www.longislandsoundstudy.net October/November 2008 e-newsletter of the Long Island Sound Study (LISS)LISS News:
CT DEP Hypoxia report
Hypoxia, defined by LISS as dissolved oxygen levels in the bottom waters below 3 mg/L, occurred for 79 days in summer 2008, the longest duration of hypoxia that has been recorded since the CT Dept. of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) began monitoring water quality for LISS in 1991. The longest previously recorded event of 78 days occurred in 1993. From 1991-2008, the average duration of hypoxia in LIS is 56 days. Hypoxia this year is estimated to have ended on Sept. 19, while the latest ending date for summer hypoxia was Sept. 20, 2005. The total area affected by hypoxia this year is 180.2 square miles, making 2008 the eighth most severe year in terms of area, just below the average of 186 square miles. Visit CTDEP's water quality monitoring Web site for hypoxia maps and information on the effect hypoxia has on Long Island Sound.
Over $900,000 in Grants Awarded to 35 projects
Improving fish habitat, protecting environmentally sensitive lands, and providing poor kids with a chance to get out onto the Sound were some of the important projects that received grants through the 2008 Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant program. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the awards at a ceremony in Rye, N.Y. on Sept. 26. Local governments and community organizations were awarded a total of $912,000 in Futures Fund grants. Four grants were awarded for habitat restoration; five grants for planning and stewardship; five for education; three for improving water quality and three for conservation of native fish and bird species. Also, 13 small “small grants” (up to $6,000 for each grant) were awarded to increase understanding and appreciation of the Long Island Sound through community events and activities. To see project descriptions, visit Futures Fund awards.
Open Space Stewardship
The Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Open Space Stewardship Program (OSSP) encourages students to become “environmental stewards” by involving them in research projects throughout Long Island. This year, LISS has joined OSSP to coordinate research projects within LISS stewardship sites. Some projects that have already begun include surveying plant, macro invertebrates, and fish populations at Sunken Meadow State Park; examining wetland disturbance at Cedar Beach; mapping and removing invasive plants at Nissequogue River State Park; and examining the distribution and effects of invasive Asian shore crab populations at Flax Pond. For more information on OSSP, please contact Mel Morris or Larissa Graham.
Social Marketing Workshops
More than 100 people, representing many of Connecticut and New York’s top environmental organizations as well as municipal and state agencies, attended LISS-sponsored workshops in September to learn how to transform a public information campaign into one that encourages the public to change pollution-causing behaviors. The two workshops, one in CT and one in NY, were led by Jack Wilbur, a public information specialist at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, who is an expert on social marketing strategies.
|
| Soundwide Happenings  Back to top
Celebrate SENEME’ 25th Anniversary
The Southeastern New England Marine Educators (SENEME) association will be holding its fall conference at Project Oceanology in Groton, CT on Saturday, Oct. 18. The conference will celebrate SENEME's 25th anniversary, and will include silent and live auctions. To contribute an item, please contact diana.payne@uconn.edu. To present at the conference, contact Lauren Rader at lrader@oceanology.org. For information about attending, visit SENEME.
Hot Topics in Land Use
On Saturday, Nov. 1, the Connecticut Land Use Academy, a program of the Center for Land Use Education and Research (Clear) will be holding “Hot Topics in Land Use”, a conference in Berlin, CT for local land use decision makers, as well as professional planners, designers, regulators, and others involved in the field of land use. Conference sessions will expose participants to a wide variety of topics, agencies, and organizations relevant to today's challenges of planning their community's future. For more information, including an agenda and registration, call (860) 345-4511 or go to LUA. |
| Web Links
Climate Ready Estuaries
EPA's Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) has launched a new Web site designed to provide users with information about the importance of coastal adaptation to climate change. An online toolkit features resources related to coastal vulnerability, adaptation planning, smart growth, data and monitoring, and sustainable financing, serving a range of needs - from community members to coastal managers. Learn more at CRE.
EPA's "Adopt Your Watershed" campaign
To encourage stewardship of the nation's water resources, EPA's "Adopt Your Watershed" campaign challenges citizens and service organizations to join with the thousands of watershed organizations working to protect and restore valuable rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, ground water, and estuaries. Visit the Web site to search the on-line database of watershed organizations, opportunities to get involved in water monitoring, clean ups and restoration activities, and links to other resources. If your watershed organization is not represented, click on "Add Your Watershed Group" in the left hand sidebar to add your information. | | | Please note: This email message is being sent to subscribers of the Long Island Sound Study E-Newsletter. PLEASE DO NOT REPORT THIS MESSAGE AS SPAM. Unsubscribe or update your subscription at http://www.longislandsoundstudy.net/cgi-bin/list.htm |
|
Long Island Sound Study EPA Long Island Sound Office
888 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06904-2152 Phone: (203) 977-1541 Fax: (203) 977-1546
|
|
