Meigs Point Beach (Image via Long Island Sound Study).
Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network
The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network (LIS CWN) is focused on bringing together communities, groups and individuals working to reduce pollution loads entering Long Island Sound and its rivers, harbors, and bays. In 2021, we kicked off the Network with “Long Island Sound: Driving Local Actions to Tackle Water Pollution”, a collaborative webinar series designed to showcase and advance local actions that target pollution from activities on land including nitrogen pollution, fecal bacteria, and consumer plastics and debris – that enter the Sound’s water through sewage, stormwater, and groundwater.
Join us for our line up of events including webinars, roundtable discussions, and the 2025 Long Island Sound Summit advancing local actions for cleaner waters and healthy watersheds in Long Island Sound. Hear from scientists and practitioners about approaches to combat pollution and clean up coastal waters in communities around Long Island Sound.
2024 Event Schedule
January 11, 2024
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Live over Zoom
Webinar
Tackling Local Nitrogen Pollution: Reducing Fertilizer in Communities
Fertilizer makes up about 20% of nitrogen entering Long Island Sound. This Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network (LIS CWN) webinar features new science to understand hot spots of fertilizer application and highlights local actions communities and individuals can take to help target and reduce nitrogen pollution from lawn fertilizers.
Presentation Topics and Speakers
- Fertilizing Long Island Sound with Dr. Jamie Vaudrey, Research Coordinator, Connecticut National Estuarine Research
- Encouraging native plants and fertilizer alternatives on Fishers Island with Hannah Vagts, Project Coordinator, Henry L. Ferguson Museum – Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition
- Advocacy and Policy for Residential Fertilizer Reduction with Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment
June 4, 2024
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network Round Table
Achieving a cleaner, healthier Sound will require cooperation and collaboration between municipalities, non-profits, businesses, and individuals. This Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network (LIS CWN) Roundtable showcases recent regional partnerships that tackle pollution entering the Sound’s waters and dive deeper into ways to break down barriers and implement successful projects.
Presentation Topics and Speakers
- Green Infrastructure at Sunken Meadow Park with Katie Friedman (Save the Sound) and Lance Millar (NYS Parks)
- Assessing Stormwater Infrastructure with Cierra Patrick (Town of Groton) and Tim Clark (The Nature Conservancy CT)
- Northport Rain Gardens with Maureen Murphy (Citizens Campaign for the Environment) and Don Tesoriero (Village of Northport)
Webinar
Tackling Long Island Sound Plastic Pollution: Plastic Free July
Plastic pollution is a growing challenge around the world. Up to 80% of litter in our oceans is plastic. Particles are being found in the air, water, and even the food we eat. About 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean each year, and that rate is projected to increase. A new study out of the Long Island Sound identifies four microplastic “hot spots” in the Sound and aims to pinpoint their sources. Rachael Miller, lead researcher on the study, breaks down the findings in this Coastal Watershed Network webinar.
Presentation Topics and Speakers
- Microplastic “Hotspots” in Long Island Sound with Rachael Z. Miller (Founder/Chief Ocean Lover, of the Rozalia Project)
- Solutions to Plastic Pollution with Adrienne Esposito (Citizens Campaign for the Environment)
Webinar
Tackling Local Water Pollution Challenges: Policy and Planning in Action
Nutrient pollution is a major issue facing Long Island Sound. The team revising the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) is aiming to tackle this problem. Watch the recording of the most recent Coastal Watershed Network webinar, featuring an overview of the goals and objectives in the updated CCMP, and how they relate to local water quality. Webinar panelists discussed examples of new and proposed state and regional policies that can support CCMP actions and help communities and individuals tackle local water pollution challenges.
Presentation Topics and Speakers
- Nutrients & Pathogens Objectives: Benefits of Sewer Consolidation in Westchester County, New York with Nancy Seligson (Co-chair, Westchester Coalition for Clean Water)
- Watershed Health Objective: Benefits of Streamside Protections in Connecticut with Alicea Charamut (Executive Director, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut)
- Nutrients Objective: Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act with Adrienne Esposito (Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment)
About the LIS CWN
The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network (LIS CWN) is focused on bringing together communities, groups and individuals working to reduce pollution loads entering Long Island Sound and its rivers, harbors, and bays.
Our goal is to increase the pace and number of clean water projects by sharing the latest science, technology, policies and practices, spotlighting lessons learned, and building new opportunities for collaboration and partnerships across Long Island Sound geographies.
Past Webinars
The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network have hosted webinars and events since 2021 addressing Long Island Sound pollution issues and highlighting local pollution solutions. View our archives to watch recordings of our previous events and speaker presentations!
The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network (LIS CWN) is hosted by Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Save the Sound, and The Nature Conservancy with generous support from the LIS Funders Collaborative and LIS Study funding.