SOURCE:
June 21, 2025
On Friday, June 20th, over 125 engaged citizens and governmental officials celebrated forty years of advocacy by partners of the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to protect Long Island Sound, our nation’s second largest estuary, from pollution and other threats. The milestone was marked by the renaming of LISS to Long Island Sound Partnership (LISP) and the signing of a new bipartisan Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP). “The CCMP provides a blueprint for collaboration and establishes goals, objectives and actions for the next 10 years to further restore and protect the Sound.”
The Sound is certainly Westchester’s greatest natural treasure and it was especially fitting that the anniversary gathering took place at the 23-acre Jay Estate in Rye which was itself saved and preserved in 1992 by some of the same individuals inking their name to the pledge. The program was held behind the Jay Mansion overlooking a 10,000 year old view of Milton Harbor and a meadow of native grasses and milkweed buzzing with monarchs and dragonflies.
In the morning session, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Supervisor, Ocean and Coastal Protection Section, Regina Lyons and Nancy Seligson, NY Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Partnership (LISP) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) welcomed the audience and introduced Nicole Tachiki, US EPA Planning; Senator Shelley B. Mayor; Assemblyman Steve Otis; NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton; CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes; US EPA Administrators Mark Sanborn and Mike Martucci. They were followed by Congressmen Tom Suozzi and George Latimer representing New York and Congressman Jim Himes from Connecticut. All the speakers shared their motivation for supporting this ambitious but achievable public-private initiative.
Some gave very personal accounts of growing up on the Sound in the days when it was even more heavily polluted than it is today. Rep. Suozzi who hails from Glen Cove reiterated his commitment to “reducing nitrogen emissions from sewage treatment plants, addressing stormwater runoff, and restoring and reseeding shellfishing beds in our harbors.” Each speaker touched upon the CCMP’s 4 areas of scope.
Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds – Restore and maintain water quality in Long Island Sound and its watershed.
Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife – Restore and protect the health and resilience of habitats.
Sustainable and Resilient Communities – Empower Long Island Sound communities to plan for and respond to environmental challenges in ways that prioritize well-being for all.
Informed and Engaged Public – Inspire and empower the public to appreciate, value, and protect Long Island Sound and the waters that flow into the Sound.
All agreed that there has been substantial progress towards a cleaner Sound thanks to various grants and allocations of monies to coastal communities and water education programs but more needs to be done. Assemblyman Otis reminded attendees of the pivotal role played by the late Congresswoman Nita Lowey in the decades-long fight to protect Westchester’s fragile coastline from pollution and overuse. Lowey will be remembered for her strong record securing critical funding through legislation.
During the afternoon, Mark Tedesco, who recently retired as the US EPA Director of the Long Island Sound Office was honored for his outstanding service. Tedesco then led a panel of speakers which included Karen Chytalo, Retired Assistant Director, Division of Marine Resources, NYS DEC, Sylvain De Guise, Director, Connecticut Sea Grant, David Miller, LISP CAC, and Cayla Sullivan, Habitat and Reporting Coordinator, U.S. EPA Region 2. Each took turns reflecting on the last 40 years but also shared their hopes for the future. Miller reminisced about the legacy and impact of icons like Jane Kerin-Moffat in rallying to improve the water quality of the Sound and conserve open space.
In her closing remarks, JHC Board President Suzanne Clary recounted how the environmental integrity of the Jay Estate and Long Island Sound were once threatened by overzealous development and habitat destruction in the 1980s. She commended the efforts of journalists like Tom Anderson, author of “This Fine Piece of Water” in educating the public about the Sound’s vast natural and cultural history and she encouraged the volunteers of today to keep up the good stewardship.
The day concluded with tours of the Jay Estate and a quiet hike down to the water. The successful program was organized by LISP, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) and JHC.