cove Dam in Waterford, Connecticut. The project will set the stage to provide 4.2 miles of access to spawning, rearing and refuge habitat along two riverine migratory corridors valuable to Long Island Sound diadromous and freshwater fish such as alewife, blueback herring, brook trout, American eel and American shad.
Shewville Dam Fishway Design Project (CT)
Eastern Connecticut Conservation District
Project Area: Shewville Dam and Shewville Brook, Ledyard, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $74,133; Matching Funds: $80,000
The Eastern Connecticut Conservation District will prepare an engineered plan for a steeppass fishway on the Shewville Dam and Shewville Brook in Ledyard, Connecticut. The project will set the stage for the installation of a fishway that will reconnect 4.3 river miles and 152 acres of lake for alewife migration to all historic upstream habitat along a river corridor of Long Island Sound.
Addressing the Problem of Microplastics in Long Island Sound Harbors (CT)
Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering and Institute for Materials Science, University of Connecticut
Project Area: Four Long Island Sound Harbors: Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and West Haven, and University of Connecticut (UCONN), Storrs, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $99,999; Matching Funds: $99,893
University of Connecticut will investigate microplastics and the impact of this type of pollution in the western Long Island Sound harbors in Connecticut. The project will develop a model monitoring program to assess the extent and impact of microplastic pollution on the water, sediment and oysters of Long Island Sound, educate approximately 100 government and public stakeholders about the problem, and develop management recommendations to address the problem around the Sound.
Disconnecting Downspouts and Connecting Partners in the West River Watershed (CT)
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven
Project Area: The east side of the West River from its northern border to New Haven Harbor, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $84,035; Matching Funds: $140,000
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven will install 1,000 square feet of Green Infrastructure improvements at residential sites in New Haven, Connecticut. The project will prevent 108,000 gallons of stormwater pollution annually from flowing into the West River and Long Island Sound.
SoundWaters Bioextraction Seaweed Farm (CT)
SoundWaters
Project Area: Greenwich and Stamford Harbors, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $38,307; Matching Funds: $31,534
SoundWaters will install a seaweed farm to bioextract pollution from Greenwich Harbor in Connecticut.The project willeducate students, teachers and the public about the benefits of bioextraction through seaweed aquaculture in the waters of Long Island Sound.
Bright Green Hartford: Residential Rainwater Management for A Greener, Cleaner and Healthier Hartford (CT)
City of Hartford
Project Area: City of Hartford, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $177,310; Matching Funds: $89,700
The City of Hartford will provide residents with green infrastructure tools including downspout diverters, rain barrels and street trees in Hartford, Connecticut. The project will reduce 1.8 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually flowing into the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound.
Community-driven Nitrogen Action Planning for Southeastern Connecticut Harbors and Bays (CT)
The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut
Project Area: Mystic River Embayment, Stony Brook/Frontal Fisher's Island Sound, and Pawcatuck River Embayment, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $40,862; Matching Funds: $40,862
The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut will develop a nitrogen action plan for harbors and bays in southeastern Connecticut. The project will identify and prioritize activities to reducenitrogen pollution entering southeastern Connecticut waters and Long Island Sound.
Developing a Natural Resource and Watershed Plan for New London (CT)
City of New London
Project Area:City of New London, Connecticut
LISFF Grants: $35,000; Matching Funds: $21,500
The City of New London will conduct an assessment of the current condition of the city's natural resources and watershed health. This project will develop a plan which provides a concrete vision for a sustainable and resilient urban shoreline community.
Water Quality Monitoring to Improve Fairfield County Waterways and Long Island Sound (CT)
Earthplace – The Nature Discovery Center, Inc.
Project Area:Belden Hill Brook, Deep Brook, Farm Creek, Muddy Brook, Pequonnock River, Pootatuck River, Pussy Willow Brook, Sasco Brook, Saugatuck River, and Silvermine River, Five Mile River Harbor, Norwalk Harbor and Saugatuck Harbor, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $74,493; Matching Funds: $59,594
Earthplace – The Nature Discovery Center, Inc. will conduct water quality monitoring to help improve 10 waterways affected by pollution in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The water quality data collected through this project will be used to inform local government actions to reduce sewage pollution into Long Island Sound.
