There has been significant progress cleaning up the Sound –and there is still more work to be done. The Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) lays out targeted actions to achieve ambitious water quality improvement goals.

And now, historic public funding investments in our nation’s water infrastructure and natural resource resilience make this a critical moment to advance local actions that restore and protect cleaner, healthier water.

Please plan to attend the inaugural Long Island Sound Summit by the LIS CWN as we dive into new approaches and opportunities to target and reduce consumer plastics and debris, fecal bacteria, and nitrogen entering the Sound through stormwater, sewage, and groundwater. The Summit will be held in-person at the Village Center in Port Jefferson, NY.

Join us at this inaugural event to:

• Connect with Network members and clean water professionals across the Sound.
• Learn about Sound resources for project design and implementation.
• Discover new collaboration opportunities to advance key projects.

The deadline to register for the Long Island Sound Summit is Thursday, March 23 at 5pm EST.

For more information about the Summit, visit the Long Island Sound Summit website. For questions, contact Diana Nguyen at diana.nguyen@tnc.org.

Summit Agenda

10:30 AM: Registration & Networking (Coffee and pastries provided)

11:00 AM: Welcome – Long Island Sound Water: Progress & Opportunities

11:15 AM: Plenary Panel – Showcasing Clean Water Projects & Resources

12:15 PM: Networking Lunch (Lunch provided)

12:45 PM: Roundtable Workshop Discussions

2:15 PM: Summary Discussion – Big Ideas and Next Steps

2:45 PM: Adjourn

Plenary Panel: Showcasing Clean Water Projects & Resources

The plenary panel will feature presentations by speakers from NY and CT and will include a panel discussion moderated by Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. Learn about these local water quality projects, their success and challenges, and available resources.

• Deployment of the Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap at the Carll’s River with Richard Groh, Town of Babylon
• Green Infrastructure at Webster Street Parking Lot to Norwalk Harbor, CT with Michael Yeosock, City of Norwalk
• Growing Oysters in Hempstead Harbor with Carol DiPaolo , Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor
• Communicating Clean Water Success with Dr. Christine Gilbert, Stony Book University

Click here for more information about plenary presentation topics and panelist.

Roundtable Workshop Discussions

Participate in lively conversations about clean water projects, resources, and topics! Each Roundtable Workshop Discussion will focus on a specific topic for 35-minutes. A roundtable moderator will present information and kick off targeted group discussion. Participants can choose roundtable topics and sessions they would like to join. There will be 2 rounds of 35-minute roundtable discussions.

• Communicating Clean Water Success and Progress with Dr. Christine Gilbert, Stony Brook University
• Gardening by the Sea with Roxanne Zimmer, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County
• Overcoming Barriers to Accessing Competitive Funding Opportunities with Elizabeth Hornstein and Sarah Schaefer-Brown, New York Sea Grant
• Rain Gardens, Bioswales, and more: Implementing Municipal Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects with Drew Goldsman and Tim Clark, The Nature Conservancy CT
• Rain Garden Practices: Planting and Maintenance with Maureen Murphy, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Design Consulting

Click here for more information about Roundtable Workshop Discussion topics and moderators.

Registration*

There is a $25 registration fee which covers lunch for attendees. A limited number of scholarships to waive registration fees and attend the Long Island Sound Summit are available. Learn more about Summit scholarships by clicking this link.

*In previous Summit information, there was a registration deadline of March 23, 2023. There is no longer a deadline to register for the summit but there are limited registrations for this event. After the event has reached its maximum registrations, there will be an open waitlist in the case that new spots become available.

Health and Safety

The event is going to be held indoors. Will masks be required?

The Summit will be held indoors at the Village Center in Port Jefferson, NY. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided at the Summit. Mask requirements will depend on Suffolk County health guidelines at the time of the Summit. Currently, masks are optional to wear but not required. All Summit staff and attendees must agree to follow the health and safety guidelines and be respectful of other individuals mask wearing decisions.

About 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.

For more information about LIS CWN, visit the LIS CWN website.