Theme 1: Waters and Watersheds
Goal: Attain water quality objectives (fishable & swimmable) by reducing pollutant and nutrient
loads from the land and the waters impacting Long Island Sound
Outcome 1-1:
Pollutant and nutrient loads from land based sources in the watershed of Long Island Sound are reduced.
Objective 1-1a:
To reduce contaminant and nutrient loads from Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) and other
point sources
Strategy 1-1a1:
Evaluate and reduce contaminant and nutrient contributions from Combined Sewer Overflows
(CSOs)
Strategy 1-1a2:
Reduce contaminant and nutrient loads from WWTPs
Strategy 1-1a3:
Develop Pathogen Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Long Island Sound Study (LISS)
embayments using Connecticut pathogen TMDL work as an example
Strategy 1-1a4:
Develop Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Long Island Sound and embayments
Strategy 1-1a5:
Reduce pollutant and nutrient loads from commercial, Industrial, and Concentrated Animal
Feeding Operations (CAFO) point sources
Strategy 1-1a6:
Work with municipalities to manage stormwater discharge and pollutant and nutrient loads
from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4's)
Objective 1-1b:
To reduce nutrient and contaminant load from non-point sources
Strategy 1-1b1:
Strategy 1-1b2:
Strategy 1-1b3:
Strategy 1-1b4:
Strategy 1-1b5:
10/4/2013
Reduce contaminant and nutrient loads from agricultural non-point sources of runoff
Reduce contaminants, nutrients and runoff from new and existing residential development
Reduce contaminants, nutrients and runoff from commercial/industrial development/redevelopment
Improve management of contaminants and nutrients from decentralized, package, and on-site
wastewater treatment systems (OSWTSs)
Incorporate climate change and sea level rise in planning, regulation and best management
practices (BMPs) to control contaminant loads
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Objective 1-1c:
To integrate multiple water quality objectives and maximize ecosystem services provided through
watershed-based planning
Strategy 1-1c1:
Improve access to Long Island Sound and its embayments, maintain view corridors and enhance
water-dependent uses (e.g. reduce beach closures) throughout the watershed and the Sound
Strategy 1-1c2:
Minimize negative impacts of new development on water quality of Long Island Sound
Strategy 1-1c3:
Protect healthy watersheds, improve resiliency, and minimize new sources of contaminants and
nutrients
Objective 1-1d:
To restore and protect the hydrologic and ecological functions of the Long Island Sound watershed to
reduce contaminant/nutrient load to Long Island Sound
Strategy 1-1d1:
Preserve hydrologic function in developing watersheds
Strategy 1-1d2:
Protect wetlands, riparian buffers, and existing open land to minimize land disturbance and
impervious cover
Strategy 1-1d3:
Maintain and restore hydrologic function (e.g. flooding, buffer zones, resiliency, etc)
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Outcome 1-2:
The negative impact of pollutants and nutrients in the waters and sediments of Long Island Sound and
tributaries/embayments are reduced or minimized.
Objective 1-2a:
Reduce direct sources of nutrients and contaminants to the Long Island Sound ecosystem
Strategy 1-2a1:
Strategy 1-2a2:
Strategy 1-2a3:
Strategy 1-2a4:
Objective 1-2b:
Minimize vessel/marina discharge impacts
Maintain and improve spill prevention and disaster preparedness and response planning
Develop and implement methods (e.g., bioextraction) for removal of nutrients and pollutants
(Also applies to Objective 1-2c2)
Reduce generation of marine debris and improve and increase its cleanup in Long Island Sound
waters
Mitigate impacts of nutrients and contaminants to the Long Island Sound biota, ecosystem and on
humans.
Strategy 1-2b1:
Understand and mitigate impacts from emerging and existing contaminants in sediment
Strategy 1-2b2:
Improve human health risk management through increased beach monitoring and fish and
shellfish contaminant testing
Objective 1-2c:
Improve understanding of the mechanisms of both entryways of these nutrients and contaminants and
how they interact with the ecosystem and human health
Strategy 1-2c1:
Understand drivers and impacts of HAB's/biotoxins and minimize impact on ecosystem services
provided by Long Island Sound
Strategy 1-2c2:
Develop and implement methods (e.g., bioextraction) for removal of nutrients and pollutants
(Also applies to Objective 1-2a3)
Strategy 1-2c3:
Understand the impact of hypoxia on the biota and ecosystem services provided by Long Island
Sound
Strategy 1-2c4:
Establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) goals based on research findings of the impacts of
hypoxia on biota and ecosystem services (Also applies to Objective 1-3a3)
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Outcome 1-3:
The commitment to research, monitoring, and modeling to improve management of waters and watersheds is
maintained or improved.
