Estuaries are bodies of water at the intersection of rivers and the ocean – where freshwater and saltwater meet and mix. Because of their unique chemistry and characteristics, they are hugely important ecosystems that provide food, shelter, and nursery grounds for countless species of plants and animals. Many, like the Long Island Sound estuary, are also close to major cities and help support local economies through tourism, transportation of goods, and more.
National Estuaries Week (September 17 -24, 2022) celebrates these unique ecosystems, brings awareness to their importance, and encourages their conservation.
This year, Long Island’s estuary programs – the Long Island Sound Study national estuary program, the Peconic Estuary Partnership (PEP), and the South Shore Estuary Reserve – are celebrating by sharing a National Estuaries Week 2022 Map. The interactive map highlightings upcoming September opportunities to head outside and engage in coastal cleanups, educational events, and more.
National Estuaries Week kicks off Saturday, September 17 with International Coastal Cleanup Day. Hosted in New York by the American Littoral Society and by Save the Sound in Connecticut, the cleanups bring thousands of volunteers to the shore annually to help pick up debris and collect valuable data on the types of trash found on beaches. Interested volunteers can access the map to find a cleanup near them, or even organize their own beach clean-up anytime from September through to December.
In addition to the events map, the local estuary programs will also be attending several of the upcoming highlighted events to share information about their respective estuaries. Find Long Island Sound Study’s booth at Setauket Harbor Day, the Women’s Fishing Expo, Family Fun Day, the Oyster Festival, Viva la Sound, and more.
This Google Earth map was created to promote environmental education and stewardship events around our local estuaries. Yellow pins mark events, blue pins mark beach clean-ups. Click on the pins to learn more about events happening near you!
Happy National Estuaries Week!
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