Three Habitat Heroes Bolster Connecticut Cleanup in Effort’s 20th Year
Save the Sound has hosted nearly 1,000 cleanups in Connecticut as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) since 2002. This 20th year, the program has broken a record with three leading sponsors, setting the 2022 Connecticut Cleanup up to be the biggest and best yet. The official sponsor of Save the Sound’s Connecticut Cleanup for the past three years, Subaru of New England, has returned again this year to anchor the effort. This year, however, they are joined at the top sponsorship level, “Habitat Hero,” by two other generous sponsors, Oris and Barrett Outdoor Communications. Together, these three sponsors will support the growth of the program by funding materials, staff hours, and awareness campaigns. And, the work has already begun. Kristen Schick has joined our team as the Cleanup Intern this season. She and Annalisa Paltauf, volunteer coordinator, are leading the effort and currently recruiting Connecticut residents to lead cleanups in their area. International Coastal Cleanup Day is September 17, but we will host cleanups through summer and fall at beaches, rivers and parks in Connecticut for the biggest impact. Read more about the effort and sponsorship in our recent press release. Groups looking to sponsor or host cleanups are encouraged to contact Annalisa at apaltauf@savethesound.org.
New York State Awards $400,000 for Hutchinson River Watershed Planning in the Bronx
Late June, New York State granted $400,000 to Save the Sound to develop a watershed management plan for the Hutchinson River in the Bronx as part of a larger effort to clean up portions of the lower Hutchinson River that flows into Long Island Sound. The funding request was facilitated by Assembly Member Michael Benedetto. All segments of the lower Hutchinson River are listed on the New York State 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies due to the level of pollution that enters this waterway. The plan will identify nonpoint pollution sources, recommend implementable restoration projects, and include public outreach and education to engage local residents, officials, and property owners in the significant step towards the vision of a fishable, swimmable Hutchinson River. Read more in the press release here.
Kicking Off the Mill River Urban Waters Initiative: Community Outreach, Engagement, and Leadership Program
Xóchitl Garcia and Daniela Flores have joined our team as community leaders to guide the amplification of community voice in environmental stewardship and justice in the lower Mill River Watershed in New Haven. They are recruiting 10 residents from the Fair Haven neighborhood for a community-based participatory research project utilizing the PhotoVoice method, where participants will document areas of the watershed to inform future restoration projects. With our first training session planned for late July, the project is off to a great start and the team is excited to begin working with members of the Fair Haven community to learn from their experiences and support the improvement of the Mill River watershed.
Our Team is Assessing Road-Stream Barriers in the Naugatuck Valley
In partnership with the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, our team is beginning work on a new project to assess fish passage and flood risk at all road-stream crossings (culverts and bridges) in the towns of Thomaston, Bethany, and Prospect. Over the next several weeks, our focus will be on the streams and crossings of Bethany – and we’re looking for volunteers to assist with these field assessments. So, if you’ve always wanted to spend a full day in the field with our team, reach out to us at restoration@savethesound.org today!
Seaside Sounds – A Community Empowerment Festival for Environmental Justice
Join us for Seaside Sounds for Environmental Justice! Seaside Sounds for Environmental Justice is a cultural celebration taking place Friday, July, 15 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT from 2:00 to 8:00 PM. This is an opportunity to connect with us, as well as local leaders and organizations on advancing environmental justice in Bridgeport, and to have summer fun with your neighbors. Click here for more information and to register.
Katie Friedman in the Field
Katie Friedman, our New York Restoration Program Manager, has been out in the field this month scouting potential restoration sites in Westchester County and Long Island.
“This month I visited two coastal salt marshes in need of restoration,” says Friedman. “One in Cold Spring Harbor out on Long Island and the other along the shore of Hen Island in Rye, just down the road from our Larchmont Office. In both cases, landowners are interested in protecting and restoring the salt marsh that has been eroding over time and called on Save the Sound to provide technical expertise and guidance on how to proceed. I’m excited to add these sites to our list of over 20 potential ecological restoration opportunities here in New York, and continue to serve as a resource for Long Island Sound communities interested in enhancing their local ecosystems and coastal resiliency.”
