This agreement provides funding to the save the sound organization to implement its project to improve water quality and restore the aquatic habitat in little neck BAY, queens, new york through…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 awarded Save The Sound Inc. a $750,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Congressionally Mandated Projects program (CFDA 66.202) effective October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for September 30, 2032. The agreement funds a comprehensive water quality and aquatic habitat restoration initiative in Little Neck Bay, Queens, New York, as designated in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Save The Sound will execute wetland restoration at Udalls Cove and conduct site identification and conceptual design of green stormwater infrastructure at Alley Creek.

Specific deliverables include restoration of 4 acres of salt marsh and installation of 0.22 acres of oyster castles along 1,100 linear feet of shoreline at Big Rock in Udalls Cove, along with restoration of 15,600 square feet of salt marsh and 3,000 square feet of oyster habitat using community-approved designs. These restoration methods will establish vegetative buffers and oyster banks to provide bank stabilization, filter nutrients from stormwater, and improve water clarity. Additionally, the project will identify one suitable site within the Alley Creek sub-watershed for green infrastructure installation designed to capture stormwater runoff and reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) volumes. Save The Sound will partner with sub-recipient Honor Our Indigenous Ancestors and the Matinecock Tribal Nation to employ up to 5 cultural monitors during excavation activities from May 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027, ensuring proper handling of any ancestral remains or artifacts in accordance with applicable law and cultural practices.

This agreement provides funding to the save the sound organization to implement its project to improve water quality and restore the aquatic habitat in little neck BAY, queens, new york through wetland restoration work in udalls cove, along with the site identification and conceptual design of green stormwater infrastructure at alley creek, as directed in the 2022 consolidated appropriations act or as identified in an approved technical correction if one has been approved for this project. Activities:the activities to be performed include the execution and implementation of a water quality protection project to restore a total of 4 acres of salt marsh and install 0.22 acres of oyster castles along 1,100 linear feet of shoreline at big rock, udalls cove and the site identification and conceptual design of green stormwater infrastructure at alley creek. The workplan activities for the community grant consist of using community-approved designs to support the restoration of 15,600 square feet of salt marsh, and 3,000 square feet of oyster habitat. The methods of restoring the wetland include creating vegetative buffers and installing an oyster bank that will provide bank stabilization, filter nutrients from stormwater, and improve water clarity. Additionally, to address water quality due to combined sewer overflows (csos) at alley creek, one suitable site within the alley creek sub-watershed of little neck BAY will be identified for green infrastructure installation and will initiate designs to capture stormwater runoff to reduce the volume of csos and improve water quality.subrecipient:save the sound will partner with sub-recipient honor our indigenous ancestors and the matinecock tribal nation to host up to 5 cultural monitors during site excavation, ensuring that if ancestral remains or artifacts are unearthed, they will be handled appropriately in accordance with the law and cultural practices from 5/1/25- 12/31/27.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include restoring the aquatic habitat in little neck BAY, queens, new york and improving the water quality. The expected outcomes by restoring the salt marsh and oyster habitat, and installing rain gardens, the project will address the causes of water quality impairment, erosion, and habitat loss; and enable inland marsh migration. This combined approach will improve ecosystem function and coastal resilience with the intended benefits to the wildlife and human communities of little neck BAY.