Fresh, Original Version
Partners from EPA and States commemorate four decades of safeguarding and revitalizing Long Island Sound through a fresh Conservation and Management Strategy.
Breaking News: A Gathering of Giants to Propel the Long Island Sound to New Heights
Rye, N.Y., (June 20, 2025) - Under a brilliant summer sun, top brass from the EPA, New York and Connecticut, along with a plethora of allies, assembled today in Rye, N.Y. to cheer the progress made in revitalizing the Long Island Sound, herald a refresh for the Long Island Sound Partnership, and announce a bold new blueprint for the subsequent decade.
Join Administrator Lee Zeldin live as he extols the 40th Anniversary of the revitalization drive of the Long Island Sound Partnership and the inking of the comprehensive Conservation Management Plan.
At this momentous gathering, the EPA and state leaders reaffirmed their backing for the Long Island Sound Partnership's revised Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), the third since 1994. This latest plan is an ambitious 10-year vision to breathe new life into the Sound as a beacon for ecological, economic, and recreational prosperity. The Long Island Sound Partnership is the fresh new moniker for the Long Island Sound Study, born from Congressional legislation enacted in 1985 to undertake a single study to investigate, monitor, and evaluate the quality of the Sound's waters.
"The festivities today underline four decades of dedication to safeguarding the Long Island Sound," beamed Michael Martucci, EPA Region 2 Administrator**. "Our ability to achieve a cleaner waterbody and healthier ecosystems is a testament to the unity and resolve of our joint efforts."
"Today's celebration signifies a significant stride in the quest to safeguard Long Island Sound," stated Senator Richard Blumenthal. "As time goes on, it is crucial that we keep pushing for improved water quality, wildlife protection, and the preservation of the recreational activities that matter deeply to Connecticut residents. I'm steadfast in my pursuit of preserving this aquatic haven for generations to come."
"I'm mighty proud of the collective accomplishments of our regional powers—local, state, and federal—in attaining a momentous, multigenerational landmark: 40 years of commitment to protect and revitalize the Long Island Sound," asserted Joe Courtney, U.S. Representative. "The Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act, cosponsored in Congress by U.S. Representative Nick LaLota and myself, is an essential step to ensure ongoing support for the Long Island Sound."
"The stunning restoration of the Long Island Sound is one of the most impressive environmental triumphs in the last 50 years," declared Jim Himes, U.S. Representative. "By working hand in hand, government agencies, localities, and states bordering the magnificent waterbody have shaped this milestone. In the months ahead, our common goal should be to maintain and enhance the quality of the Sound, so this shared resource continues to serve as a playground, economic engine, and idyllic home for Northeasterners."
"For over three decades spread across my public service, I've focused on the cleanup of pollution adjacent to the Long Island Sound, reducing nitrogen emissions from sewage treatment plants and stormwater runoff, and rejuvenating shellfishing beds in our harbors," shared Tom Suozzi, U.S. Representative. "Since arriving in Congress in 2017, I've contributed to a 1,000% increase in funding for the Long Island Sound, and I applaud the EPA for their diligent work ensuring water quality improvement. Protecting and preserving the Long Island Sound, our 'National Park,' is a top priority and a shared responsibility, and I am encouraged by the EPA's commitment to revitalizing the Sound for future generations."
"The Long Island Sound is a national treasure," added Grace Meng, U.S. Representative. "It serves as a sanctuary to thousands of distinct species and migratory birds that are vital to our oceans and coastal ecosystems. For the past 40 years, the EPA and the Long Island Sound Partnership have worked hand in hand to keep this breathtaking waterway clean and secure, ensuring a better future for its wildlife and their habitats. I have long advocated for efforts to preserve this invaluable waterway and am proud to support this new conservation and management plan."
"Since its inception, the Partnership has achieved exceptional results through effective implementation of the CCMP," remarked Katie Dykes, Commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). "Connecticut's collaboration with New York State, EPA, and other federal agencies, education and research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and dedicated advocates and residents has resulted in successful reductions of nitrogen in the Sound. DEEP eagerly awaits continued coordination with the demonstrated ability of this partnership to tackle critical issues in the Long Island Sound."
Since its inception, the Partnership has reduced unhealthy levels of dissolved oxygen by half, restored 2,400 acres of coastal habitat, conserved an additional 8,000 acres, and reconnected 448 miles of rivers and streams. The Sound and its shoreline and watersheds teem with thousands of plant and animal species, while offering a rich recreational haven for boaters, fishermen, birdwatchers, and many more. Throughout the decades, the Partnership has launched many programs to protect the Sound and shoreline, such as habitat restoration initiatives, a Long Island Sound stewardship initiative, a seafloor mapping program, and the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, offering millions of dollars in grants to organizations and communities across the Sound's watershed in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
For more information regarding the Long Island Sound Partnership and to explore the CCMP, visit: www.LISPartnership.org.
