The Long Island Sound - A National Treasure

Since 1985, when the Long Island Sound was one of the first estuaries to be designated by Congress as an Estuary of National Significance, the National Audubon Society has been at the forefront of the efforts to restore and protect this amazing resource. The Sound contributes $5.5 billion annually to the region’s economy and, with more than 28 million people living with within 50 miles of its shores; it impacts more Americans than any other estuary in the country.

Utilizing the grassroots strength of our Audubon Chapters and membership, Audubon has been the leading organization building the necessary support for State and Congressional action. And today, the Sound is cleaner and healthier than it has been for many years.

However, the Sound’s viability hangs in the balance. Its “Dead Zone”—an area plagued by hypoxia, where oxygen levels are too low to support life—is at record proportions. It still suffers from dwindling shellfish populations, pollution from sewage treatment plant discharges, contaminated storm water runoff, and accelerated shoreline development.

An Audubon National Priority

In 2004 Audubon made its Long Island Sound (LIS) Campaign not just a regional priority but also a full scale national one. The goal of this Campaign is to restore, protect and maintain LIS so that it can permanently support birds, marine species, and other wildlife. The Campaign addresses the fundamental challenges of water quality restoration and habitat protection - - two key areas where improvements will result in the most significant benefits to people and wildlife.

A Historic Opportunity

We envision a healthy Long Island Sound—its waters supporting a thriving ecosystem, its coastal habitats protected, its beaches open for swimming, and its fisheries safe for human consumption. To realize this, the actions we take over the next decade will be decisive. As the convener of a broad coalition of partners including federal, state, and local entities, as well as other private groups, Audubon brings a vast array of resources and leadership skills to the table:

• 62,000 New York and Connecticut members whose voices and political will can reach into every community that relies on a healthy Sound;
• 125 years of combined staff experience in protecting the Sound, bolstered by the organizational expertise gained through other estuary restoration efforts, such as our work in the Chesapeake Bay, Everglades, Mississippi River, and San Francisco Bay.
• Vast experience in coalition building as exemplified by its partnership with the construction industry and labor in the creation of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition that recognizes the regional economic benefits of clean water related jobs and the long-term health of the region.