Long Island Sound Legislative Priorities

Clean water, climate change, shellfish, dam safety

CLEAN WATER

Every year over 2 billion gallons of raw sewage are dumped into Long Island Sound and its tributaries, closing beaches and shellfish beds.

Photo: Environment New York
Photo: Environment New York

And every year, hundreds of acres of Long Island Sound are plagued by a low oxygen dead zone, threatening the health of wildlife. Add to that bacteria and nutrient pollution the toxic stew of stormwater runoff that moves greases, oils and chemicals from our roads, parking lots and industry to our local waterways, and the challenge of restoring Long Island Sound becomes clear.

Shellfishing Closed Sign

However, there are things we can do to reduce the amount of raw sewage and stormwater runoff that is discharged into the Sound, including implementing stormwater authorities, investing in our clean water infrastructure, and providing incentives to clean up marinas. The following bills, if passed, would greatly contribute to cleaning up Long Island Sound:

CLIMATE CHANGE & ADAPTATION

If the four major storms in the past 18 months are any indication, we need to be working to better prepare ourselves for climate change. Whether people are convinced by the scientific evidence for climate change or not, we are living with a changing landscape that requires adaptation to minimize — to the degree we can — future loss of life, property and environmental quality.

Goodbye Sandy

With that dose of reality comes an obligation to future generations to mitigate and minimize the consequences of climate change for the decades and centuries to come. There are several bills of interest that address adaptation and climate change that have already appeared this legislative session.  While most do not have specific language just yet, we will be monitoring these closely as the session progresses:

SHELLFISH

A living Long Island Sound is a healthy Sound. Oysters, clams, and lobsters have long been synonymous with the Sound’s economic viability.  There are measures we can take to protect and build our vital resources.

Shellfishermen working the waters off Westport
Shellfishermen working the waters off Westport

Abundant oysters and clams act as highly efficient natural filters, removing pollutants and excess nutrients and clarifying the water. Beds of seaweed filter, too, and provide shelter for aquatic creatures. And an active aquaculture industry creates jobs in shoreline communities — for new entrepreneurs and for small business owners carrying on the family trade. Three pieces of legislation before the Environment Committee would boost Connecticut’s aquaculture industry, including:

Another bill would limit the use of certain pesticides discovered in Long Island Sound lobsters:

OTHER BILLS

Connecticut’s landscape is dotted with about 5,500 dams, mostly on private property and some of which block spawning passage for fish, but Connecticut currently has only one full-time dam inspector–not nearly sufficient to ensure that the dams are sound.

Dam

This puts downstream residents and property at risk and exposes landowners to liability. Last year, we, along with American Rivers, The Nature Conservancy, and CTDEEP, proposed a bill that would allow landowners to have their dams inspected by a qualified private sector engineer and encourage removal of some of the dams. The dam safety bill has reappeared this legislative session and is up for a public hearing next week:

Stay tuned for the legislative highlights for our energy program!

Posted by Rebecca Kaplan, director of communications for CFE/Save the Sound


Get Involved
Jump in

Join the fight! Memberships start at just $25 – support that’s badly needed now for a healthy, sustainable environment over the long term.

Join now

Take part

Saturday, April 27, at East Rock Park in New Haven
Celebrate Earth Day, cycle or hike with the New Haven community, fundraise for environmental organizations, and enjoy food, music, and more at the Green Fair on April 27. Join our cycling team to support a healthy, clean, and thriving Long Island Sound region.

See more

Connect with us

Stay in touch by joining our activist network email list. We'll keep you up-to-date with current initiatives, ways you can take action and volunteer opportunities.

Sign up