If You Live, Work, or Play in the Long Island Sound Region, We Want to Hear from You!

Turquoise square with white lettering and blue wavy lines.

The Draft Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan is now available for public comment from September 23–November 22, 2024. Members of the public are asked to share specific feedback on the revised vision statement, mission statement, goals, objectives and actions, as well as a new name for the Long Island Sound program. To download the monitoring table referenced on page Page 18 of the draft plan, click here.


The Plan That Guides the Conservation of Long Island Sound is Getting a Major Revision

That means…If you live, work, or play in the Long Island Sound region, this plan could affect on-the-ground projects near you. If there are environmental challenges in your life and community that you want to make sure are addressed, let us know!




What Is the Plan and Why Does It Matter?

The Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) is a document that outlines goals and steps to restore and maintain the health of Long Island Sound and its watershed (the lands and waterways that drain into the Sound). It addresses areas such as water quality, habitat and wildlife conservation, coastal resiliency, and environmental engagement and education. Multiple levels of government, academic scientists, local organizations, and regional decision makers use the plan to identify and carry out projects needed to advance these conservation areas. The CCMP was last revised in 2015 and is being revised again RIGHT NOW. This is YOUR opportunity to help steer conservation funding decisions for the next 10 years.

The new CCMP draft has four Main Goals

Planning for the Future – Our Story

To dive into more information about the draft CCMP and public comment process, explore the story map below. You can open a full screen version of the story map by clicking the button. Hear from scientists and outreach staff about our objectives for the new CCMP and how we plan to implement them!

Want to Share Your Thoughts? Attend an Upcoming Public Meeting!

The CCMP revision process is collaborative and involves encouraging the public to help shape what the plan will look like. Virtual and in-person public engagement sessions took place in May 2024 . Comments received in-person from sessions and through online forms were reviewed and considered for the draft CCMP. Upcoming virtual public information sessions will overview the completed draft plan. Those who attend sessions are invited to contribute specific comments on the new plan’s objectives, actions, vision and mission statement, and LISS program name change. Click here to view a recording of the September webinar.


To contribute specific comments on the draft Plan, please use this form or send us an email at [email protected].

A Bit of Background: How Does Conservation around the Sound Get Done?

Long Island Sound Study (LISS) uses the plan to guide its conservation work around Long Island Sound.

Formed in 1985, LISS is a partnership dedicated to restoring and caring for the Sound and its watershed. Many organizations collaborate in the partnership, including federal agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), state agencies such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), as well as scientists, educators, and concerned organizations and individuals. Learn more about the LISS partnership here.

What Challenges and Opportunities around the Sound Would YOU Like to See Addressed?

Here is some of what we’ve heard so far*:

  • Opportunities to support current and ideal uses of the Sound such as fishing, swimming, and spending time in nature
  • Barriers to access such as safety concerns and limited transportation and access points
  • Environmental threats of stormwater, flooding, rising sea levels, and pollution and their links to social and infrastructure concerns
  • Informational needs such as water quality health for recreation and fish consumption
*Based on conversations held through our Sustainable and Resilient Communities Needs Assessment in 2022 and our Environmental Justice Needs Assessment in 2023.  

Timeline for the Long Island Sound CCMP Revision Process

Feb – April

Develop ways to measure conservation progress

May

Host Public Engagement Sessions

June – Aug

Develop actions needed to achieve progress

Sept – Oct

Host Public Information Sessions and Public Comment Period

Early 2025

Finish CCMP

Don’t miss out! Sign up on the right-hand column of this page (or below if you are on mobile) to be notified about the upcoming public meetings

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