Long Island Sound Partnership and DEEP
EPA, New York, and Connecticut formed the Long Island Sound Partnership (LIS Partnership) in 1985, a bi-state partnership consisting of federal and state agencies, user groups, concerned organizations, and individuals dedicated to restoring and protecting the Sound. This partnership is essential to the past and future successes to protect and improve the Sound. Connecticut’s DEEP role in this partnership includes monitoring, stewardship, habitat restoration, pollution mitigation and many other strategies. The goals and objectives of the Partnership are outlined in the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan.
DEEP’s responsibilities in this partnership includes a variety of activities that support the goals and objectives of the partnership. More details on those activities are provided below.
Long Island Sound Water Quality Monitoring Program
Across Long Island Sound water quality is monitored by state, interstate, and local agencies, academic institutions, environmental nongovernment organizations, and local volunteers and community groups. CT DEEP maintains an intensive monitoring program that samples water quality throughout the year in the open sound. Expansions to DEEP’s program will soon include near shore monitoring as well, stay tuned for updates! Learn more about CT DEEP’s data and observations.
Major Initiatives
DEEP staff administer many initiatives to ensure progress can be made to obtain the goals set forth by the partnership. Examples of these efforts are highlighted below:
Long Island Sound Ecosystems Grant
This funding is intended to support the planning and implementation of projects focused on coastal habitat restoration and green stormwater infrastructure across the state. Applications are being accepted through December 16th, 2025.
Nitrogen Strategy
Excess nitrogen in the sound is directly linked to low oxygen levels. Therefore, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for nitrogen in 2000. The TMDL established a 58.5 percent nitrogen reduction target from the early 1990s baseline levels to be attained by 2017. This target was attained primarily through the Nitrogen Control Program. However, although oxygen levels have improved they still measure at low levels in some areas of the Sound during the summer. In 2016, CT DEEP developed its Second Generation Nitrogen Strategy, which combines existing efforts with new initiatives under one plan. To advance this plan and further reduce excess nitrogen, CT DEEP (with the Long Island Sound Partnership’s support) has implemented several nitrogen reduction efforts.
Commitment to Collaboration
DEEP staff and management participate in the five committees, four workgroups and three technical teams of the Long Island Sound Partnership.
These teams are the essential platform to implement the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan and our shared mission.
Content last updated November 2025.