Urban Oases: Community-based Education, Conservation and Outreach to Enhance Habitats around Long Island Sound (CT)
Connecticut Audubon Society
Project Area: City of New Haven and Town of Hamden, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $44,918; Matching Funds: $46,426
Connecticut Audubon Society will engage teachers, students and community members to enhance urban green spaces in the City of New Haven and Town of Hamden, Connecticut. The project will engage 12,000 people in local environmental education to increase the availability of habitat in urban parks and schoolyards for migrating birds and other wildlife.
Rain and Pollinator Gardens for Schools in the Connecticut River Estuary (CT)
Connecticut Audubon Society
Project Area: Essex, Deep River and Chester, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $15,443; Matching Funds: $12,014
Connecticut Audubon Society will guide student-led planning and installation of rain and pollinator gardens at schools in the Connecticut River Estuary including Essex, Deep River and Chester, Connecticut. This project will enhance existing schoolyard habitats, adding features that reduce 4,675 gallons of stormwater pollution annually while providing students and teachers with an example of sustainable conservation action for Long Island Sound.
Schooner Coastal Exploration, Stewardship, and Environmental Education about Long Island Sound (CT)
New Haven Land Trust
Project Area: Long Wharf Nature Preserve, Quinnipiac Meadows Nature Preserve and New Haven Harbor, New Haven, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $45,000; Matching Funds: $79,000
New Haven Land Trust will provide hands-on educational programming for underserved youth and families through summer camp, on-the-water programs, public education and outreach events, and school-based programs focusing on protection of Long Island Sound water and land resources in New Haven, Connecticut. This project will increase appreciation and awareness of and provide sustainable recreational activities to the Sound for over 800 people.
Stormwater Management Programs to Improve Water Quality in New Haven and Long Island Sound (CT)
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven
Project Area: Newhallville Neighborhood, New Haven, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $14,398; Matching Funds: $43,335
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven will develop classroom-based programs and community-based, volunteer-driven environmental events in New Haven, Connecticut. The project will educate local residents about how to reduce stormwater from their homes into the West River and Long Island Sound.
Engaging New Landscaping Professionals in Non-toxic Landscaping Practices for Long Island Sound (CT)
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut
Project Area: Goodwin College, East Hartford, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $44,937; Matching Funds: $23,200
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut will host two educational courses on non-toxic property management practices that reduce non-point source pollution entering Long Island Sound. This project will provide training for approximately 70 local landscapers in English and Spanish to help them transition to practices that decrease common fertilizer, phosphorous and pesticide used to reduce overall nitrogen pollution from entering Long Island Sound.
Sound Discoveries – Education through Exploration (CT)
Mystic Aquarium
Project Area: Mystic Aquarium, Denison Pequotesepos Nature Center and Avalonia Land Conservancy, Mystic, Connecticut
LISFF Grant: $8,651; Matching Funds: $5,973
Mystic Aquarium will host an experiential and hands-on environmental education program to immerse students and families in the habitats of Long Island Sound in Mystic, Connecticut. The project will increase knowledge about the natural resources of Long Island Sound and actions people can take to improve it.
CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK
Producing and Implementing a Community-supported Long Island Sound Blue Plan (CT, NY)
The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut
Project Area: Coastal communities in Connecticut and New York that border Long Island Sound
LISFF Grant: $44,986; Matching Funds: $51,904
The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut will finalize the Long Island Sound Blue Plan in Connecticut and New York. The project will create a community supported plan to protect marine life in Long Island Sound.
Partnering for Marine Debris & Trash Prevention and Animal Rescue around Long Island Sound (CT, NY)
Mystic Aquarium
Project Area: Mystic, New London, Norwich and Hartford, Connecticut; Fisher's Island, New York
LISFF Grant: $44,587; Matching Funds: $46,062
Mystic Aquarium will offer education and stewardship opportunities that focus on the impact of marine debris on marine species, engaging coastal and non-coastal community members in Connecticut and New York. The project will increase public awareness to reduce marine debris, trash and fishing gear from entering Long Island Sound.
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