(AGENPARL) – lun 09 dicembre 2024 Issued: Dec 9, 2024 (11:30am EST)
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More than $12 Million in Grants Awarded to Improve the Environment of Long
Island Sound
New York (December 9, 2024) – Today, federal and state environmental
agencies and officials from New England and New York, including the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), announced 31 grants totaling more than
$12 million to organizations and local governments to improve the health of
Long Island Sound. The grants are matched by more than $12 million from the
grantees themselves, resulting in $25 million in total conservation impact for
projects in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York.
In all, these Long Island Sound Futures Fund (Futures Fund) 2024 grants will
support projects that improve water quality by preventing 1.7 million gallons
of stormwater and 190,254 pounds of nitrogen pollution from flowing into Long
Island Sound waters. The projects will also remove 11,975 pounds of marine
debris from the sound and support planning for restoration of 280 acres of
coastal habitat. The projects will reach more than 500,000 people through
environmental education programs that increase awareness of how to improve the
health and vitality of the Sound. Funding for the grant program comes from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Long Island Sound
Study (LISS), with additional support from NFWF and The Zoetis Foundation.
“Across the Long Island Sound watershed, the projects funded by these grants
will help lift up local communities and enable critical work to prevent
pollution and improve water quality,” said EPA New England Regional
Administrator David W. Cash. “These grants exemplify EPA’s longstanding
commitment to a healthy and prosperous Long Island Sound and we appreciate the
bipartisan support the Sound has seen over many years.”
“EPA’s commitment to the Long Island Sound Futures Fund reflects our
dedication to protecting and restoring one of our region’s most valuable
natural resources,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “By
funding these local projects, we’re not only improving water quality and
coastal habitats but also supporting communities in building resiliency
against climate change and ensuring equitable access to the Sound for
generations to come.”
The LISS initiated the Futures Fund in 2005 through EPA’s Long Island Sound
Office and NFWF. The grant program has a strong history of making
environmental improvements by supporting people and communities who value the
sound and take a direct role in its future. Since its inception, the Futures
Fund has invested $68 million in 673 projects. The program has generated an
additional $76 million in grantee matching funds toward these projects for a
total conservation impact of $144 million. The projects have reduced 111,235
pounds of nitrogen from entering the sound, restored 862 acres of fish and
wildlife habitat, treated 212 million gallons of stormwater pollution, and
engaged 5 million people in protection and restoration of the sound.
“The Long Island Sound watershed covers more than 16,000 square miles in six
states, and serves as a highly productive estuary for the entire region,”
said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF.  “The funding
awarded today represents a commitment to continue the progress made over many
decades toward a healthier, cleaner watershed. These projects will provide
lasting benefits to the local communities and natural resources across the
Sound by improving water quality, building stewardship, as well as restoring
critical coastal habitat for fish and wildlife.”
“The Long Island Sound Futures Fund continues to support projects that
improve the quality of, access to, and education about Long Island Sound, a
vitally important resource for the residents of Connecticut and the
region,” said Katie Dykes, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Energy
and Environmental Protection. “The $8.4 million in grants coming to 14
recipients in Connecticut also leverages over $7.3 million in local funding.
These important and forward-thinking projects will benefit thousands of K-12
students in Connecticut, create a new coastal public access site while
improving an existing one, assist with the planning of several habitat
restoration projects, and protect Long Island Sound’s water quality through
innovative nutrient reduction programs all over the state. We are grateful to
our local and federal partners for this impactful funding.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim
Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “The Long Island Sound is a beloved resource
for millions of New Yorkers. Through decades of collaboration, DEC, U.S. EPA,
and many other partners are reducing the pollution that enters the Sound,
significantly improving water quality for the benefit of marine life,
shorebirds, public health, recreation, and local economies. DEC congratulates
and thanks the Long Island Sound Futures Fund awardees for advancing projects
that build on this progress to improve water quality, conserve habitats,
educate the public, and promote stewardship for generations to come.”
To learn more, please visit the NFWF Long Island Sound Futures Fund website.
BACKGROUND
Long Island Sound is an estuary that provides economic and recreational
benefits to millions of people while also providing habitat for more than
1,200 invertebrates, 170 species of fish and dozens of species of migratory
birds. The grant projects contribute to a healthier Long Island Sound for
everyone, from nearby area residents to those at the furthest reaches of the
sound. All 9 million people who live, work, and play in the watershed
impacting the sound can benefit from and help build on the progress that has
already been made.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chartered by Congress in 1984,
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the
nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal,
corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,800
organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10
billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.  
About the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grants Every year, EPA awards
more than $4 billion in funding for grants and other assistance agreements.
From small non-profit organizations to large state governments, EPA works to
help many visionary organizations achieve their environmental goals. With
countless success stories over the years, EPA grants remain a chief tool to
protect human health and the environment. Follow EPA Region 1 (New England) on