Fact Sheet/Spring 2005 NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM I 987 by amendments to the restore, i =r Act to identify, protect nation traditional regulatory proaches t protection, environmental 3 NEP taraets a I range or issue gages local communities in the process. The program fo- estuary, but on maintaining the integrity of the whole sys- and biological properties, as well as its economic, recre- ational, and aesthetic values. * EPA Contact Johanna Hunter (617)918-1041 hunter.johanna@epa.gov ^Long Island Sound Office MarkTedesco (203)977-1541 tedesco.mark@epa.gov United States Environmental Protection t Agency New England Customer Call Center 888-372-7341 www.epa.gov/regionl/ eco/lis Long Island Sound What Makes Long Island Sound Special? Hong Island Sound is an estuary, a place where saltwa- ter from the ocean mkes with fresh water from rivers and the land. Long Island Sound is unique in that it has two connections to the sea-The Race to the east and the East River to the west-and several major rivers. Hhe Sound provides feeding, breeding, nesting, and nursery areas for a diversity of plant and animal life, and contributes an estimated $5.5 billion per year to the regional economy from boating, commercial and sport fishing, swimming, and sight-seeing. Why Does the Sound Need Special Attention? Hvlore than 8 million people live in the Long Island Sound watershed, and the associated development has increased some types of pollution, altered land surfaces, reduced open spaces, and restricted access to the Sound. ^-Despite improvements over the past 30 years, seri- ous problems remain, particularly hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen), which is caused by excessive nitrogen loading from sewage treatment plants and polluted runoff into the Sound, and the historic loss and degradation of fish and wildlife habitat. What are the Long Term Goals? > Meet GT and NY water quality standards for dis- solved oxygen by 2014. ^Restore 2000 acres of tidal wetlands and other coastal habitats and 100 river miles of migratory fish habitat by 2008. Progress/Goals for the Future What Partnership Progress was Made in 2002-2004? ^-Upgrades completed by the end of 2004, reduced sound-wide discharges from sewage treatment plants by nearly 28 percent from early 1990s. *-CT completed the first two years of its Nitrogen Credit Exchange program. HJSGS and NEIWPCG conducted three years of monitoring to identify sources and quantify loads of nitrogen from the upland states in the Connecticut River watershed. These collaborative projects are pro- viding information that will form the base for a nitro- gen management plan in the entire Connecticut River basin. Hocal, state and federal agencies worked to restore 175 acres of habitat, and 24 miles offish passage. Since its inception, the Habitat Restoration Initiative has restored 535 acres and6l miles of fish passage. Hn 2004, the Habitat Restoration Initiative published a coastal habitat restoration technical manual What Major Actions are Planned for 2005? ^-Funding for local implementation projects will be pro- vided through the new Long Island Sound Futures Fund, a cooperative effort administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. *-The LISS will re-evaluate needed nitrogen load reductions using updated modeling tools and monitoring data. ------- Long Island Sound Major Rivers County Lines Background * Getting Resources: With leadership from the Long Island Sound Congressional Caucus and sup- port from local environmental groups and the public, Congress passed legislation in 1990 establish- ing the EPA Long Island Sound Office with its own funding authorization, through which more than $35 million have been appropriated to support the program. Connecticut and New York have already spent millions to upgrade sewage treatment plants, controlpolluted runoff, and restore habitat, and also have committed to spend hundreds of millions more to complete the job. * Making Plans: In 1994, the LISS completed the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), which describes the major problems affecting the health of the Sound's ecosystem and the actions necessary to solve them, outlines a "phased" plan for reducing ni- trogen loads to the Sound, and recommends development of a regional habitat restoration strategy. >Setting Goals: In 1998, the LISS reached historic agreements to reduce human-caused nitrogen loads to the Sound from CT and NY sources by 58.5% by the year 2014 and restore 2,000 acres and 100 river miles of natural habitat by 2008. Efforts to meet nitrogen reduction goals were further strengthened with the approval of the LIS TMDL in 2001. >Measuring Progress: The LISS has provided funding for an ambient water quality monitoring pro- gram to measure changes in dissolved oxygen levels since 1987, and both states monitor sewage treat- ment plant effluent to measure changes in nitrogen loads to the Sound. * Getting Results: Since 1990, nitrogen discharges from sewage treatment plants in CT and NY have been reduced by more than 28%. Since setting habitat restoration targets in 1998, LISS part- ner agencies have restored 535 acres of coastal habitat and opened 61 miles of river for passage of anadromous fish. United States Environmental Protection Agency New England Customer Call Center 888-372-7341 www.epa.gov/region1 What Major Actions are Planned for 2005? (continued) *-The Stewardship Initiative will combine Geographic Information Systems data to identify priorities for land acquisition and protection, for increasing and improving public access, and for managing use conflicts around ecologically sensitive areas. KCT and NY will continue high priority habitat restoration projects. NATIONAL RE* «*¥!!¥? Who are the Partners? EPA New England • EPA Region II • EPA Long Island Sound Office • Connecticut Department of En- vironmental Protection • New York Department of Environmental Conservation • New York Depart- ment of State • New York City Department of Envi- ronmental Protection • USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service • New York Sea Grant • Con- necticut Sea Grant • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • U.S. Geological Survey • University of Connecticut • University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System • SUNY Stony Brook • Westchester County Department of Planning • New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission • Interstate Environmental Commission KConnecticut Department of Environmental Protection Contact: Paul Stacey (860)424-3728 paul.stacey@po.state.ct.us Note: EPA New England offers businesses and municipalities information and assistance to improve compliance with environmental laws and be better stewards of their local environment. 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