Save the Sound (CFE)

the long island Sound program uses citizen science, education, advocacy and on-the-water watchdog activities to protect and restore the health of long island Sound and its watershed. Last year the program coordinated the unified water study, an effort to monitor water quality with 23 groups in 40 embayments around long island Sound; published a report on long island Sound's environmental health; led advocacy and education efforts that resulted in an historic investment in long island Sound initiatives by the federal government; and significantly increased the visibility of our soundkeeper subprogram, which patrols the waters of lis to ensure pollution is stopped.

Endangered lands: the endangered lands program uses grassroots advocacy, education, policy and legal tools to ensure Connecticut's iconic lands are preserved and the forests that filter drinking water are protected. Last year the program educated thousands of new people about the effort to protect an 840 acre defacto wildlife refuge, including issuing the envision plum island report; continued a decades long battle to preserve 238 acres of forest abutting a nature preserve along the coastline of connecitcut; and worked to protect thousands of acres of drinking water lands in the colebrook, ct area and throughout ct water's territory.

Ecological restoration: the ecological restoration program works with natural systems to create or restore the conditions for ecological and human thriving and resilience. the program does this by removing dams and restoring fish passage; installing green infrastructure that employs native plants to absorb and filter stormwater before it pollutes local waterways; restores marshland and constructs living shorelines to improve coastal resilience and reverse marsh loss, and engages the public in protecting water quality and wildlife through a robust cleanup program and other educational and volunteer opportunities. Last year the program hosted 41 in-person cleanups and many more virtual cleanups; completed a fishway on the farm river in north branford, ct to ensure fish passage over a 323-year old dam; advanced plans for dam removals on the norwalk river and fenger brook in ct, and the nissequogue river in ny; and began the design and permitting process for green infrastructure projects in new haven and hamden, ct. the program also conducted fish and vegetation monitoring at prior dam removal sites, and worked with partners on watershed planning and educational programming in communities across the region.