A Message from Save the Sound

covid
October 1, 2021
Below is a message from Save the Sound. Their work for the Long Island Sound is invaluable. 
Eelgrass Restoration in the Long Island Sound: Seed Collection
The first phase of the Long Island Sound eelgrass restoration project, seed collection, was completed on July 28, 2021. Scuba divers from Save the Sound’s Soundkeeper team and the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Eelgrass Program collected the seeds from a population of adult eelgrass shoots at Fisher’s Island. Eelgrass is an important seagrass and a building block for a healthy and abundant Long Island Sound. It provides a number of important ecosystem functions, including carbon capture and sequestration, shelter and foraging areas for young fish and invertebrates, food for migratory waterfowl and sea turtles, and habitat for important local species including flounder and bay scallops. For this reason, eelgrass meadows are one of the most biodiverse marine habitats in our region. Eelgrass once lined the bays and coves of the Sound, however, water quality degradation and coastal construction and hardening drove a 90% decline in eelgrass in the Sound.

Learn more about the effort to restore eelgrass here.

Soundkeeper Patrol Update: Culvert Mapping
Members of our Soundkeeper team have been working throughout the summer to map the culverts along the coastline of the Long Island Sound. Culverts, which are defined as structures that channel water past an obstacle into a waterway, can be found on the coastline of the Long Island Sound in the form of sea wall drainage, drainage pipes, larger culverts and municipal separate stormwater sewer system (MS4) outfalls. Knowing the quantity and location of these culverts is critical as it gives us insight into the amount of discharge and pollution entering the Long Island Sound in different towns. It also gives us a tool to educate the affected communities about pollution. With our survey data, Save the Sound can also cross reference culverts to make sure they are properly registered and permitted by the EPA.

Sea wall drainage and drainage pipes typically carry stormwater from residential lawns which can contain nutrients like Phosphorus and Nitrogen that are known to cause harmful algal blooms. Larger culverts frequently carry stormwater from roads and other impervious services which can contain all sorts of pollutants including trash and heavy metals. The outcome of this project will be an interactive map that can be used as a learning tool for communities as well as a scientific reference for environmental organizations along the Sound.

Hurricane Ida Response: Debris Removal in Blind Brook

As Ida blew through the region, she left a lot of flood damage and devastation in her wake. Coastal communities in Westchester County, where our New York office is located, were particularly hard hit and are still working to clean up the damage. Save the Sound responded to the call for help, removing debris that got trapped and was blocking Blind Brook in Rye, New York. The Blind Brook filled with debris during Ida when Rye and upstream communities were deluged with rain and suffered flooding. Local residents have been paddling and wading into the Brook since the storm removing the debris they could reach. Save the Sound sent a team up the river to get some of the harder to reach and heavier debris in the Brook. We encourage local residents to keep an eye out for upcoming clean up days including one planned for November 6 at Disbrow Park.

Funding Increases for Clean Water in NY

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has started her term with strong support for a cleaner, more sustainable environment for New York! Last week after surveying the damage from Ida, she announced an increase to the upcoming environmental bond act from $3 billion to $4 billion. Stay tuned for more information on how to support this important ballot measure in November 2022.

In the nearer term, Governor Hochul announced a new round of funding for communities to repair and update their wastewater and drinking water infrastructure - $600 million in grant funds that local governments can apply for. Learn more about accessing these funds at an informational session we are co-hosting with Assemblyman Steve Otis at the Jay Heritage Center in Rye on October 20th at 1pm.

Join Our Team! New Job Postings Available
Want to make a difference in the efforts battling climate change and stopping pollution of our precious natural resources in New York and Connecticut and around Long Island Sound? We’re hiring!

Save the Sound is seeking a Clean Water Advocate to join our dynamic, Westchester County-based Water Quality Team. Their advocacy will focus on communities with longstanding water pollution problems, with priority given to environmental justice communities, and on advancing legislative priorities that protect and restore Long Island Sound. In this role they’ll work with a variety of partners, from students and local advocates, to government and business representatives. See this position's details here.

Take a look at all of the positions currently available on our job postings page here.