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FAIRFIELD, Conn. Connecticut and New York have made great strides in improving wildlife habitats along Long Island Sound, but they still have a long way to go in cleaning up the Sound itself. Thats the verdict from Save the Sound, a group working to protect the coastline.
The group released its first-ever State of the Sound report at the end of 2011, assigning grades to both states and the federal government on how theyre taking care of Long Island Sound and its shores. The overall grade was a C-plus.
"From the looks of this report, the region is striving for mediocrity when it comes to the health of Long Island Sound. However, we know that is not the outcome residents of Connecticut and New York expect or want," said Leah Schmalz, director of legislative and legal affairs for Save the Sound.
The report judged the combined governments on four main areas: habitat, water quality, stewardship and emerging issues. Some of those categories were broken down into more specific areas, leading to eight total grades.
Connecticut and New York did the best in habitat preservation, according to the study. The two states restored a combined 1,000 acres of marshlands and other coastal ecosystems over the past decade, giving wildlife more places to develop. The report also lauded Connecticuts installation of fish ladders in its rivers and streams to help fish migrate between waterways.
The two states did not do as well, however, in keeping the Sound itself clean. The group gave New York and Connecticut their worst grade a D-plus in raw sewage treatment. The report notes that cities such as Bridgeport and New Haven are still using systems that dump raw sewage into the Sound during heavy rains.
Both states have started to replace these systems, but much more needs to be done, the report says. Continued commitment by these cities, even in tough economic times, is required.
The sewage, plus certain toxic chemicals and uncontrolled storm-water runoff, contribute to the Sounds low oxygen levels, or hypoxia, the report says. Uncontrolled hypoxia could mean that fish and other sea animals cannot get the oxygen they need in the Sound. This could kill large amounts of wildlife and force others to leave.
To fix these problems, the report recommends that the states keep opening up habitats, update infrastructures and crack down on industrial polluters. But it also suggests ways that Connecticut and New York residents can help the Sound themselves, such as picking up litter at the beach and avoiding using chemicals on their lawns.
We too must do our part to save our Sound, Schmalz said. The Sound is our heritage and our legacy. If we want to protect our wildlife, tourism, and our way of life for future generations, we must act today."
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