What You Can Do

Long Island Sound is an estuary of national importance. This natural resource provides recreational fun for us, habitat for wildlife, and income to many local economies. However, the Sound is heavily affected by the 20 million people who live within 50 miles of the coastline. We all must do our part to make sure we understand how our everyday actions affect Long Island Sound and protect it however we can.

In Your Home

There are many ways that you can help Long Island Sound, by changing some simple things around your home. Remember, we all affect the Sound: items we put out with the trash or down the drain can eventually lead to Long Island Sound and pollute it. Learn More

Around Your Backyard

Around Your Backyard

Polluted runoff is the main source of water pollution in the United States. Things you put on the ground, such as fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, and chemicals, mix with rainwater (or the water from your sprinkler!) and are carried into the Sound. Learn More

Around Your School

In and Around Your School

As a teacher, you have a wonderful opportunity to teach the next generation about Long Island Sound and how their actions affect this resource. The Long Island Sound Study and its partners provide many free resources and opportunities for formal and nonformal educators. Learn More

Around The Sound

In and Around the Sound

We use the Sound for so many fun activities—boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, and picnicking, just to name a few. As users, it is our responsibility to make sure that we are using the Sound in a responsible and sustainable way; so many generations to come can also enjoy this incredible natural resource. Learn More

Curbing Polluted Storm Water Runoff

Curbing Polluted Stormwater Runoff

Did you know that the way we care for our homes, lawns, cars, and streets says a lot about how much we care about the health of Long Island Sound? Learn More

Commit to Personal Actions to Reduce Nitrogen Pollution

Take the Pledge Long Islanders! Commit to a few of the 10 actions around your home or community that can reduce nitrogen pollution and help improve the bays and harbors of Long Island Sound and the surface and groundwater of Long Island. The LISS is partnering in this campaign with the Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Peconic Estuary Partnership, and the South Shore Estuary Reserve.

Learn More
Learn more about how your actions affect Long Island Sound
  • Sign up for our free annual year in review issue, Sound Update, to learn more about Long Island Sound and simple things you can do to help and restore it! Or subscribe to receive our e-newsletter, Sound Bytes. Sign Up Now
  • Spread the word and educate your family, friends, and neighbors about ways they can help protect Long Island Sound.
Did You Know?
Clean Water Act

The law that establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States. The Clean Water Act prohibits unpermitted discharges of any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters and recognizes the critical problems posed by nonpoint source pollution. Section 320 of the Clean Water Act directs EPA to develop plans for attaining or maintaining water quality in estuaries. This includes protection of public water supplies and the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife, and allows recreational activities in and on the water.

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