Watersheds and Embayments Work Group

Purpose

The Watersheds and Embayments Work Group (WEWG) assists the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) Management Conference in effectively implementing pollution mitigation actions throughout the watershed and embayments.  The focus of the WEWG is coastal watersheds and their embayments, however, there is consideration for the upper watershed states. WEWG will consider, promote, and monitor LISS partner projects pertaining to water quality with a focus on nutrients and pathogens. WEWG will support the necessary planning, research, implementation projects to improve the management of watershed pollution.   

Objectives

• Evaluate and expand watershed and embayment monitoring, data management and analysis to inform management decisions and implementation of pollution mitigation strategies.
• Increase coordinated modeling efforts and promote informed management decisions.
• Follow the development of new pathogen monitoring and indicator tool.
• Increase communications, stewardship events, and trainings to support public knowledge and participation in watershed management.
• Pursue the development of nutrient reduction tools and research, including green infrastructure, low impact development, nature-based solutions, and bioextraction. 
• Advance the implementation of the Long Island Sound Marine Debris Action Plan.

Goals

• Reduce the number of beaches reporting at least one closure day or the total number of beach-day closures per monitored beach due to water quality impairments by 50% 
• Improve water clarity to support healthy eelgrass communities and attainment of the eelgrass extent target. 
• Decrease the effective area of impervious cover in the Connecticut and New York portions of the watershed relative to 2010 baseline by 10%.  
• Upgrade conditions in restricted or closed shellfishing areas an average of 795-acres per year from a 2014 baseline (15,907 total acres by 2035).  
• Increase the percent area of natural vegetation within 300 feet of any stream or lake in the Connecticut and New York portions of the Long Island Sound watershed to 75% by 2035 from 2010 baseline of 65%. 

Work Group Chairs

CT Co-chair

Kelly Streich, CT DEEP  
Phone: 860.424.3864
Email: kelly.streich@ct.gov

NY Co-chair

Christopher Eagler,  NYSDEC/NEIWPCC
Email: christopher.eagler@dec.ny.gov

Meeting Dates 2024

Meetings are held from 10:00AM – 12:00 PM and are open to the public. Please contact the co-chairs for more information on how to get involved.

• February 14
• May 8
• August 14
• November 13