Objective 1-3a:
To continue management efforts that improve understanding of the causes and impacts of hypoxia on
biota and ecosystem services
Strategy 1-3a1:
Understand and establish balance between nutrient ratios (nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon) in
freshwater, embayments, and Long Island Sound
Strategy 1-3a2:
Better understand hypoxia dynamics, continue support for modeling and synthetic efforts and
their application to management scenarios (e.g., SWEM, BADD model, eelgrass & embayment
modeling efforts).
Objective 1-3b:
To research, monitor and assess water quality and factors that contribute to water quality change
Strategy 1-3b1:
Strategy 1-3b2:
Strategy 1-3b3:
Strategy 1-3b4:
Strategy 1-3b5:
Strategy 1-3b6:
Strategy 1-3b7:
Strategy 1-3b8:
Strategy 1-3b9:
10/4/2013
Research, monitor and assess sources (e.g., watershed, atmospheric deposition) and sinks of
nutrients and their impacts on water quality
Research, monitor and assess pathogens and their impacts on water quality
Improve identification and source tracking of NPS nutrients and contaminants
Research, monitor and assess Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) and their impacts on water quality
Research, monitor and assess emerging and legacy contaminants and their impacts on water
quality
Implement embayment water quality monitoring programs to evaluate changes in water quality
Improve understanding of the interaction between water quality and regional climate change
impacts.
Continue funding for long term monitoring
Understand impacts of climate change (e.g., acidification, sea level rise (SLR), temperature) on
Long Island Sound water quality and biota
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Objective 1-3c:
To improve access and usage of information, databases, and resources and incorporation of data into
management actions
Strategy 1-3c1:
Support collaboration between Long Island Sound Study (LISS) partner organizations (USGS
tributary load, DEEP, rainfall) to improve utility of monitoring data
Strategy 1-3c2:
Implement improved data storage and sharing solutions to support collaboration and
incorporation of data into management decisions.
Strategy 1-3c3:
Improve translation of science into effective management actions and public communications
Objective 1-3d:
To incorporate the sentinel monitoring network in Long Island Sound programs to evaluate and
address the impacts of climate change to Long Island Sound and its embayments
Strategy 1-3d1:
Fully implement the sentinel monitoring program in Long Island Sound to evaluate and address
the impacts of climate change to Long Island Sound and its embayments
Strategy 1-3d2:
Develop a regional partnership that will continue to support the implementation and
advancement of the sentinel monitoring program.
10/4/2013
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Theme 2: Habitats and Wildlife
Goal: Restore and protect the Sound's ecological balance in a healthy, productive, and resilient
state for the benefit of both people and the natural environment.
Outcome 2-1:
Habitats are protected, restored, and enhanced to sustain the ecosystem services they provide.
Objective 2-1a:
To restore and enhance priority habitat types: (See list below) (Also relates to Objective 2-2d)
Strategy 2-1a1:
Strategy 2-1a2:
Strategy 2-1a3:
Strategy 2-1a4:
Develop and implement innovative and effective best management practices (BMPs) for habitat
restoration
Restore and enhance connectivity of priority habitat types (riverine migratory corridors, forests,
wetlands)
Restore quality and acres of coastal habitat and fish passage
Link water quality objectives to promote conditions that support priority habitat type
restoration
Priority Habitat Types:
Cliffs and Bluffs
Estuarine Embayments
Rocky Intertidal Zones
Coastal and Island Forest
Freshwater Wetlands
Shellfish Reefs
Coastal Barriers, Beaches, & Dunes
Intertidal Flats
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Coastal Grasslands
Riverine Migratory Corridors
Tidal Wetlands
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Objective 2-1b:
To protect priority habitat types through acquisition and other mechanisms
Strategy 2-1b1:
Strategy 2-1b2:
Objective 2-1c:
Use a repeatable criteria-based process to minimize bias, supplemented by expert knowledge,
to identify high priority areas to protect
Conserve and enhance resources, natural areas, and open space to benefit public access,
recreation, shoreline and community protection
To increase or maintain resiliency of coastal habitats and the protective and ecosystem services they
provide
Strategy 2-1c1:
Promote the use of physical habitat protection methods (dunes, shorelines, coastal marshes)
Strategy 2-1c2:
Identify and prioritize upland and aquatic habitats that are vulnerable to climate change
impacts and take action to mitigate or adapt to these impacts (e.g., remove or mitigate
impediments to coastal processes, habitat migration)
Strategy 2-1c3:
Conduct Marine Spatial Planning in order to better understand and identify Long Island Sound’s
natural resources/habitats, comprehend how humans use the Long Island Sound, and then use
this information to set economic, environmental, and social goals for the area.
