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WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – A first-ever ecosystem health report card released June 8, shows Long Island Sound earned grades of very good for water quality in Eastern Long Island Sound (an “A”) to very poor for water quality in the Western Narrows (an “F”) near New York City.
The evaluation, conducted by scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, covers the entire Long Island Sound, a vast watershed that is home to 9 million people that includes about 1,300 square miles and close to 1 million acres of open and coastal waters.
“It has been and continues to be a top priority for me in Congress to protect and preserve Long Island Sound,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, (D-N.Y.). “This report card makes it clear that while progress has been made to improve the water quality of the Sound, more must be done to preserve this economic engine and local treasure’s waters and coastline. Working with federal, state and local partners, I will continue to fight for the Sound for future generations of New Yorkers.”
“The Long Island Sound Report Card shows us that although some parts of the Sound earned high marks for water quality, other parts require greater attention and care to combat pollution,” said New York Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The economic and commercial impact of the sound is profound – generating more than $17 billion annually in ecological and economic value.
“The Westchester Community Foundation is a founding member of the Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative. We knew that by working together with other funders who care about the health of the Long Island Sound, we could be more effective,” said Laura Rossi of the Westchester Community Foundation.
“We are pleased that the open waters of the Sound are healthy. Westchester residents deserve clean beaches and clean coastlines, every day of the year. That's why we're glad the report card is raising awareness about the health of the Sound," she continued.
For more information about the Long Island Sound report card, click here.
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