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Outcome 2-2:
Diverse and balanced populations of fish, birds, and wildlife enhance ecosystem resiliency and function.
Objective 2-2a:
To manage exotic and nuisance species
Strategy 2-2a1:
Strategy 2-2a2:
Strategy 2-2a3:
Objective 2-2b:
T o manage state and federal listed species and species of concern
Strategy 2-2b1:
Strategy 2-2b2:
Objective 2-2c:
Prioritize habitat restoration projects for targeted (listed) species
Manage habitat and threats to protect targeted (listed) species
To manage and restore populations of harvested species
Strategy 2-2c1:
Strategy 2-2c2:
Objective 2-2d:
Develop volunteer stewardship programs to manage invasive and nuisance species
Teach and promote measures that will help to prevent the introduction of invasive biota in
Long Island Sound and connected upland areas
Develop programs and policies to limit introduction and spread of invasives
Create or update species management plans for commercially / recreationally important
species
Maintain and enhance aquaculture harvests while minimizing conflicting uses or impacts on
native populations
To advance habitat restoration and protection to increase habitat connectivity (Also related to
Objective 2-1a)
Strategy 2-2d1:
Promote projects (through Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) or otherwise) that restore
contiguous acres or miles (Also applies to Objective 2-1a)
Objective 2-2e:
To maintain diverse/resilient communities of fish, birds, and wildlife
Strategy 2-2e1:
10/4/2013
Promote projects that protect and restore biological diversity.
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Outcome 2-3:
The public is educated and involved in restoration and protection of habitats and living resources
Objective 2-3a:
To support education and outreach programs that focus on priority habitat types and living resources
Strategy 2-3a1:
Promote the creation of educational and outreach programs tailored for multiple user groups
Objective 2-3b:
To engage the public in both large and small scale restoration projects, research, monitoring, and
outreach.
Strategy 2-3b1:
The public helps to restore and protect Long Island Sound's ecological balance where feasible.
Objective 2-3c:
To forward a sense of stewardship by increasing people's awareness of, and visitation to, Stewardship
Sites
Strategy 2-3c1:
Develop and promote innovative and relevant ways of connecting people to Stewardship Sites
(social media, QR mobile information codes, targeted guided experiences, prompting and
supporting projects that link urban populations to their local Stewardship Sites)
Outcome 2-4:
Knowledge of habitats and living resources is advanced through monitoring, assessment and research
Objective 2-4a:
To identify, collect, and distribute useful habitat and living resource data
Strategy 2-4a1:
Support ecosystem science research to enhance protection of living terrestrial and aquatic
resources
Strategy 2-4a2:
Inventory trends in quality and quantity of priority habitats
Strategy 2-4a3:
Identify surrogate / representative species for long term monitoring to evaluate ecosystem
health
Objective 2-4b:
To enhance knowledge of habitats and living resources through research and collaboration
Strategy 2-4b1:
10/4/2013
Set up a web-based file share / server for easy access to Long Island Sound research studies and
other related reports
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Theme 3: Sound Communities
Goal: Support vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that use, appreciate, and help
protect Long Island Sound
Outcome 3-1:
The Citizens of Long Island Sound Communities are Engaged, Informed, and Active
Objective 3-1a:
To increase the awareness and appreciation of Long Island Sound by citizens and visitors
Strategy 3-1a1:
Strategy 3-1a2:
Strategy 3-1a3:
Strategy 3-1a4:
Strategy 3-1a5:
Objective 3-1b:
To increase citizen knowledge and understanding of the health of Long Island Sound
Strategy 3-1b1:
Strategy 3-1b2:
Objective 3-1c:
Educate community about the health of Long Island Sound
Educate community about sustainable management of Long Island Sound and partner agency
efforts to restore and protect Long Island Sound
To increase citizen stewardship of Long Island Sound
Strategy 3-1c1:
Strategy 3-1c2:
Strategy 3-1c3:
10/4/2013
Increase appreciation of the ecological value of Long Island Sound
Increase opportunities for sustainable recreation on Long Island Sound and its embayments
Promote and support existing and potential coastal access areas
Support maritime and cultural heritage awareness
Reconnecting urban populations to a healthy Sound
Empower the public to actively participate in the cleanup and restoration of Long Island Sound
Foster individual stewardship and behavior change
Adopt practices that conserve water and energy and reduce solid waste disposal needs through
waste minimization, reuse, and recycling.
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Outcome 3-2:
Future generations have the skills to become leaders and stewards for the Sound
Objective 3-2a:
To incorporate Long Island Sound issues into NY and CT classrooms and curriculum
Strategy 3-2a1:
Strategy 3-2a2:
Strategy 3-2a3:
Objective 3-2b:
To provide educators with tools to bring Long Island Sound into classrooms
Strategy 3-2b1:
Strategy 3-2b2:
Objective 3-2c:
Provide research based information products and supplemental resources
Develop evaluation metrics for Long Island Sound curriculum and educational programs
To develop youth that are active and engaged with Long Island Sound and related issues
Strategy 3-2c1:
Strategy 3-2c2:
10/4/2013
Integrate Long Island Sound into the teaching of 'next generation' natural and social science
standards
Support field experiences in Long Island Sound and its tributaries
Develop evaluation metrics for Long Island Sound curriculum and educational programs
Support informal education at aquariums, museums, and coastal environments with facilities
such as nature centers.
Engage youth in stewardship opportunities
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Outcome 3-3:
Decision makers and stakeholder groups collaborate and have the resources to be effective in protecting and
improving the health of Long Island Sound
Objective 3-3a:
To promote training and resources for professionals and environmental decision makers
Strategy 3-3a1:
Strategy 3-3a2:
Objective 3-3b:
Provide training and resources to professionals, municipal officials and volunteers
Provide information that is useful to legislators and policy makers
To increase communication and collaboration between groups involved in the restoration and
protection of Long Island Sound.
Strategy 3-3b1:
Support the CAC, bi-state work groups, and stakeholder groups in their missions to restore and
protect the Sound
Objective 3-3c:
To improve information management to facilitate effective and science based decision-making
Strategy 3-3c1:
Objective 3-3d:
To support watershed and stormwater management efforts among municipalities and their citizens
Strategy 3-3d1:
10/4/2013
Provide reports and indicators that track the health and management performance of Long
Island Sound.
Provide access to information on Best Management Practices (BMPs)
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Outcome 3-4:
Funding for key programs is maintained and enhanced
Objective 3-4a:
Strategy 3-4a1:
Objective 3-4b:
To generate external support to further promote Long Island Sound
Leverage public/private partnerships to fund public involvement and education efforts
To continue funding education from within the Long Island Sound Study budget and external funding
sources
Strategy 3-4b1:
Communicate availability of grant opportunities (Sea Grant, Long Island Sound Futures Fund
(LISFF)
Strategy 3-4b2:
Communicate priorities and successes to continue support for on-going efforts
Strategy 3-4b3:
Support increased state funding on water-related and climate change environmental
educational efforts
Objective 3-4c:
To fund resiliency and sustainability initiatives from new and existing funding sources
Strategy 3-4c1:
10/4/2013
Develop a resiliency/sustainability funding strategy
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Outcome 3-5:
New and existing development is sustainable and resilient
Objective 3-5a:
To integrate sustainability, climate change adaptation, and resiliency objectives into new and existing
development, housing, transportation, emissions control, energy efficiency, and job creation programs
Strategy 3-5a1:
Provide technical assistance and training for municipal officials, developers, engineers, and
consultants on sustainability, adaptation, and resilience concepts and opportunities for
implementation
Strategy 3-5a2:
Ensure that all new and existing development uses up-to-date methods that maximize
sustainability, resiliency, and adaptability
Objective 3-5b:
To revise, update, and implement local comprehensive plans to be integrated with sustainability,
resiliency, and adaptability objectives
Strategy 3-5b1:
Revise and update comprehensive management plans for all municipalities to incorporate
sustainability/resiliency/adaptability concepts
Strategy 3-5b2:
Implement revised and updated comprehensive management plans for all municipalities to
ensure that sustainability/resiliency/adaptability concepts are employed in new and existing
development
Strategy 3-5b3:
Ensure that waterfronts balance recreation, commercial, and industrial uses according to their
sustainability/resiliency/adaptability plans
Strategy 3-5b4:
Ensure that land use and zoning laws/ordinances are consistent with the
sustainability/resiliency/adaptability plans
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Outcome 3-6:
Public access and sustainable waterfront economic activities are available throughout Sound communities
Objective 3-6a:
To encourage communities to implement economic development strategies and infrastructure
planning that result in vibrant and sustainable communities which balance recreational, commercial,
industrial and residential uses
Strategy 3-6a1:
Ensure consistency between economic development and sustainability planning efforts
Objective 3-6b:
To work with communities to balance recreational, commercial, industrial and residential uses
according to their sustainability plans and resiliency efforts.
Strategy 3-6b1:
Establish recognition programs and provide support to communities to help them in obtaining
recognition for exemplary sustainability programs
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Theme 4: Science and Management
Goal: The management of Long Island Sound is based on sound science and sustained by crossjurisdictional governance that is inclusive, adaptive, innovative, and accountable.
Outcome 4-1:
The scientific understanding of Long Island Sound to support management is increased through strengthened
research, monitoring, assessment, mapping, and modeling.
Objective 4-1a:
To enhance research portfolio to answer questions relevant to Long Island Sound
management outcomes
Strategy 4-1a1:
Develop and maintain integrated science plans that transparently link outcomes and objectives
to strategies and actions, setting priorities based on management relevance and scientific
merits
Strategy 4-1a2:
Support focused Long Island Sound research program
Objective 4-1b:
To maintain and enhance monitoring and assessment programs to increase understanding of Long
Island Sound and assess progress toward management outcomes
Strategy 4-1b1:
Characterize and map open and shallow water habitats to support resource management and
marine spatial planning
Strategy 4-1b2:
Characterize and map human uses (recreational/commercial) of open and shallow water
habitats to support resource management and marine spatial planning
Strategy 4-1b3:
Evaluate, enhance, integrate, and coordinate ongoing monitoring programs
Strategy 4-1b4:
Strengthen monitoring of embayments and near-shore waters, and integrate data and
assessments into agency open water monitoring programs
Strategy 4-1b5:
Monitor sentinels of climate change in Long Island Sound
Strategy 4-1b6:
Transition existing and new models to a community modeling framework that provides open
source access to facilitate external collaboration, assessments, and enhancements
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Objective 4-1c:
To develop and improve modeling capabilities to provide predictive assessments of resources, physical
dynamics and water quality
Strategy 4-1c1:
Transition existing and new models to a community modeling framework that provides open
source access to facilitate external collaboration, assessments, and enhancements
Outcome 4-2:
The Long Island Sound Study Management Conference is maintained and strengthened as a means to involve
all levels of government and diverse stakeholders in developing cross-jurisdictional management outcomes
and implementing actions to attain them.
Objective 4-2a:
To educate and motivate all jurisdictional partners to the outcomes, objectives, indicators and targets
Strategy 4-2a1:
Objective 4-2b:
Maintain and enhance support from Congressional Caucus and bistate legislative bodies
To maintain and enhance the Long Island Sound Management Conference as the coordinating entity to
implement the CCMP
Strategy 4-2b1:
Maintain the EPA Long Island Sound Office to support the work of the Management Conference
Strategy 4-2b2:
Continue state program coordination and involvement in the Management Conference
Strategy 4-2b3:
Evaluate and modify structure of Management Conference to effectively implement CCMP
Strategy 4-2b4:
Ensure that the CCMP is consistent with existing state policies and incorporate relevant
elements of the plan into the state Coastal Zone Management Program for federal consistency
reviews
Strategy 4-2b5:
Reauthorize sections 119, 320 of the Clean Water Act and other relevant statutes to support
improvement of Long Island Sound resources
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Outcome 4-3:
Implementation of the CCMP is continually improved by fostering innovation and adaptive management.
Objective 4-3a:
To frame sustainability, adaptation, and resilience in relation to the drivers of ecosystem change
Strategy 4-3a1:
Strategy 4-3a2:
Objective 4-3b:
Include important environmental drivers (e.g., climate change) in all relevant management
planning initiatives
Incorporate a consideration of broad desirable ecosystem outcomes and the drivers resisting
attainment of those outcomes into planning and implementation of both the built and natural
systems
To apply an adaptive management framework when warranted by the level of uncertainty to the
science underlying implementation
Strategy 4-3b1:
Prepare periodic progress reports on the health of the Sound and on implementation progress
Strategy 4-3b2:
Establish baselines of historical or prehistorical conditions of ecosystem attributes and
magnitudes of change to help provide a basis for setting restoration goals
Strategy 4-3b3:
Integrate science and management to incorporate new information (including emerging issues)
and refine implementation plans and priorities for action
Strategy 4-3b4:
Utilize cutting edge approaches and methods to improve management options for pollution
mitigation and ecosystem protection (e.g., marine spatial planning, innovative source reduction
technologies, in situ extractive technologies)
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Outcome 4-4:
Public investments are maintained and enhanced.
Objective 4-4a:
To maintain and enhance funding for planning, research, monitoring, assessment, mapping, and
modeling
Strategy 4-4a1:
Link science outputs to attainment of objectives and measurable targets
Objective 4-4b:
To evaluate cross-agency expenditures on Long Island Sound to identify how funding levels match with
needs so that resources can be optimally directed.
Strategy 4-4b1:
Link cross-agency funding levels to specific desired management outcomes and objectives
10/4/2013
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